Systems integrator Uni-Systems has given up on its plans to set up shop in the UK after two of its most significant customers committed to relocating their headquarters as a result of Brexit.
Two EU agencies – the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the European Banking Authority (EBA) – announced intentions to move their headquarters out of Canary Wharf, London, last month, picking Paris and Amsterdam respectively as their new homes.
The move will see more than 1,000 jobs leave the UK – 900 from the EMA and 150 from the EBA.
This has put the kybosh on Uni-Systems’ plans to expand into the UK and Paris to better support its largest customers.
But since the EMA is trading London for Amsterdam, plans for a London office have been abandoned.
This means that Uni will set up in Paris first, probably in 2018.
The EMA has set March 2019 as the deadline for its relocation to Amsterdam. The Dutch capital was selected out of 19 bids to house the EU agency.
Athens-based Uni-Systems has made a significant push to grow its international sales as the Greek banking sector began to shrivel up as a result of the 2007 to 2008 financial crisis. Loumakis said that hefty long-term contracts with the European Union are vital to boosting overseas business.
