Animal volunteer. Aviation mentor. Inspirational musician… Meet our Amazon Stars

Since the pandemic in 2020, we have been recognising employees in our UK operations network who have been doing exceptional work to deliver for customers throughout the year.

Alongside their great work at Amazon, many of these employees also make outstanding contributions to their local communities by volunteering their time, raising funds and using their unique skills and talents for the benefit of the community.

We wanted to shed a spotlight on some of these incredible people, so we created Amazon Stars – a rewards programme to recognise the Amazon heroes going the extra mile for others.

At the end of each year, employees at Amazon from across the UK are called to nominate colleagues who have done great work inside and outside of Amazon. Three of these employees are then rewarded with an Amazon Star award.

This year we received hundreds of nominations from Amazon’s operations network across the UK and Ireland, telling inspiring stories of employees working to meet the needs of colleagues, customers and communities.

Every employee nominated was in for a chance of winning one of three Dream Boxes - worth up to £1,500 - as a personalised prize to thank them for their commitment to good causes.

The judges had a difficult task picking just three winners for this year’s campaign, but they eventually settled on a trio of outstanding Amazon Stars for 2022. Let us introduce you to them.

Our first 2022 Amazon Star is Kerry Robinson, who works as a receptionist at Amazon’s fulfilment centre in Wakefield.

Originally from Neath in South Wales but now living in Huddersfield, Kerry has volunteered for 25 years at a variety of animal welfare charities across the UK.

Most recently, Kerry has become involved with Hope Pastures, a horse, pony and donkey sanctuary in Leeds where she volunteers every Saturday morning.

Kerry’s love for ensuring the welfare and rehabilitation of animals continues to grow as she serves in the community at a number of animal rescue sanctuaries.

Speaking on her work with Hope Pastures, Kerry said: “I started supporting Hope Pastures by buying the second-hand items the charity was selling online to raise money. As I’ve got four horses of my own, I appreciate the cost that goes into looking after them and I wouldn’t want ours to be left without anyone to look after them. Now I volunteer every Saturday morning at the sanctuary and I just love being able to give back - it’s very rewarding work.”

Find out more about Kerry’s story.

Jack Moore, a shift manager at Amazon’s delivery station in Birmingham, takes home our second Amazon Star award for 2022.

Jack, an ex-airline pilot, works to eliminate the barriers into the aviation industry for people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Alongside completing aerobatic flight challenges to raise money for charities in his local area, Jack takes young people with a passion for flying on adventure flights over Birmingham to inspire them to fulfil their potential and encourage them to follow their dreams of becoming pilots.

Speaking on his experience of mentoring young people in the community, Jack said: “Many years ago, aviation was a closed-off industry, but I hope that through my charity work we can open it up and make careers in aviation possible for children from underprivileged backgrounds. I want them to believe that they can succeed at whatever they set their minds to – because they can!“

Find out more about Jack’s story.

Joseph Wilson, a team lead at Amazon’s fulfilment centre in Dartford is the third and final winner of Amazon Stars 2022.

Joseph is a multi-instrumentalist who plays the drums, bass guitar and piano. Every year, he uses his gifts to mentor and encourage young, emerging artists who have the talent to write and play music but lack the financial means to pursue a career in the industry.

Joseph also organises Church Play, a mentor-led workshop for young people with musical talent. The event takes place annually and involves musical experts and professional musicians mentoring young people with musical ambition, encouraging them to not only follow their passions, but also finish school and develop as people.

Speaking on his passion for music and the impact of Church Play, Joseph said: “Music is everything to me; when I play, I am home. One young man I’ve worked with for some time, who’s a great drummer, recently got to play a show with me at the O2 in London. Getting to watch him to do what he loves was such a joy – that’s what motivates me.”

Find out more about Joseph’s story.

Eileen Ferguson, Sortation Associate at our Glasgow delivery station was nominated for an Amazon Star award for her fundraising efforts for local charities, especially her contribution to the fundraising efforts for a colleague whose son was going through chemotherapy.

Ben Vardy, an Amazon Customer Excellence Systems (ACES) Manager at our Doncaster delivery station, was nominated for his recent community efforts which included shaving his beard off and donating sponsorship money to Action Aid UK.

Alexandru Serban, a Shift Manager at our Doncaster delivery station, was nominated for his work promoting inclusivity and diversity in the workplace and for providing exceptional support for a colleague with autism.

Cameron Fyffe, a Team Lead at our Doncaster fulfilment centre, was nominated for his volunteering role as a coach with Wheatley Hill RUFC Juniors, a community rugby club in North Doncaster.

Leanne Noble, an Associate at our Darlington fulfilment centre, was nominated in recognition of her fundraising work for Heel & Toe, a Durham-based charity that supports children with cerebral palsy and other physical disabilities.

Abdi Khalif, an Associate at our Bolton fulfilment centre, was nominated for his role in founding Help Dadaab, a UK charity that provides education, shelter and access to medical facilities for people in Kenya.

Simon Murray, an Automation Engineer at our Dublin fulfilment centre, was nominated for his dedication to and support of My Lovely Horse Rescue, an animal welfare organisation that rescues, rehabilitates and rehomes unwanted, neglected and abused animals.

Charles Agwu, an Associate at our Dartford fulfilment centre, was nominated by his son, Ogechukwu, who also works at Amazon. Ogechukwu wanted to recognise his dad for his talent as a photographer, and his dedication to the local community.

Dominic O'Keefe, a RME Technician at our Leeds fulfilment centre, is an avid rugby player who is very dedicated to his local team. In memory of a teammate and friend, Dominic, alongside his fellow players, set up the Nick Smith Foundation to raise funds to further enhance research for those suffering with motor neurone disease.

In 2016, Joseph Takyi who is an Associate at our Rugby fulfilment centre, founded The Naada Foundation in the Bono East Region of Ghana to provide deprived communities with essential support and resources. Joseph now manages the foundation from the UK, supporting children and members of his home town community.

April Hunt, a HR Business Partner at Sutton-in-Ashfield fulfilment centre, was nominated for her work in the community, setting up a youth club, community choir and tackling loneliness in her community by hosting community Christmas meals for those living alone.

Gill Cura, a Senior HR Business Partner at our Dunfermline fulfilment centre, was nominated for significant contribution to the Scot Baby Box Appeal, a Scotland-based charity supporting mothers and new-born babies in Ukraine.

Sophie Wileman, Apprenticeship Coordinator at our Coalville delivery station, was nominated for devoting a lot of her spare time to charity work with the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA).

Taiwo Adelekan, a HR Business Partner at our Maidstone delivery station, was nominated for writing a children’s book, Tulu’s Festival, inspired by her own experience of facing a lack of diversity and representation in the UK during her childhood.

Vincenzo Giardina, an Associate at our Bristol fulfilment centre, was nominated for the award by his wife and colleague Caron for his lifelong commitment to teaching children from underprivileged backgrounds the disciplines of karate.

Jessica Tompsett, HR Partner at our delivery station in Maidstone, was nominated for her involvement in Amazon’s ‘Class Chats’ programme, which sees employees from Amazon visit local schools to give career talks.

Bea AK, an Associate at our Manchester fulfilment centre, was nominated for going the extra mile to make people smile at work and for being a supporter of colleagues who face personal difficulties.

Meet our 2021 Amazon Stars.