Amazon has increased its permanent workforce at UK fulfilment centres from 4000 in 2011 to 7800 this year, and with two more centres to be opened later this year will have over doubled its workforce in the UK over the last five years.

The online giant has eight centres at Swansea Bay, Rugely, Peterborough, Milton Keynes, Hemel Hempstead, Dunfirmline, Gourock and Doncaster. A new fulfilment centre is about to be opened in Dunstable next month, with a 10th centre opening in Doncaster opening later this year, adding 800 jobs.

As with many of its high street competitors Amazon is hiring a large temporary workforce for the festive season. With nearly half of all major purchases made by home customers now from e-commerce, the company expects to have a very busy season this year.

The UK e-commerce market is one of the biggest and most developed in Europe, and such expansion is a sign that the biggest players see there is still room for a greater market share.