Amazon is to create 950 jobs across two Scottish sites: 750 jobs at a fulfilment centre in Dunfermline, and an additional 200 posts at its existing fulfilment facility in Gourock, which packs and ship items for Amazon customers. The company is also expected to create a further 1,500 temporary jobs during peak periods.
All permanent employees at Amazon's fulfilment centre in Glenrothes will continue to be employed at the new site. The fulfilment centre at Gourock will be unaffected by the new centre and will continue to operate as usual.
Founded by entrepreneur Jeff Bezos in 1995, the multinational US company launched Amazon UK in 1998. The company is a dominating presence in the online etailing space offering books, films, music, video games, software, electronics, and more.
Plans for the group to increase its presence in Scotland will receive financial support from Scottish Enterprise - £2 million in Regional Selective Assistance and £500,000 in training grants.
Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) is the main national scheme of financial assistance to industry, and is administered by Scottish Enterprise. The scheme provides discretionary grants to investment projects that will create and safeguard employment in areas designated for regional aid under European Community law. Payment of RSA is made in instalments, typically over several years as job and capital expenditure targets are met.
"Amazon is delighted that its biggest UK fulfilment centre is to be built in Dunfermline," said Vice President of European Operations at Amazon Allan Lyall. "It is a great location and it has been Amazon's priority to secure a new site as close to the current Glenrothes fulfilment centre as possible in order to preserve and transfer the entire skilled workforce with all its experience and Amazon knowledge. Our decision to base this major expansion in Scotland, against stiff international competition, is due not only to the excellent local workforce but to the impressive professionalism of Scottish Development International."
First Minister Alex Salmond said the new Dunfermline fulfilment centre would deliver "a very significant boost to the local economy".
Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise Lena Wilson said that the agency's support for the project would increase private sector investment. She added: "We'll also be continuing to work closely with the company to look at how we can continue to support them and ensure these sites remain integral to Amazon's UK and European operations."
Chief Executive of Scottish Development International Anne MacColl added: "Amazon operates across the world and its decision to base its largest fulfilment centre in the UK here is testament to the hard work of colleagues from across SE and SDI to secure this investment for Scotland."