Amazon to open digital media tech hub in the UK

Online retailer and technology firm Amazon is to open a new digital media innovation hub in the UK, it has revealed.

To be based in London, the 47,000 square ft. centre will house teams of software development engineers, user interface experts and graphic designers.

Employees at the studio will work on the creation of interactive digital services for games consoles, smartphones, PCs and TV. They will also building new services and APIs behind its digital media.

Staff at the new firm will include members of the design and development teams from Pushbutton and LoveFilm.

The digital media hub will be opened "in the coming months".

“London is a hotbed of tech talent and testament to that fact is Amazon choosing the capital as the location for the new global Digital Media Development Centre,” said MD of the new centre Paula Byrne.

“Innovation is part of the Amazon DNA and we are creating a British centre of excellence to design and develop the next generation of TV and film services for a wide range of digital devices.”

London Major Boris Johnson added: “I am thrilled to welcome Amazon’s fantastic new international digital centre to London. For this wildly successful and dynamic company to choose our city to site such an important facility is a splendid feather in our cap.

“We know we have the talent, the space and infrastructure to make the most of the digital economy – this will be my prime message during Games-time, as I seek to woo even more companies for the capital, delivering jobs and growth for Londoners. Amazon’s investment propels us well up the league table of global tech cities and we thank them for their vote of confidence.”