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Amazon defies Brexit blues to hire an extra 1,000 people in the UK

Online retailer Amazon has announced it is planning to hire an extra 1,000 people in the UK as it looks to extend its Prime Now delivery service.

The retail giant is now on course to create 3,500 jobs in the UK this year, bringing its total workforce across the country to 15,500 with this new tranche of jobs focused mainly in London, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Manchester and Leicestershire.

Its Prime Now delivery service, which offers fast same-day delivery options, is now available across a third of the UK and this new intake will see that reach expanded.

The move sees Amazon defying the uncertainty surrounding the EU referendum result with sales ‘in line with expectations’ and relatively unaffected by major sporting events such as England’s games at Euro 2016.

Doug Gurr, Amazon UK’s chief executive said that, despite the Brexit vote, it was ‘business as usual’ at the US firm and that it was focusing on riding out the storm until the situation becomes clearer.

He said: “As far as we’re concerned right now, we’re keeping our heads down and continuing to do what we do. We’ll deal with whatever situation arises.”

“There are a lot of details to work out and as it stands today we don’t know exactly what the impact will be or what the regulatory environment will be. Right now we are single-mindedly and solely focused on keeping our heads down and doing what we are doing.”