Palantir Technologies is mulling a second UK base near the digital headquarters of the National Health Service (NHS) better to serve customers in the north of England.
Palantir, an American software company, specializing in big data analytics, has to move some of the 900 employees in its London office. The company may hire staff in the new outpost once the plan is pushed through.
Three Takeaways
It is common for companies to open new offices or outposts either to grow the operations or better the services by locating new outposts.
In the case of Palantir, here are two takeaways why it is mulling opening a new base:
- Growing amount of work was the primary reason why company officials are considering a new UK base, particularly near the NHS. The American company has deepened its business relationship with the NHS during the pandemic. Company officials see the necessity to expand outside of the capital because of the amount of work. Replying to Bloomberg queries, company spokesperson Ben Mascall said the plan is for the company to level up its services across the country. Opening a new office in the north, either in Leeds or Manchester, would also offer an opportunity for the company "to access the best British talent."
- A new office in the north will make NHS a neighbor to Palantir. Although the company has yet to decide on the location, the plan will bring Palantir closer to NHS Digital Headquarters in Leeds and NHS England's national team. According to a Bloomberg report, the company has availed the services of British politician John Woodcock to help find the new office's location. The plan was hatched at the time Palantir was vying for the £360 million ($404 million) contract with NHS to establish a health service data platform.
- The new outpost, Mascall explained, would enable the company to support the program funded by the Department of Leveling Up, Housing and Communities. Palantir provided free services on the case management system for Ukrainian refugees.
- 1 in Artificial Intelligence Software Platform
The AI platforms software is a $14.2 billion industry, a report said. Its market grew to 36.8 percent last year, an indicator of the increasing use of AI in all business applications.
Palantir has emerged as the top performer among AI software platform companies.
Secret Plan
The plan to open an outpost in the north may have something to do with Palantir's secret plan further to deepen its ties with NHS sans public scrutiny.
Palantir, according to a Bloomberg report last month, plans to acquire smaller companies with existing contracts with the NHS. By doing this, the American company is hoping to dodge public scrutiny.
Louis Mosley, regional head of the company, is similar to buying out some of the small businesses working with the UK's largest depository of health data. He described the plan as "hoovering up" for Palantir to gain more grounds and avoid political noise.
NHS Key Service Provider
NHS availed the services of the American firm at the height of the pandemic helping in the former's Covid-19 response. At present, Palantir is looking forward to bagging a contract with the NHS amounting to £360 million.
Palantir so far has not succeeded to a degree in its secret plan. But nothing appears to stop the company from deepening its business ties with the NHS as a key service provider.
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