Pictured: County Councillor Ben Adams at the Amazon
centre
Applications for 900 jobs at major online retailer Amazon have
opened following the company's decision to locate its latest
distribution centre in Staffordshire.
Staffordshire's prosperity leader Ben Adams said interested
county residents should now be submitting their applications and
welcomed the substantial job creation.
In July, Amazon announced it was locating its distribution
centre at a 700,000 sq ft industrial unit at Towers Business Park
in Rugeley. The site was initially developed by Staffordshire
County Council in the 1990s.
County councillor Adams said: "It's fantastic that there are 900
job opportunities open to Staffordshire residents now that Amazon
has opened up its applications process.
"A major international company like Amazon's decision to locate
here really does demonstrate that Staffordshire is the place to do
business.
"We're proud to have developed the Towers site and that it's now
attracting investors and jobs. We are looking forward to more
positive news on this site in the near future.
"Staffordshire's numerous benefits are clearly attracting the
attention of businesses looking to relocate or expand to. We
continue to invite global brands and businesses to join the
Staffordshire success story.
"It is rewarding to see this former colliery site returning to
one of the county's major employment hubs."
People can call the Amazon jobs hotline on 0844 257 8293.
The Towers Business Park site was created at the former Lea Hall
Colliery.
Starting in 1991, Staffordshire County Council designed and
delivered all phases of the regeneration with a variety of scheme
partners with the final restoration and infrastructure work being
completed in 2000. The Amazon unit was built by developer Gazeley
in 2008 but has remained empty as a result of the economic
downturn. In addition to the initial development of the business
park, Staffordshire County Council built the award-winning Rugeley
bypass, completed in 2007, making the site easily accessible.
Arthur Valdez, Vice President of Operations, Amazon.co.uk Ltd,
said:
"We have a busy Christmas coming up and look forward to
assembling a team of talented people who will play their part in
ensuring that customers receive the millions of items that will be
ordered over the festive season."
The centre will begin operating from September this year and
more than 900 permanent and temporary jobs will be created at the
site before the end of 2012.