Facebook will create nearly 1000 new jobs as it opens a new office in the capital today.
By the end of next year, Facebook’s total UK workforce will be more than 2,300-increasing by over 50 per cent.
More than half of the people working in the new site will focus on engineering, which makes it Facebook’s biggest engineering hub outside the US.
The offices in Rathbone Place, just off Oxford Street, will also be home to LDN_LAB, a scheme helping accelerate startups’ development through a three-month programme.
With over 1 million people unemployed in the UK, it is a good news for Londoners -especially for graduates and young tech startups.
Everyone say hi to the new Facebook London HQ! We’re in Rathbone Square now, near Tottenham Court Road <3 pic.twitter.com/xeE0k5QoNP
— Paco (@pacoworks) December 4, 2017
Facebook opening a new office in London creating 800 jobs… for the UK 🤔 There’s more to this country than London, guys.
— Stephen Sanders (@smsanders) December 4, 2017
The new #Facebook building in London will bring 800 high tech jobs to the city. pic.twitter.com/MpfzzHNqyH
— Georgie Prodromou (@GeorgieProRadio) December 4, 2017
Facebook’s expansion in the UK marks its commitment to Britain despite the uncertainty of Brexit. Nicola Mendelsohn, vice-president of Facebook’s European operations, said: “The UK’s flourishing entrepreneurial ecosystem and international reputation for engineering excellence makes it one of the best places in the world to build a tech company. And we’ve built our company here – this country has been a huge part of Facebook’s story over the past decade, and I look forward to continuing our work.”
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “The emphasis on engineering and the 800 new jobs being created [by Facebook] shows London remains at the forefront of global innovation. What’s more, the launch of the company’s incubator is set to play a crucial role in attracting vital talent to London and will help to pave the way for the next generation of successful startups.”
Featured image: Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)