Why London for tech?
At a glance: London's tech scene
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Navigate London's exciting tech ecosystem
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Set up here to access exceptional staff, tax breaks, entrepreneur-friendly visas and investment schemes. Grow faster by tapping into ready venture capital. Access 240,000 digital technology employees in London. Some of the world’s top universities are undertaking IT R&D here, while 23,000 students are studying computer science.
1. Niche clusters
Tech hotspots are thriving across the capital, spanning software, gaming, business process outsourcing, telcos and more. Find your niche to the east in Tech City, south in Croydon or in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park’s emerging business park, HereEast. Settle centrally, close to Google’s 2016 £1bn HQ, and be on the doorstep of St Pancras International and fast train links to continental Europe.
2. World-class talent
Access 240,000 digital tech professionals in London from across the globe. Some of the world’s top universities are undertaking IT R&D here, while nearly 20,000 students are studying computer science.
Huge market: worth £36bn, London’s ICT market is Europe’s largest
Tax breaks and investment: benefit from R&D tax breaks, Patent Box, investment schemes and intellectual property protection
3. Tech-friendly visas
As a prospective entrepreneur, you are allowed to enter the UK to secure funding and make arrangements to start your business before transferring to a full Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa.
4. Advanced infrastructure
In London, super-fast broadband and transport networks guarantee you world-class connectivity and access to customers. The UK Government is investing £830 million to build Europe’s best super-fast broadband and provider coverage for at least 95% of UK premises by December 2017.
A key factor for London was the availability of top talent. It’s critical for an organisation like ours to be able to tap into the best talent and some of Europe’s leading universities are here in London.
Jordi Ribas, General Manager, Microsoft Search Technology Centre, Europe
See more tech company success stories >
How we can help
London & Partners can help you:
- find the right staff and location for your business
- make best use of tax breaks and investment schemes
- connect with business support networks and trade associations