Bloomberg
Google is going ahead with delayed plans to expand its London offices, saying it will build a 10-story building on the site in a move that the UK government called a vote of confidence in the country’s post-Brexit future.
The company, the largest unit of Alphabet Inc., said it would be able to house as many as 7,000 workers at the London campus after the expansion — 3,000 more than a spokesman said it currently employs in the UK Google Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai described the plan as a sign of the company’s commitment to the country.
“Here in the UK, it’s clear to me that computer science has a great future with the talent, educational institutions, and passion for innovation we see all around us,†he said in a statement.
Speaking at an event that included London’s mayor Sadiq Khan and prominent entrepreneurs and venture capitalists, Pichai was optimistic about the UK’s future in technology despite the June vote to leave the European Union, and he said Google was committed to remaining in the country for years. Multinational corporations have been grasping for details on the country’s plans for leaving the EU. Tech companies wonder whether they’ll still be able to hire workers from overseas and gain access to the single market after the country leaves the bloc.
“Our technology industry is central to securing future economic growth and this government is committed to ensuring it continues to thrive,†Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond said in a separate statement. “It’s further proof that Britain is open for business and that we continue to be an outward looking, world-leading nation.â€