Netflix invests in new London HQ as it expands into Britain

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Netflix is investing in a new London headquarters as part of its aggressive expansion plans in Britain.

The streaming service will treble its office space in the capital to 100,000 sq ft when it moves into the Copyright Building in the West End.

The leasing deal follows the international success of Netflix programmes made in Britain, including The Crown and Sex Education.

A source close to the company said Netflix intends to “invest heavily in the British creative economy”, creating jobs in its business operations, original productions and co-productions.

Netflix has 269 employees in the UK, where it filmed more than 50 productions last year.

A spokesman said: “As part of our ongoing commitment to the UK, we are excited to expand our operations in London through the lease of additional office space.”

The company has agreed to take over a lease from Capita, the outsourcer, which is giving up the space as its employees spend more time working from home. The deal was first reported by Bloomberg.

Technology companies including Apple, Amazon and Facebook have all committed to large new headquarters in London in recent years. Google agreed last month to extend a lease at an office development near Tottenham Court Road for another decade. It is also in talks to lease additional space in King’s Cross, close to its £1 billion new headquarters.

Commenting on Netflix’s headquarter move to UK, Stephen Kelly, Chair, Tech Nation said: “We always welcome companies from around the world setting up headquarters in the UK. The UK has all the prerequisites needed for companies to do so successfully – a favourable time zone for international business, world leading universities, global talent, and the heart of global finance. International companies coming to the UK, particularly those that are fast growing, creates a favourable tech ecosystem here as a whole. They breed high-skilled talent, offer well paid jobs, and bring experience into the ecosystem. By 2030 it is expected that 50% of the economy will be in the creative, digital, and tech industries. Netflix’s plans are an example of this in practice – bringing not just digital jobs but much needed creative jobs.”

https://www.bmmagazine.co.uk