Apple CEO Tim Cook visits London, talks UK economic benefits
Apple continues working to remind governments just how much economic prosperity it brings to their nations, with Apple CEO Tim Cook dropping into London, England to share the news.
While there, the company announced that the company’s UK investments exceeded $18 billion over the past five years and told us its engineering teams have doubled in that time.
That means jobs, of course. Apple reprised its previous claims it now supports 550,000 jobs through direct employment, its supply chain, and the iOS app economy. You wouldn’t want to be without those jobs through over-strict regulation, would you?
Apple now has 40 retail stores and UK-based iOS app developers have earned almost £9 billion(c.$11.5b) from selling digital goods and services, the company said. It also has a hugely expensive headquarters building situated in the iconic remains of Battersea Power Station, which is currently showing Wallace and Gromit.
What Apple’s CEO told the UK
That’s not what Cook said, of course. “We’ve been serving customers in the UK for more than 40 years, and we’re proud of our deep connection with communities across this country,” he said. “We’re thrilled to be growing our Apple teams here, and to keep supporting the extraordinary innovators, creators, and entrepreneurs who are pushing the boundaries of technology in so many ways.”
Speaking to the Mail, Cook shed a little more color on Apple’s UK efforts. He explained that the company’s UK-based engineers are, “Doing some really important work and research across many of our products, including helping us push the boundaries of innovation with advancements like Apple Intelligence and Private Cloud Compute.”
He added: “I don’t need to tell you that the UK has a tremendous history of innovation and we’re proud that our technical teams here are working on products that reach customers around the world.”
I can’t say what he told me, as I didn’t get the chance to ask. It’s possible I may have asked more complex questions, I suppose.
What the engineers do
Apple’s UK engineering teams are primarily located in London and Cambridge. They perform critical work and research across a wide range of products and services, including Siri’s deep integration into Apple products, and Private Cloud Compute. They also work on Apple’s services and silicon.
What about services?
Apple’s growing investments in the U.K. include expanded Apple TV+ production, which has tripled in the past two years, creating jobs in the creative industry, and providing a platform for new and emerging local talent to showcase their work to a global audience. Apple TV+ not only supports jobs for cast and crew, but also contracts with hundreds of suppliers across business sectors — from construction and manufacturing to hospitality and technical services.
A little social responsibility
Since 2019, Apple has partnered with The King’s Trust to help UK students build confidence and STEAM skills to pursue educational and career opportunities. Apple also supports community organisations near its Battersea UK HQ, including Caius House, a centre that helps bridge the education and life skills gap for local youth and young adults, the company said.
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