Google to provide office space to UK start-ups

Internet giant Google has continued its charm offensive on UK start-ups with the announcement of a multi-million pound “technology community centre.”

The seven-storey building in East London will host activities including training workshops, speaker series' and product demonstrations, as well as providing workspace to new technology companies.

Google’s own UK headquarters will remain in central London, although they will have a presence in the new location on Bonhill Street. The office, which will be renovated before opening in 2012, is expected to act as a hub for tech start-ups, many of which are based nearby.

Around 300 companies are currently thought to be based around Old Street’s ‘Silicon Roundabout’. Last November, the prime minister expressed his desire to turn this area into “one of the world's great technology centres” and Google were fast to sign up to Tech City, the body set up to promote the £400m initiative.

David Singleton, engineering director of Google UK, said: “We announced our involvement in the Tech City project last year, and we've been working hard to make this vision a reality.

“Finding a suitable building is the first major step. We hope to announce more details about the organisations we'll work with and how they will use the space in the coming months. East London is already home to hundreds of innovative British startups and has huge potential for economic growth and new jobs over the coming years.”

The chancellor, George Osborne, added: “Google's multimillion-pound investment in London's Tech City is great news. It shows that we can create the right environment to attract start-ups and established high-technology businesses, supporting our programme to create new jobs, diversify the economy and create long-term economic growth. This shows that Britain is open for high-tech business.”

The latest announcement comes less than a fortnight after Google launched a pilot scheme offering one-to-one web-building advice to UK start-ups.

© Crimson Publishing Ltd. 2011