Advertisement

Facebook backs Brexit Britain - it plans to hire 500 workers at a new London HQ

Facebook's planning to expand its UK workforce - increasing its headcount by 50% to more than 1,5...
Newstalk
Newstalk

09.38 21 Nov 2016


Share this article


Facebook backs Brexit Britain...

Facebook backs Brexit Britain - it plans to hire 500 workers at a new London HQ

Newstalk
Newstalk

09.38 21 Nov 2016


Share this article


Facebook's planning to expand its UK workforce - increasing its headcount by 50% to more than 1,500.

The social media giant is planning a major expansion of its London operations.

Advertisement

Facebook's European head Nicola Mendelsohn said: "The UK remains one of the best places to be a tech company and is an important part of Facebook’s story. We came to London in 2007 with just a handful of people. By the end of next year we will have opened a new HQ and plan to employ 1,500 people."

Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, said the announcement shows faith in the UK's tech sector following the Brexit vote.

"The capital’s vibrant tech scene is the envy of Europe and Facebook’s continuing commitment is another sign that London is open to talent, innovation and entrepreneurship from all four corners of the world."

Faith

Last week, Google announced it will open a new head office in the British capital and Apple is planning a similar move.

The tech firm is going ahead with plans to invest some £1bn in a major new London HQ in a move which cements the US firm's presence in the UK, despite the uncertainty caused by Trump's election victory and Britain's decision to leave the EU.

The company will create up to 3,000 jobs - bringing its total UK workforce from 4,000 to 7,000.

Google chief executive Sundar Pichai told the BBC that the project will be completed by 2020.

He added that the free movement of employees is important to the firm's future plans in post-Brexit Britain:

"We do value how open and connected it is and we can bring in talent from anywhere in the world and we value those attributes and we are optimistic that those will stay true over time."

PA

Meanwhile, Amazon has continued with plans to hire 1,000 more UK-based employees in 2016 bringing its workforce to more than 15,000.

It will also bed down in the UK with a new headquarters in London with capacity to house 5,000 workers.

The online retailer is also in the process of building new data centers across the UK.

Visit London

Apple is also set to build a giant new UK HQ in the historic Battersea Power Station.

It will house the company's 1,400 UK employees and have space to accommodate up to 3,000.

Post-Brexit business

British Prime Minister Theresa May is expected to announce a major boost for UK-based businesses today - by slashing corporation tax from 20% to 17%.

At the Confederation of British Industry conference, she will reveal plans to make £2bn extra per year available to invest in scientific research and development between now and 2020 as the UK tries to remain competitive during this period of uncertainty.

 


Share this article


Read more about

News

Most Popular