6 big employers investing in Peterborough

Peterborough's Amazon distribution centre isn't exactly news, but the business giant has announced the opening of a new logistics delivery station that will create 50 more permanent jobs in the city.

Packages will be prepared at the fulfilment centre and then shipped to the delivery station before being distributed to drivers.

Kerry-Anne Lawlor, country director for Amazon Logistics, said: "We are excited to continue to invest in the Peterborough area with a new delivery station that will provide efficient delivery for customers, and create new jobs for the talented workforce."

Oatly

Oatly's first UK plant is being built in Peterborough - although it won't arrive until 2023. Still, being chosen as the site for one of the largest plant-based alternative milk factories in the world is great for Peterborough, which has been vying to be the UK's environmental capital for some time.

More than 200 new jobs will be created, but with a few more years until opening, advertisements haven't gone out just yet.

McCormick

American spice company McCormick is creating up to 300 jobs with its new industrial hub at Alwalton Hill.

The multi-million pound factory began construction in September last year after being approved by Peterborough City Council in June.

Jobs have begun being advertised, with the facility set to open later this year.

The URBN fulfilment centre is opening in two phases, beginning with Anthropologie operations (Photo: Opportunity Peterborough)

URBN

Last year it was announced that URBN would be opening a fulfilment centre in Peterborough with more than 200 new jobs created.

The first phase of the move saw the Anthropologie brand move operations to Peterborough, and by winter 2021 fulfilment for all URBN's brands will be based out of the Peterborough centre.

Jobs are still advertised for the centre, with perks including gym access, pension plan, private healthcare and discounts on goods.

Lidl

The Lidl distribution centre opened in Peterborough in August 2020 and is their largest distribution site in the UK.

The £70million warehouse employed 400 people on opening, with plans to extend to at least 450.

The company is currently advertising three roles, with part time, evenings and mornings available.

Coloplast

Coloplast is another business which has had a legacy in Peterborough that spans decades. Last year, it chose to expand its footprint in the city with a new distribution centre which opened in February 2020.

New roles are created across the business yearly, and a successful apprenticeship scheme shows how the company is investing in new talent.

Speaking about the appeal of the city for large investors, Tom Hennessy, chief executive of Opportunity Peterborough said: "Peterborough has an impressive track record for securing international investment which shows huge confidence in the city. Investors normally consider multiple locations in the UK and it's Opportunity Peterborough's job to show them just how much Peterborough has to offer and why they should invest here.

"The city's location is strategically valuable being next to the A1(M), A14, and A47 which open up the rest of the country and give easy access to international ports and airports.

"Businesses can also tap into a full-fibre gigabit network which can support smart technologies to improve productivity and efficiency on site. Employers are creating state of the art facilities using cutting edge technology, making them more environmentally friendly and creating higher paid jobs that will benefit local residents.

"All this and Peterborough still offers some of the most competitive operating costs and access to a highly skilled workforce.

"What's more, investors can immediately access well-established supply chains across manufacturing, logistics, food and drink, which is crucial for ensuring new operations can establish themselves quickly.

"When a business confirms they're investing in Peterborough after initial talks we continue working with them to ensure things go as smoothly as possible as they establish their site. We're here to connect them with the experts they need, and to help them make local connections to support their work. This can range from finding the right commercial site, connecting them with utilities providers, supporting recruitment drives, through to creating working groups to help industrial and business park tenants collaborate so sites can run more effectively. We work with any business in the city so once a new investor is established, they can still get free, impartial support from Opportunity Peterborough."