Facebook will boost its UK staff by 50 percent with 500 new employees as it opens a new London headquarters in July.
Citing the development of products such as Aquila and Workplace in the UK, Nicola Mendelsohn, VP EMEA, said that many of the roles would be high- skilled engineering roles. The majority of these roles will be based at the new headquarters in Fitzrovia.
Facebook opened operations in the UK in 2007 and now employs 1000 people in Britain.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Facebook’s decision to expand in London is further evidence that London’s strength as a tech hub keeps on growing. It follows news this week that London remains the best city in Europe for digital startups.
“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.”
Mendelsohn made the announcement at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) Annual Conference, where Prime Minister Theresa May has also been speaking.
Paul Drechsler, CBI President, had called on the government to commit to spending 3 percent of GDP on research and development by 2025. May promised increases in government investment worth £2billion per year by 2020 for R&D.
The announcements will provide a boost to advocates of leaving the European Union as a post-Brexit show of faith in the UK. With the Autumn Statement this week expected to include a cut to corporation tax, these tech giants may be anticipating government give-aways after the UK leaves the EU.
Facebook also announced that nearly 30 million people are connected to at least one UK small business on Facebook.
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