Employees at Amazon in Dunfermline have been getting hands-on with honeybees as part of a new programme of beekeeping classes launched at the fulfilment centre.
The classes are led by Amazon employee and beekeeper, Ross Main, who introduced four beehives to the site last year with support from Amazon’s sustainability team.
Over the past 12 months, the hives have thrived, and Ross is now helping colleagues learn more about the importance of bees through interactive sessions.
Ross, who works at Amazon in Dunfermline as an Inbound Support Specialist, has almost a decade of experience in beekeeping and runs his own business, Main’s Apiaries, which produces honey and offers family-friendly beekeeping experiences. His passion for bees began with his late granddad, who kept hives in Dunbar, inspiring Ross to continue the tradition.
Speaking on the new classes, Ross said:
“It’s been fantastic to see the hives thrive over the past year, and even better to share my knowledge with colleagues. Bees play such a vital role in our ecosystem, and it’s great to see so many people at Amazon in Dunfermline showing an interest and wanting to get involved. The support from Amazon has been brilliant, and I’m proud we’re building something that benefits both people and nature.”
The four hives at the site support biodiversity in the local ecosystem, with the bees helping pollinate plants and flowers across Dunfermline and beyond.
Jamie Strain, General Manager at Amazon in Dunfermline, added:
“Ross has done a brilliant job building this project from the ground up, and we’re delighted to see it grow into beekeeping classes for our team. It’s a fantastic example of how one person’s passion can inspire many, and it shows the positive role Amazon employees play in supporting sustainability in our community.”
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Community donations and employee volunteering are just two of the ways Amazon supports the communities where it operates. Amazon co-founded The Big House Multibank in Fife with former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown to support families in need. The Multibank network has now donated more than 12 million surplus goods to over 800,000 families across Scotland, Wales, Greater Manchester, London, Tees Valley and Birmingham. This year, the Multibank will send 1 million orders to families across the UK.
Amazon has supported more than one million students across the UK with free STEM education programmes through Amazon Future Engineer and helps community organisations transport meals and other essentials to families in need through its pro bono logistics programme, Amazon Local Good.
Amazon partners with Comic Relief and is the official home of the charity’s iconic Red Nose. Together with its employees, customers, and partners, Amazon has raised over £4.8 million to fund projects that support people across the UK, and around the world.
