What Christmas rush was like at Amazon's huge Chesterfield centre

Staff at Amazon's cavernous warehouse near Chesterfield are catching their breath after a hectic Christmas rush completed a year like no other.
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With online shopping booming amid the coronavirus pandemic, the number of deliveries being processed at the vast site in Barlborough has skyrocketed in 2020 and peaked ahead of the festive period.

The 400-strong workforce at the online shopping giant’s Gander Lane fulfillment centre - which is the equivalent to more than seven football pitches in size – has been swelled by the addition of 100 permanent staff and 300 seasonal employees in the run-up to Christmas.

David Benfell, site leader of Amazon’s Chesterfield centre, said the entire team ‘has been fantastic throughout’.

Amazon Chesterfield team members David Leversedge and Laura Herring. Image: Mark Bickerdike Photography.Amazon Chesterfield team members David Leversedge and Laura Herring. Image: Mark Bickerdike Photography.
Amazon Chesterfield team members David Leversedge and Laura Herring. Image: Mark Bickerdike Photography.

“We’ve all worked hard to keep each other safe and deliver for our customers and we’ve continued to do all we can for charities and the surrounding communities,” he said.

The centre opened in September last year, and David it says it became clear early in 2020 that things would be very different during the pandemic.

"It takes the Amazon team a year of planning and preparing for this, their busiest time of year,” David said.

Amazon Chesterfield's huge centre at Barlborough on Black Friday.Amazon Chesterfield's huge centre at Barlborough on Black Friday.
Amazon Chesterfield's huge centre at Barlborough on Black Friday.

"There’s a huge amount of forecasting, data analysis and experience which starts straight after the festive season ends to ensure they can deliver again for customers next year.

"But there’s no amount of experience which could have predicted them having to deal with the Covid-19 global pandemic.

“Clearly, we couldn’t have predicted we’d all be living and working under these restrictions.

“And while it’s been a challenge, we looked at our key priorities – the health and safety of our team members and fulfilling customer orders – and have done everything to deliver against those two fundamentals.”

Amazon Chesterfield site leader David Benfell says his team has been 'fantastic' during the pandemic.Amazon Chesterfield site leader David Benfell says his team has been 'fantastic' during the pandemic.
Amazon Chesterfield site leader David Benfell says his team has been 'fantastic' during the pandemic.

Across the Amazon network, almost £600m has been spent in the first half of the year alone on Covid-19 safety measures.

“Aside from the new equipment, we’ve also had to change the way we work,” says David.

“In order to maintain social distancing, we’ve introduced staggered shift start times and break times, changed the way we brief and train our team members and even adjusted our hiring process.”

The team has also found time to support charities including Pathways: Chesterfield Day Centre for the Homeless and Willow Tree Family Farm at Shirebrook.

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.