London : Google’s recent investment in London is set to put the tech company at the heart of the city. Details of its new Kings Cross Campus emerged earlier this month, describing an 11-storey building to act as Google’s HQ in London. Now, Google has announced a Digital Skills Academy to open in Central London.
The Academy is set to be a 3,700 sqm building dedicated to “educating and inspiring everyone”, from school children to CEOs, according to Google. The centre, located at 123 Buckingham Palace Road in Victoria, will open during London Tech Week (12 to 16 June) and will teach people how to improve their digital skills.
In terms of design, the Academy is set to have an eclectic range of auditoriums, featuring a Brighton-themed Electric Cinema and Beach, and FunFair-style presentation rooms. The site will also feature a ‘Cloud Promenade’, a collaborative space to hold workshops.
The opening of the Academy has been backed by charities and supported by the UK government, in an effort to drive digital skills within the UK. During its opening week, the Google Academy will offer a ‘Get Started in Tech’ course, run by the Prince’s Trust, offering training to participants on how to use video and technology to create a ‘brand story’. The Academy will also play host to a Leaders In Tech Summit, a two-day event that will bring together policy makers, entrepreneurs and tech leaders, with speakers such as Sir Martin Sorell and Eileen Burbidge MBE.
Having recently announced its new London HQ, Google claims it will create up to 3,000 new jobs in the area by 2020.
Ronan Harris, Google’s UK managing director, spoke of Google’s choice of London as a tech destination: “London’s ambition to grow, harness new technologies, and build the brightest and best companies has been a constant over the last decade. When the tech community with industries ranging from fashion and music to automotives and AI have worked in partnership with government, the Mayor’s office and passionate communities supporting startups and scaleups, new jobs have been created and London has shown it can lead the way in a competitive global environment.”
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