Amazon has delivered a bumper package of Scottish jobs with the official opening of its massive fulfilment centre in Dunfermline.
At the opening ceremony of Fife’s biggest inward investment in a generation reported to have cost £60m and which will provide 750 full-time jobs and 1,500 seasonal posts First Minister Alex Salmond hailed it as testament to Amazon’s global success and the skills of the Scottish workforce.
Before travelling to open Amazon’s new customer services centre at Waverley Gate, Edinburgh, where more than 900 permanent and temporary jobs will be created over five years, he said this work would be a platform for smaller Scottish firms hoping to export.
Mr Salmond said: ”In terms of full-time, part-time and seasonal work 3,000 people are going to find gainful employment in any circumstances that would be an announcement of huge significance. In these times it is even greater than that.”
The jobs boost came only days after Chancellor George Osborne warned the Scottish economy was being damaged by the uncertainty of a future independence referendum.
This was rejected by the First Minister, who said the Chancellor’s stance was ”daft and juvenile”.
Mr Salmond said: ”In Scotland we have a positive attitude. George Osborne seems to be in the business of destroying jobs just look to his record and look at our record. It is juvenile scaremongering tactics.”
The need for unity during the global crisis was also highlighted by Fife’s environment, enterprise and transport chairman Tony Martin, who said: ”Instead of Scotland and Westminster arguing and it occurs to me that we are facing huge economic problems and everyone should work together.
”That is what happened on this major investment. We create opportunities if people work together and that is what should be a priority.”
Both Fife and Edinburgh developments, along with 200 jobs created at Amazon’s Gourock fulfilment centre, were backed by £4.3m of Scottish Enterprise funding, and showed, said Mr Salmond, the confidence of investors in Scotland.
Up to £6.3m was also made available to support the building of the Dunfermline centre through Scottish Enterprise Scottish property support.
Work in the centre has started, with many of the company’s Glenrothes centre transferred, including Kirkcaldy’s Corrie Dingwall, who helped the First Minister to giftwrap an order.
”I love working here. I could not get a job any place and to get one in the local area was great,” she said.
Amazon vice-president of European operations Allan Lyall said: ”The talented workforce from our Glenrothes fulfilment centre is transferring to Dunfermline and bringing with them a wealth of experience and Amazon knowledge for the benefit of all our customers.”
Fife Council leader Peter Grant said: ”The decision is a tribute to the quality of the workforce at Amazon in Glenrothes and I welcome the fact that they will have the chance to take up jobs in the new centre. It proves that Fife is an ideal place to live, work, visit and invest.”
Scottish Enterprise worked closely with Amazon to bring the jobs to Scotland. Chairman Crawford Gillies said: ”We know that our excellent skills base combined with a well-developed and supportive business environment, means Scotland is a highly attractive location for international investment.
”The decision by a truly global brand, like Amazon, to build its largest UK fulfilment centre in Dunfermline clearly demonstrates this.”