Salesforce shuns Brexit uncertainty with $2.5bn UK investment

Vendor says it will generate $65bn of new business with partners in the UK over the next five years

Salesforce will invest $2.5bn in the UK over the next five years despite the uncertainty surrounding Brexit.

In an announcement this morning, Salesforce said the funding will bolster its UK business - with the vendor's second UK datacentre set to open next year.

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff said: "The UK is Salesforce's largest market in Europe and our commitment to driving growth, innovation and customer success in the region has never been stronger.

"With this significant investment, we are well positioned to pursue the incredible opportunity for Salesforce, our customers and partners in the British market."

Salesforce's investment is a second boost in quick succession for the UK's tech sector, after a recent report claimed the UK's start-ups saw triple the VC investment of any other European country over the last two years.

The prime minister said the investment cements the UK's status as a country at the forefront of innovation.

"Salesforce offers a wonderful example of the benefits a successful technology company can bring to the UK economy, and I welcome their continued investment which will create interesting and high-skilled jobs for our workforce," she said.

"The UK is already home to some of the world's most innovative technology companies, and we will continue to drive investment in the sector through our modern industrial strategy."

Salesforce also talked up the investments being made by its VC arm, which has supported UK start-ups via its $100m EMEA fund.

The vendor claims that, along with its partners, it will generate $65bn of net new business in the UK by 2022.

Salesforce also expects to create more than 329,000 "direct and indirect" jobs over the same period.