Amazon has a proposition for its employee: Become a delivery entrepreneur. According to CBNC, the tech giant is offering its employees $10,000 to set up their delivery business.
These employees, would of course, be delivering on behalf of Amazon. The company is attempting to scale operations to stay competitive with other delivery services by providing their employees the opportunity to be delivery service providers.
“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.”
How would it all work? Amazon plans to 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. They will also have Amazon-branded vans customized for delivery, branded uniforms, and comprehensive insurance.
Additionally, Amazon will cover up to $10,000 in startup costs for employees who are accepted into their program, and allow them to lease their signature blue vans customized for delivery, access branded uniforms, and obtain comprehensive insurance. They will also offer participants three months worth of their salary. The offer extends to warehouse workers who pack and ship orders but excludes Whole Foods employees.
This program is the latest example of Amazon initiatives aimed at encouraging employees to develop and advance their careers. Across the U.S., 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.