Employees Turned Entrepreneurs: New Amazon Initiative Helps Employees Start Their Own Package Delivery Business
Amazon expands its Delivery Service Partner program in the US with a
new incentive for current Amazon employees to start a small business
owning and operating a package delivery company
Amazon commits to funding startup costs, up to $10,000, and the
equivalent of the former employee’s gross salary for three months to
start their own delivery business
New initiative continues Amazon’s long-time commitment of empowering
employees to pursue career aspirations
SEATTLE–(BUSINESS WIRE)–(NASDAQ:AMZN) – Amazon announced today the expansion of its Delivery
Service Partner program in the US with a new incentive for current
Amazon employees to start a small business owning and operating a
package delivery company. The new incentive will fund the startup
costs, up to $10,000, as well as the equivalent of three months of the
former employee’s last gross salary so employees-turned-business-owners
can more easily get their package delivery companies off the ground.
“We received overwhelming interest from tens of thousands of individuals
who applied to be part of the Delivery Service Partner program,
including many employees,” said Dave Clark, senior vice president of
worldwide operations. “We’ve heard from associates that they want to
participate in the program but struggled with the transition. Now we
have a path for those associates with an appetite for opportunities to
own their own businesses.”
Amazon will take an active role in helping interested employees launch
their own package delivery businesses. An employee will leave their role
at Amazon to build their business knowing they will have consistent
delivery volume from Amazon, access to the company’s sophisticated
delivery technology, hands-on training, and discounts on a suite of
assets and services, including Amazon-branded vans customized for
delivery, branded uniforms and comprehensive insurance.
Amazon’s new incentive will fund the startup costs, up to $10,000, for
its employees-turned-small business-owners in the US who want to build
their own delivery companies. Amazon will also provide financial support
with a payment equal to three months of the former employee’s last gross
salary while they build their new package delivery business.
This program is the latest example of Amazon initiatives aimed at
encouraging employees to develop and advance their careers. Across the
US, more than 12,000 people have already taken part in Amazon’s Career
Choice program where Amazon pre-pays up to 95% of tuition for courses
related to in-demand fields, up to $12,000, regardless of whether the
skills are relevant to a career at Amazon.
Since the launch of the Delivery Service Partner program in June 2018,
Amazon has enabled the creation of more than 200 new small businesses
that have hired thousands of local drivers to deliver packages to Amazon
customers. This year, the company plans to add hundreds more new
businesses, starting with employees-turned-business-owners.
Additionally, this program offering has expanded to employees in the UK
and Spain. For those interested in starting their own business
delivering Amazon packages, visit logistics.amazon.com
to learn more.
Small Business Support
The 2019
Amazon SMB Impact Report revealed there are more than 1.9 million
businesses working with Amazon in the U.S. – selling in our stores,
operating a delivery service provider, using Amazon Web Services,
running an Alexa Skill, or publishing via Kindle Direct Publishing.
Since 2011, Amazon has invested tens of billions to help small and
medium-sized businesses (SMBs) succeed, and SMBs have created 1.6
million jobs worldwide to support their sales in Amazon’s stores. The
company recently launched Build
Your Business with Amazon to help businesses interested in working
with Amazon get started.
About Amazon
Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than
competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational
excellence, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping,
personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle
Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, and Alexa
are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon. For more
information, visit www.amazon.com/about
and follow @AmazonNews.
Contacts
Amazon.com, Inc.
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