Amazon to invest £40bn in UK over next three years

(Sharecast News) - Amazon announced plans to invest £40bn in the UK over the next three years on Tuesday, in a move hailed by the government as a major vote of confidence in Britain's economic future. The wide-ranging investment plan would include new fulfilment centres, office buildings, data infrastructure, creative industry projects, and nationwide job creation.

Amazon said the funding would support four new fulfilment centres - in Hull, Northampton, and two undisclosed sites in the East Midlands - creating more than 4,000 full-time roles.

It would also expand its existing logistics footprint, which currently includes over 100 operational sites across the UK, and add new delivery stations and corporate offices in East London.

"This investment adds another major win to Britain's basket," said prime minister Sir Keir Starmer.

"It means thousands of new jobs - real opportunities for people in every corner of the country to build careers, learn new skills, and support their families."

Amazon's chief executive, Andy Jassy, emphasised the nationwide scope of the plan.

"When Amazon invests, it's not only in London and the South East - we're bringing innovation and job creation to communities throughout England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, strengthening the UK's economy and delivering better experiences for customers wherever they live," he said.

The £40bn sum included £8bn previously announced in 2024 for UK data centre development by Amazon Web Services (AWS), aimed at boosting cloud computing and artificial intelligence capabilities.

That portion alone was expected to add £14bn to GDP over five years and support an average of 14,000 full-time equivalent jobs annually, particularly in small and medium-sized businesses in the tech supply chain.

Alongside the expansion of physical infrastructure, Amazon said it would continue to invest in skills development.

That would include 1,000 new full-time apprenticeships in 2025 and training programmes covering AI, logistics, environmental tech, and more.

The company also reiterated its commitment to 'Career Choice', which had already helped over 23,000 UK employees access further training and qualifications.

Its announcement followed the UK government's launch of a new industrial strategy, and came as business confidence reached a nine-month high, supported by falling interest rates and newly signed trade deals with the EU, US, and India.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves called Amazon's announcement "a powerful endorsement of Britain's economic strengths," while Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said it showed the UK was "on the right track."

The company said it was also planning to expand its presence in the UK's creative industries, building on the recent acquisition and redevelopment of Bray Film Studios in Berkshire and ongoing productions at Shepperton and studios in Edinburgh, Manchester, and Wales.

It said it had invested £4.2bn in the sector since 2010.

Amazon, which already employs more than 75,000 people across the UK, said its continued growth would also support underserved communities through projects like the Multibank donation scheme and initiatives to improve workforce diversity, including training programmes for military veterans, care leavers, and young people with disabilities.

The company's rapid expansion came as its scale and practices drew continued scrutiny.

Last week, the grocery regulator launched a formal investigation into Amazon over delayed payments to suppliers.

The company denies any wrongdoing.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.