Amazon is set to shut down a fulfilment center, affecting 590 jobs. The facility in Milton Keynes, established in 1998, is undergoing consultation for closure. The impacted employees will have the option to relocate to the new Amazon site in Northampton or other centers.
The new £500 million Northampton site is expected to open in May, initially hiring 1,400 workers and eventually scaling up to 2,000. Meanwhile, the Amazon sortation center in Milton Keynes, a separate segment of its logistics operations, remains unaffected by the closure plans.
An Amazon spokesperson mentioned that the decision is part of the company’s ongoing network assessment to align with business requirements and enhance the experience for both employees and customers. The priority is to facilitate the affected employees during this transition.
In other news, Amazon has commenced testing drone flights in preparation for launching its airborne delivery service in the UK by 2026. The initial test flights are being conducted from the Darlington base, with plans to offer drone deliveries for packages under five pounds within a two-hour timeframe to eligible customers in Darlington.
The drones have been engineered to operate quietly, with noise levels comparable to traditional van deliveries. These drones are equipped with advanced technology to navigate and avoid obstacles during delivery, ensuring safe and efficient operations. Amazon is collaborating with Darlington Council and the Civil Aviation Authority to streamline the drone delivery service launch in the UK.
