Amazon has revealed plans to invest £40 billion across its UK operations over the next three years.
Announced as part of a wide-ranging strategy to bolster the company’s interests in the country, the investment will build on Amazon’s “ongoing commitment to the UK creative industry”, which includes the redevelopment of Berkshire’s Bray Film Studios as well as continuing investment in skills and training programmes, and TV and film productions at numerous locations.
Amazon recently agreed a long-term contract with Shepperton Studios for exclusive use of new state-of-the-art production facilities, with The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is currently filming at the studio.
According to the company, it has invested more than £4.2 billion in the UK creative sector since 2010, providing over 2,000 permanent jobs along with an additional 16,000 temporary positions. Its £10 million Prime Video Pathway training initiative supports the development of new talent within the industry.
The package includes part of the £8 billion announced in September to build and operate data centres aimed at strengthening UK ambitions to increase AI compute capacity, as demand for the technology continues to surge.
Amazon CEO, Andy Jassy, said, “Amazon has been proud to serve our customers in the UK for the past 27 years. Thanks to their support, we’ve grown to be part of over 100 communities nationwide, from developing drone technology in Darlington to producing world-class entertainment at our studios in Bray. We now employ over 75,000 people and have become one of the UK’s largest private sector employers and taxpayers.”
UK Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, said: “This investment is a powerful endorsement of Britain’s economic strengths.”
