UK & London: Land of Opportunity Say US Tech Executives

The UK is a land of opportunity for globally ambitious US tech workers according to a survey of over eight hundred international technology professionals.

The poll¹ reveals that American tech workers, who are considering a move abroad, would prefer to relocate to London and the UK, over other tech hubs such as Paris, Berlin and Singapore. The survey also found that London is viewed together with New York and San Francisco as one of the world’s top three technology hubs.

London’s growing reputation for tech and innovation are really driving opinion according to the research, commissioned by London & Partners, the Mayor of London’s promotional company and carried out by YouGov. Technology professionals in New York and San Francisco say they’re more favourable towards London than any other city in the survey. And forty per cent of San Francisco’s tech workers have a more favourable opinion of London when compared with New York (34 per cent favourability).

“It is a city unlike any other,” says Seedcamp’s Reshma Sohoni talking about her experience in London. “You’ve got the financial services industry of New York, the political base of DC, the tech of Silicon Valley and the entertainment world of LA. That’s four pretty powerful cities – and they are all in London.”

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson MP said: “With our competitive business environment and an unrivalled range of culture, arts and entertainment, London attracts some of the very best creative and entrepreneurial minds on the planet.”

For some US tech workers the UK presents a real business or career opportunity. For others it’s the draw of history, heritage and lifestyle. “I’ve been able to see and do things in Britain that even people who were born here haven’t done,” says US entrepreneur and CEO of SanGen Group, Dan Kendall. “London’s on a completely different scale,” adds Bob Burke, American and Director of Okta Inc, “the sheer number of people and how multicultural it is brings a richness to the quality of life.”

“I thought the UK would become the global hub of technology,” according to CMO of the start-up accelerator MassChallenge, Diane Perlman. “Any American that’s interested in expanding their horizons and being part of an international community should absolutely consider moving to London.”

The research coincides with the launch of the ‘Transatlantic Tech Boom‘ campaign, a joint initiative between London & Partners, UK Trade & Investment and funded by the GREAT Britain campaign.

The campaign targets US technology businesses looking to expand into London and the UK. It launches at an event on March 13 March at the South by SouthWest (SXSW) festival which will showcase the brightest figures from the US and UK tech scene including Russ Shaw, founder of Tech London Advocates, Ben Medlock, Co-founder of SwiftKey and British singer-song-writer and music-tech entrepreneur, Beatie Wolfe.