The people and robots behind your Christmas shop

It is the busiest time of the year for online retailers in the UK as they try to deliver millions of presents before Christmas.

Many take on extra staff to cope with the increased demand, and some are also turning to non-human helpers in the warehouse.

More than 1,000 people have been taken on by Amazon to work at their sites in Tilbury and Basildon in Essex over the festive period, taking the total workforce there to more than 4,500.

The complex operation at Tilbury also includes the use of huge yellow Hercules robots, each capable of carrying the weight of a grand piano.

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17 December 2025

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