Online retailer Amazon to create 900 jobs in capital

ONLINE retail giant Amazon is to create 900 jobs in Edinburgh ina new centre that will act as a hub for customer queries about itspopular ebook reader, the Kindle.

The company will build a customer service centre at Waverley Gatein Edinburgh, employing 500 permanent and 400 temporary workers. Itbrings the total number of posts Amazon has announced in Scotlandthis year to 1650.

The facility will handle customer queries, including technicalsupport for MP3 players and the popular Amazon Kindle, which useswireless connectivity to allow users to download and read books,newspapers and magazines.

Allan Lyall, vice-president of European operations and customerservice, said Edinburgh was an "outstanding location, providing uswith access to a highly skilled workforce that will help us toachieve the high standards of customer service shoppers at Amazonexpect".

First Minister Alex Salmond said it was a "significant boost" tothe local economy.

Mr Lyall added: "As our business continues to grow and we moveinto new areas like grocery, sports and clothing, our customerservices support needs to expand as well."

The latest project, which is being backed by taxpayers' cashthrough a pound(s)1.8 million grant from Scottish Enterprise,follows an announcement by the firm in January that it would create750 jobs in Dunfermline and 200 in Gourock.

Mr Salmond said: "Amazon is globally recognised as a leader inonline retail and I am delighted that the company is expanding itsScottish operations with the creation of a new customer servicescentre in Edinburgh.

"Amazon has a substantial presence in Scotland and thisannouncement is testament to the quality, strength and skills of itsScottish workforce.

"This news provides a significant boost to the local economy,creates 900 jobs in the heart of Edinburgh, and demonstrates thecompany's commitment to working in Scotland."

The new customer service centre in Edinburgh will open in August,a few months before the company's new one million square foot centrein Dunfermline.

Established in 1998, Amazon is one of the world's most recognisedbrands, offering a wide variety of products over the internetincluding books, movies, music, PC and video games, software andelectronics. Most of its workers are employed to pack and ship thegoods.

Scottish Enterprise chief executive Lena Wilson said: "When aworld-leading company like Amazon chooses to invest in Scotland, itsends a message to the rest of the world that Scotland is a world-class business destination.

"Scottish Enterprise has worked with the company, both here inScotland and internationally through Scottish DevelopmentInternational to identify how we can support its business mosteffectively.

"We're pleased to be able to support the company with trainingassistance, which will help to develop the skills of its 900 newemployees and guarantee that today's announcement has a long-lasting impact on the economy and the competitiveness of ourworkforce."

In December, Amazon was heavily criticised for cutting short theshifts of casual staff hired to cope with the Christmas rush in themiddle of the night.

Some workers had to wait at the company's Gourock warehouse untilpublic transport resumed in the morning.

Although not illegal, a spokesman at Inverclyde Advice andEmployment Rights Centre said such practices were "immoral andobscene".