What: Amazon announces £40 billion UK investment plan, including four new fulfilment centres and two London offices, creating thousands of jobs nationwide.

Why it is important: This expansion highlights the evolution of retail logistics, combining job creation with technological advancement to enhance delivery capabilities.

Amazon is launching a major expansion in the UK with a £40 billion investment plan over three years (2025-2027). The initiative includes four new fulfilment centres, with a state-of-the-art facility in Hull creating 2,000 jobs when it opens later in 2025. Additional centres will be established in Northampton in 2026, followed by two more in the East Midlands. The company will also expand its London presence with two new office buildings in Hackney. Amazon, which currently employs over 75,000 people in the UK, offers competitive compensation, with minimum full-time salaries of £28,000 (£30,000 in London). The company will create over 60 different roles, including robotics technicians and mechatronic engineers. The investment is expected to contribute an additional £38 billion to the UK's GDP, with most job creation occurring outside London and the South East.

IADS Notes: Amazon's £40 billion UK investment represents a significant evolution in retail infrastructure. According to Le Figaro's May 2025 coverage, the company's strategic expansion mirrors similar investments in France, where €300 million has been committed to enhance logistics capabilities and create 1,500 jobs. Retail Dive's February 2025 analysis showed how retailers are increasingly adopting advanced technologies, such as RFID, for inventory management, with 61% planning implementation by 2026. Journal du Net's January 2025 report highlighted how retailers are testing innovative logistics technologies, including warehouse drones and autonomous systems, to enhance operational efficiency. Retail Week's February 2025 coverage revealed how major retail developments in the UK are increasingly focused on creating integrated, tech-enabled spaces that combine logistics with customer experience. Amazon's commitment to creating 2,000 jobs in Hull and expanding across multiple regions demonstrates how major retailers are balancing technological advancement with physical infrastructure development to maintain a competitive advantage.

Amazon to open four new UK fulfilment centres