News UK, publishers of The Times, The Sunday Times and The Sun, began crossing over The Thames in June. This weekend saw the arrival of its final business divisions including The Times Literary Supplement bringing the number of staff occupying the News Building, next to The Shard, to around 2,400.
A further 1,000 employees from Dow Jones and Harper Collins, which like News UK are subsidiaries of News Corp, will join their corporate cousins when they move in over the autumn and winter.
With a thirty-year lease on this 17 storey, state-of-the-art, building News UK is signalling its titles and companies are here for the long term, says the company.
Today the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson joined News Corp Chairman, Rupert Murdoch, CEO Robert Thomson and News UK CEO, Mike Darcey to unveil a plaque and officially welcome staff to the new building. They were then taken on a tour of the floors of each newspaper by their respective editors.
News UK CEO, Mike Darcey, said: “Today marks a critical milestone for our world class journalism - the inimitable headlines, game-changing polls, first class commentary and courageous investigations. Our journalism sets the agenda and sets the standards and in this home I am confident we will secure its future for generations.”
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: “The London Bridge Quarter has helped to spearhead a renaissance in this important part of the capital, attracting scores of new businesses and creating thousands of jobs. News UK is now at the heart of a growing, international media hub that is proof of the confidence that leading businesses have in our city. Nestled next to the giant cosmic spear that is The Shard, I can think of no better place for some of Britain’s most prominent and historic titles to base themselves.”
News UK has donated a total of 88 Nexus and i-Pad tablets to eight local libraries in Southwark, each loaded with complimentary access to the Times and Sunday Times.
To coincide with today’s activities News UK has launched a new corporate website that, says the company, reflects its new position in the centre of the capital and the new chapter in its story - www.news.co.uk
