Mobile World Congress: Record number of British firms attend
A record number of British tech companies are attending Mobile World Congress (MWC), the world’s biggest showcase for mobile devices and technology.
Some 167 British firms pitched up at the show, held in Barcelona, in a sign the government said was an example of “growing tech appetite for Silicon UK”.
MWC, which gathers together more than 10,000 tech professionals, entrepreneurs and investors, features firms from more than 200 countries, from giants like Samsung to lesser-known start-ups.
The Department for International Trade (DIT) said the companies were “flying the flag” for Britain as they seek to attract global business partners.
Of the delegation of British firms at the show, 58 are representing regions like Devon, Manchester and Staffordshire and 17 are from Scotland.
According to the government, the UK’s tech sector, attracts more international inward investment than the rest of Europe combined. 25 per cent of all overseas inward investment into Europe comes from the UK. More than 348,000 people work in UK telecoms and related software development.
Speaking at the event, international trade minister Greg Hands said: “The world continues to see the UK as a leading technology destination of choice, with global tech companies such as Facebook, Apple and Google leading the charge to invest in Silicon UK.
“We have some of the most innovative tech talent and entrepreneurs in the world, and I want to encourage other investors to take notice and take advantage of our expertise and ideas. Global industry shows, like Mobile World Congress, are a huge opportunity for small businesses, and my department is here helping more UK companies than ever build the connections they need to revolutionise the world and go global.”
An example of the kind of companies DIT is supporting include What3Words, which offers national postal services and aid agencies a pinpoint-accurate global address system.
Giles Rhys Jones, Director at What3Words said: “MWC is a fantastic platform to reach potential partners, investors and influencers, and the support we have received from the Department for International Trade to help us get here has been fantastic.”
