Amazon has announced the opening of a new facility in Portadown, which will create at least 20 permanent jobs and over 100 "driver opportunities."
Amazon Logistics has announced the opening of a new delivery station in the town of Co Armagh.
The 7,000-square-metre structure is expected to be fully operational later this year, serving customers in the Portadown area. The Belfast Telegraph revealed exclusively in June that the American multinational was linked to a massive site at James Park, Mahon Industrial Estate, which has now been confirmed.
Delivery stations power the final mile of Amazon's order process and help customers receive their orders faster.
Carla Lockhart, MP for Upper Bann, stated, “The creation of 20 permanent warehouse jobs and approximately 100 driver opportunities in the Upper Bann area is a tremendous boost to the local economy.”
More and more businesses are seeing the value in establishing this area as a distribution hub, with a road network connecting to major arterial routes to every corner of Northern Ireland and beyond. Amazon recognizing this puts the area on the map, and I applaud this investment.”
Amazon also stated that it is allowing entrepreneurs to start their own business delivering Amazon packages, as well as independent contractors the freedom to “be their boss and create their own schedule” while delivering for Amazon Flex.
“We are excited to invest in the Portadown area with a new delivery station that will provide efficient delivery for customers and create new jobs for the talented workforce,” said Kerry-Anne Lawlor, Country Director for Amazon Logistics.
Meanwhile, Amazon is opening its first warehouse in the Republic, which will employ 500 people. It stated that it is establishing the fulfillment center in Dublin to meet customer demand. The 630,000 square foot facility, which is set to open in spring 2022 at the Baldonnell Business Park, will provide faster deliveries for customers across Ireland seven days a week, including one-day delivery, according to the company.
Engineers, HR and IT professionals, health and safety and finance specialists, and operations managers are among the new roles available at the fulfillment center, according to Amazon.
The hiring process for teams that will pick, pack, and ship customer orders will begin next year.
The company also announced the opening of a second delivery station in Ballycoolin, at the Northwest Logistics Park, to serve customers in Dublin and the surrounding areas.
More than 20 permanent jobs will be created at the facility, in addition to dozens of driver opportunities for Amazon Logistics' delivery service partners and Amazon Flex delivery partners. The 83,500-square-foot structure is expected to be completed this autumn.
Last October, the first delivery station in Ireland opened in Rathcoole, Dublin, creating more than 20 permanent jobs and collaborating with ten independent delivery companies that hired more than 150 drivers.
Amazon also announced plans last year to create 1,000 new permanent jobs in Ireland over the next two years, bringing the retail giant's total permanent workforce in the country to more than 5,000 by 2022.
"We are delighted to open our first fulfillment center in Dublin, enabling us to provide faster delivery times for customers across Ireland," said Stefano Perego, vice president of Amazon's fulfillment centre operations in Europe.
"We are thrilled to be creating 500 new permanent positions that will provide competitive wages, excellent benefits, and a modern, safe, and engaging work environment for our employees."
Amazon claims that since the Covid-19 pandemic began, it has invested more than $11.5 billion globally and implemented more than 150 new safety measures to keep its employees safe.
According to an Amazon spokesperson, the company is hosting one of the largest free virtual training and recruiting events in the UK. Amazon Career Day will be held on September 16th, and job seekers can register at amazoncareerday.com.
