LONDON, March 13, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Mayor of London Boris Johnson today outlined his vision to make London the tech capital of the world, as tech businesses said they were overwhelmingly positive about the future of the sector.
Today, a new YouGov survey of tech firms based in London reveals that 84 per cent believe the outlook is bright for their sector and 71 per cent believe being based in the capital will help them attract the investment they need.
The Mayor also announced the formation of a key group of nine leading ambassadors - the London Tech Ambassadors Group - which includes Kathryn Parsons, Co-CEO Decoded, a company which brings digital literacy to thousands, Gerard Grech, CEO of Tech City UK and the well-known entrepreneur and investor Sherry Coutu.
The Mayor detailed how London's position as a leading global financial centre, its dynamic and creative talent base and its world-class universities have all helped contribute to the phenomenal growth the sector has experienced right across London over the last five years.
The Mayor was joined by some of the world's leading tech industry figures, including Mind Candy CEO Michael Acton Smith OBE, Facebook VP EMEA Nicola Mendelsohn and - fresh from their Oscar-winning success - CEO of Framestore Sir William Sargent.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: "There is nowhere to rival London for tech firms to thrive and grow - we have the talent, the investors, and the entrepreneurial spirit. Our tech offer now spans the capital in its entirety, from Tottenham to Croydon and from Wembley to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. I want London's world-class tech sector to be as well known around the globe as our tourism, arts and financial services - it certainly deserves to be. London is where it all comes together. We need to build on this impressive growth and champion London as the global leader for ambitious tech companies."
The London Tech Ambassadors Group will be chaired by Kit Malthouse, Deputy Mayor for Business and Enterprise and Chairman of London & Partners. Members of the group include Mike Butcher, Editor At Large of TechCrunch; Claire Cockerton, CEO Pivotal Innovations; Kathryn Parsons, co-founder Decoded; Gavin Poole, CEO Here East (formerly iCity); Russ Shaw, founder Tech London Advocates; Jo Twist, CEO Association for UK Interactive Entertainment; Derek White, Chief Design Officer Barclays; and Sherry Coutu, the creator of Silicon Valley Comes to the UK.
This year the city is launching the first ever London Technology Week 16-20th June 2014, a series of 25 events across the capital that will bring together over 1,000 influential tech advocates and is expected to become a key date in the Tech calendar.
Images of the speakers can be found here:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/phxphjpttik6i04/eJzKIBb3Pu
A video on London's Tech Sector is available here - broadcast quality and music cleared for use.
UN: pressrelease
PW: L0nd0npress
