Amazon is to create more than 10,000 jobs in the UK and launch a £10 million programme to help employees gain new skills, the online giant has announced.

The new operations will be opened in Hinckley, Doncaster, Dartford, Gateshead and Swindon this year.

The company is also hiring for corporate roles as well as its cloud-computing division Amazon Web Services.

Amazon has seen its profits triple this year alone as people increasingly turn to online shopping. Almost every aspect of the pandemic has boosted the tech giant’s revenues, from video streaming to grocery delivery.

A recent poll found a third of Brits are racked with guilt over their growing use of Amazon.

They say purchasing goods on the site makes them feel guilty they are not suporting smaller companies with clear social and environmental aims.

Shoppers also worried about using Amazon because of claims of unfair work practices and tax contributions.

But despite that 59% said they are members of the Amazon Prime next day delivery service and are unlikely to stop being customers. Researchers found the speed of delivery is the top reason people stayed loyal.

Amazon also said it would invest £10m in skills training over three years including courses designed to help workers ‘who see their future outside of Amazon’ including HGV driving, accountancy and software development.

It comes after the Government pledged to add ‘rocket fuel’ to adult skills training as part of the Queen’s speech agenda.

Business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said: ‘Amazon’s announcement today is fantastic news and a huge vote of confidence in the British economy, helping us deliver on our commitment to level up across the UK.’

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