Who are Amazon?
Amazon.co.uk opened its virtual doors in October 1998 and is part of the Amazon group and is ultimately owned by Amazon.com, Inc., a Fortune 500 company based in Seattle USA, which strives to be the world’s most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online.
Initially known as an online bookseller, Amazon.co.uk has dramatically expanded its range of products and now offers millions of items across categories including Books, Music, MP3, DVD, Software, PC & Video Games, Electronics, Toys, Home & Garden, Grocery, Musical Instruments & DJ, Sports & Leisure, Jewellery & Watches, Health & Beauty, Baby, Shoes, DIY & Tools, Car & Motorbike, Pet Supplies and Clothing. Javari.co.uk, the dedicated shoe and handbag website, is also a part of Amazon.
Amazon’s success can be attributed to an obsessive focus on the customer. Amazon’s websites offer an easy and convenient way to shop, with low prices, great choice and comprehensive product information.
Two key strategies for the business are the dramatic expansion in the range of products Amazon sells and a relentless focus on lowering prices. As Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com stated, “There are two types of retailers: those that work hard to raise prices and those that work hard to lower prices. Though both models can be successful, we’ve decided to relentlessly follow the second model.”
For more information, visit www.amazon.co.uk/about.
What projects / schemes / initiatives to support women’s recruitment, retention and progression in STEM are Amazon involved in?
Across Amazon there are a number of active women’s affinity groups supporting a wide range of projects to attract, develop and retain the very best talent.
Women@Amazon is a global network that connects current and emerging women’s groups across the company. It provides resources and activities to help women across Amazon grow their networks and targeted recruiting/referral activities that help us attract new talent to Amazon.
Amazon Women in Engineering (AWE) is focused on making Amazon the best place to work for women in technical roles. The group works to actively promote diversity at Amazon, in particular for engineering positions. It also provides a network for women at Amazon – a way to share experiences, get exposure to career and development opportunities, and participate in relevant events.
Beyond affinity groups we sponsored the 2016 Women’s International Networking conference and had a senior Amazonian speak at London’s Women of Silicon Roundabout event. We also ran a skills session at the event, enabling us share our experiences and help women in tech learn more about the opportunities we offer.
Beyond this the Amazon Women in Innovation Bursary programme launched in 2016 to inspire less privileged female students into STEM. This offers financial and career support to students at Cambridge, Edinburgh and Kings College London universities, helping them forge a career in tech.
Why did Amazon join WISE?
“Amazon is a company of builders who use varying backgrounds, ideas and points of view to invent on behalf of customers. We want to help inspire the next generation to reach their potential so are proud to support WISE’s efforts to promote careers in STEM to young women.”
– Alison Barlow, EU Head of Diversity, Amazon.
