Cisco's Phil Smith hails 'significant' UK investment

New London base 'highly significant' in Cisco's local plans

Cisco's UK chief executive Phil Smith has talked up the company's "significant" commitment to the country as it upsizes its office space in London.

Cisco moved down the road to a new, bigger office in Finsbury Square, London, last week. The facility is has 27,320 square feet of space and will be home to 300 of the firm's staff. It is one of 14 Cisco UK offices and has "essential capacity to support continued growth" in the region.

The new offices form part of a $1bn (£663m) investment the company announced in the summer it would make in the UK over the coming three to five years.

In a post published on his LinkedIn profile, Smith said the new London offices are more significant than one might think.

"Our office expansion into the Finsbury Square office is yet further proof that we continue to be fully committed to the UK and to assist in driving the national digitisation agenda, grow GDP, create new jobs and invest in sustainable innovation," he said.

"Our new Finsbury Square office in London will be a significant location for us as we continue on our growth trajectory in the UK and will function as an important hub for the development of innovative products that will help us realise not only our own potential and that of our customers, but as we continue to support the country's growth and digitisation plans, too."

Smith said that since arriving in the UK in 1992, Cisco has had strong links to the region, highlighting its recent acquisitions of British firms Portcullis and Acano.

He said the Internet of Things and digital tech will help his company and his country grow.

"Speaking of investment, that is exactly what is required in the UK," he said.

"Investment in a sophisticated and forward-thinking IT network ecosystem is important to ensure the UK has the technological backbone to deliver greater connectivity, productivity and security, which are essential to realise the full potential of any digitisation programme, be that for a government, or a business," he said.

"Digitisation has the potential to create sustainable and positive impact for every area of society as well as drive a stronger economy and foster increased opportunities for the UK on a global stage."