Canary Wharf to become technology enterprise hub

Canary Wharf to become technology enterprise hub

A new development opening in Canary Wharf is set to make the area one of London’s key financial enterprise hubs.

Level 39, which takes up the whole 39th floor of One Canada Square in Canary Wharf, was opened this week by London’s Mayor Boris Johnson. The technology “incubator space” will specialise in financial services technology, known in the industry as FinTech.

Seven tech firms have been testing out the space since the start of the year and a number of events are planned to attract new tenants to the development.

Eric van der Kleij, who is leading on the Level 39 development, is quoted by The Telegraph as saying, “The timing could not be better to open Level 39. London’s financial services sector is searching for new technologies to transform itself at the very moment that the tech sector is displaying the sort of growth required to move the UK economy forward.”

He added, “Level 39 is London’s point of convergence for FinTech, situated in the East End, which is the most dynamic area of Europe right now.”

Eric van der Kleij was formerly managing the Tech City initiative in Shoreditch and Hoxton. He was offered the high-profile role by Prime Minister David Cameron but resigned last year to turn his attention to the Canary Wharf project. However, he has been keen to point out that he believes the new development will complement other East End technology spaces, rather than be a source of competition.

Boris Johnson said the Level 39 development "will foster just the talent we need to future-proof the capital’s technology and financial sectors".

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