Amazon Waves Goodbye to Historic UK Fulfilment Centre: What It Means for Workers and the Future

Amazon is set to close its first UK fulfilment centre, located in Marston Gate, Bedfordshire, which opened its doors back in 1998. The announcement comes as part of a consultation process aimed at shutting down the site, impacting approximately 590 employees. The company has vowed to prioritize the welfare of its staff, promising to relocate affected workers to either other existing sites or to a new £500 million facility in Northampton, scheduled to open in May.

Amazon explained that it continuously evaluates its operational network to ensure it aligns with its business needs and enhances the experience for both employees and customers. While the Bedfordshire site is on the chopping block, the sortation centre in Magna Park, which currently employs 1,100 people, will remain unaffected. Despite these closures, Amazon is not stepping back from its expansion plans in the UK, announcing a £40 billion investment between 2025 and 2027. This investment includes the development of four new fulfilment centres and additional delivery stations, with the new Northampton site projected to employ around 1,400 people, potentially increasing to 2,000 in the future.

In a time of significant transformation, Amazon aims to maintain strong communication by ‘listening to everyone’s views’ during this transitional phase.