YNAP announces new tech hub at former BBC base

Yoox Net-A-Porter (YNAP) has today confirmed the creation of a new Technology Hub at the former home of the BBC in West London, which is just a short distance from the Net-a-Porter HQ at Westfield's White City shopping centre.

The facility at MediaWorks is due to open in March and will house 650 staff in 70,000q ft of space. It will mean that all of YNAP's UK technology staff will be brought together under one roof. The new Hub will accommodate for the planned 20% increase in YNAP’s global technology team, made up of 1,000 employees equally spread across the UK and Italy.

The Hub will nurture the business's "mobile-centric culture" and accelerate the Group’s R&D and release of the next wave of developments including "yet-to-be-released technological breakthroughs". The move comes on the back of the signing of a strategic technology partnership with IBM, which will result in the Yoox and Net-A-Porter sites being united on one platform.

British architects Grimshaw have been commissioned to design the new space. "We are capitalising on the growth of our global footprint by bringing together our London technology teams in a new Technology Hub. We believe our technology teams will thrive in a cutting-edge environment that reflects our values and vision for the future of online luxury retail. Sir Nicholas Grimshaw and his team are brilliantly translating our culture and requirements into a workspace which will be the pride of the Group," said YNAP CEO Federico Marchetti.

YNAP CEO Federico Marchetti

Earlier this year Marchetti said the business had not been dissuaded by the Brexit vote from investing in London when he revealed his five-year strategy. Deputy mayor of London for business and enterprise Rajesh Agrawal said he was delighted more tech jobs are coming to London. "This highlights once again that London is open for business, new investment and global talent,” he said.