Author:
Ally Winning, European Editor, PSD
Date
07/22/2019
PDF
A couple of months ago, I wrote here about how Brexit had paralysed the UK government and the whole country had basically ground to a standstill. That paralysis didn’t only affect the government, it also started to have quite a strong effect on the economy of the country as inward investment dried up and even local companies were reluctant to make any decision about investment and expansion before the whole Brexit affair is played out.
However, one company has not been scared to buck that trend. Analog Devices has made a large investment in the UK in the form of a new headquarters and additional talent to staff it. The company sees the UK as a key area for growth and has ambitious long-term plans in the region. This is because the UK’s strengths in electronics design tie in well with Analog Devices’ product lines, particularly the country’s expertise in industrial and automotive technology. The UK also has a strong start-up culture that the company is eager to be involved in.
Based in Hayes on the west side of London, the new HQ is well connected to the rest of the UK and beyond. For internal travel, the Elizabeth line provides a direct route to the centre of London and the M25 ring road provides fast access to motorways and the rest of the UK. For longer distances, Heathrow airport is on the location’s doorstep. The new location is ideally situated to tap the hardware and software talent around the capital and nearby Brunel University will also be ideal for the recruitment of graduates and partnership programs.
The new headquarters also allows the company to finalise the integration of Linear Technology in the UK. Up until now, Analog Devices and Linear had both remained in their traditional UK locations. Bringing the two groups together in a single physical location promotes better co-operation between staff and will help push Analog Devices’ strategic initiative to move towards offering complete solutions, rather than individual components. The location can hold the current staff of both companies and the new recruits with additional room for meetings, training and expansion when necessary.
The location itself is a reminder of the UK’s historical background in manufacturing and audio engineering. It was formerly a record factory that pressed vinyl for groups such as The Beatles and Rolling stones. The location’s current decor is a reminder of that heritage.
It’s great to see one company going against the current trend and hopefully it will inspire more companies to take the chance and invest in the UK’s future.
PSD
