Yoox-Net-A-Porter launches new London tech hub
Yoox-Net-A-Porter has opened a new tech hub in London’s White City as part of a €500 million investment in technology and logistics as it looks to double the size of its business by 2020.
Spanning 70,000 square feet, the space will bring together Yoox-Net-A-Porter’s UK tech teams under one roof. There will be 500 staff based at the tech hub, with a further 100 jobs created over the next two years.
Work at the facility will include developing Artificial Intelligence capabilities, such as personalisation and image recognition, and creating the next wave of mobile technologies.
Designed by Grimshaw, the space will facilitate a mobile working culture while simultaneously supporting collaboration with the group’s other offices around the world including a 500-strong tech team in Bologna.
In addition, Yoox-Net-A-Porter is partnering with London’s Imperial College London, whose White City campus is under construction, on the launch of an initiative to help teach local children from underprivileged backgrounds aged 8-14 the basics of coding.
The project, named Imperial Codelab Powered by Yoox-Net-A-Porter Group, aims to increase the number of children, especially girls, who have access to coding classes and promote the importance of digital skills.
Yoox-Net-A-Porter said it will also play a key part in the White City regeneration project.
Federico Marchetti, chief executive of Yoox-Net-A-Porter, said: “We are delighted to open our cutting-edge Tech Hub in West London, a space created to inspire and facilitate disruptive innovation. Artificial intelligence and new mobile enhancements to the customer experience will be the focus. Tech Hub will be home to our 500-strong UK tech team and gives us plenty of room to add new jobs.
“As well as being a further boost for London’s burgeoning tech sector, it is also great to see that Yoox-Net-A-Porter is working hand-in-hand with Imperial College to help local young people to improve their digital skills.”
