Tech City UK Chair and Digital Adviser to the Prime Minister, Baroness Joanna Shields, has today launched a new programme in the Big Apple. HQ-UK aims to help US technology companies build their international headquarters in the UK.
The programme will give American companies a dedicated relationship manager who will help optimise their expansion, connect them to a specialist support network, provide them with impartial advice and help them reach their target markets faster. Additional benefits include priority border control at UK airports, accelerated access to UK bank accounts, sign-posting for quick visa applications and supporting company incorporation, which can often be completed within a single day.
HQ-UK is a joint initiative between UK Trade & Investment, Tech City UK, the Department of Business, Innovation & Skills, and the Department of Culture, Media & Sport.
Why choose the UK?
World-class talent
At the heart of the UK’s digital ecosystem are a skilled, tech-savvy workforce and the second largest labor market in the EU. Home to four of the world’s top six universities, the UK has the highest proportion of adults with tertiary education in Western Europe. The UK has made an unrivalled commitment to building digital skills through introducing coding to the school curriculum nationwide and targeted initiatives such as Tech City UK’s Digital Business Academy.
World-class talent
For companies who want to bring exceptional talent from outside of the EU, the UK offers a number of specialist visas, including the Exceptional Talent Visa for highly skilled tech talent, as well as entrepreneur and investor routes.
Reformed tax system
From April 1st 2015, the UK’s fully reformed tax system will offer the lowest corporation tax rate in the G7 and the joint lowest in the G20. Then there are particular benefits for innovative companies – the Patent Box provides a 10 per cent tax rate for income arising from UK or EU patents, together with generous improved R&D tax credit regime and other reliefs for costs like interest and amortisation.
A connected nation
As the digital capital of Europe, the UK offers a strong base for technology companies with clusters of digital excellence across the country. In fact, 74 per cent of the digital economy is located outside of London, with a rich tapestry of tech capabilities including software development in Newcastle, media and gaming in Brighton, and wireless and networking in Cambridge.
The UK’s digital and transport infrastructure meets companies’ “need for speed,” including the best superfast broadband service in Europe and airports that serve more destinations on a daily basis than any other country in Europe.
To find out more about how HQ-UK can help you to benefit from the outstanding commercial opportunities the UK has to offer, download the HQ-UK prospectus or contact your local UKTI relationship manager, by visiting www.techcityuk.com/hquk.