Google takes Campus on a road trip

Google is to extend its London Campus for start-up tech firms to the rest of the UK through a mentoring service and network programmes.

Google's Campus, part of the so-called Tech City or Silicon Roundabout in east London, has launched a "virtual mentor" service to for companies across the UK.

This week it hosted 150 start-up firms from around the country at the first Google Grand National day.

Eze Vidra, head of Campus, said: “Campus Grand National shows that the UK technology start-up scene is alive, well and truly nationwide. We see Campus as a national resource, and events like this break down the idea that East London is the only place tech start-ups can succeed."

Start-up businesses surveyed by Google said the three most important things to help growth were to improve “access to skills, finance, and mentors.”

Google's Campus now has 5,000 members, of which 100 have office space at the internet giant's east London hub.

With the plan to help businesses outside of London, Google hopes it can reach thousands more businesses in the technology sector.