Amazon Announces New Warehouse In Essex And 1,500 Jobs

Amazon is planning to create 1,500 permanent jobs when it opens a new warehouse in Tilbury, Essex, next spring.

Last week, the online retailer announced 500 new positions in the UK at a warehouse in Doncaster in 2017.

The new jobs are in addition to the 3,500 jobs Amazon has already committed to create within the UK this year.

It raises the total number of full-time permanent employees at the retailer to 15,500 by the end of 2016..

The Office for National Statistics says online sales in the UK rose by 16.7% in July compared to the same period last year.

"The online market now accounts for 14.2% of all retail sales," said Ian Geddes, UK head of retail at Deloitte.

"Not only does this indicate a step up in online spending, but retailers also appear to be on the right path when it comes to engaging with the online consumer."

Amazon has invested more than £4.6bn in the UK economy over the past six years.

The retailer's new UK manager Doug Carr said Britain's decision to leave the European Union had not affected its plans to invest and expand within the country.