New global HQ for tech firm opens in glossy Swansea city centre office development
71/72 Kingsway.(Image: Mark Lewis)A tech venture of e-commerce giant Amazon has unveiled its new global headquarters in the centre of Swansea as it continues to experience rapid growth.Veeqo, which was acquired by Amazon in 2021 and has seen its global head count triple over the last three years from 60 to 200, has taken 14,000 sq ft of space in the new prime 71/72 Kingsway office development.The scheme has been developed by Swansea Council and part-funded by the Swansea Bay City Deal. With a number of other letting deals in the pipeline, the 100,000 sq ft building is moving closer to full occupancy.It has been designed to attract tech, digital, and creative industry companies to Swansea. Veeqo, which was previously located in offices near the marina, produces free shipping and inventory management software for more than 100,000 businesses all over the world. Never miss a Swansea story by signing up to our newsletter hereThe software is said to make e-commerce more efficient and scalable by helping businesses fulfil orders across multiple websites and stores, syncing inventory, and automatically providing low-cost shipping rates.Veeqo, which also has offices in London and Seattle, has around half of its global workforce in its new Swansea HQ.Amazon has invested more than £60m in its Swansea development centre (and Veeqo’s HQ) over the last thee years. It will invest an additional £100m-plus through to 2032, bringing total investment to more than £150m over a ten-year period.Veeqo’s highly skilled roles include software development engineers, technical product managers, knowledge engineers, UX designers, and business analysts.It also works closely with the University of Swansea and the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, providing placements for students whilst also supporting 16 apprentices and 10 graduate interns.Veeqo was founded by its chief executive Matt Warren in 2013 as an online seller who needed software that made shipping orders from multiple sales channels cheaper and easier.READ MORE: Energy giant RWE signs off £200m battery storage project at Wales Investment SummitREAD MORE: Business Editor Sion Barry gives his verdict on the Wales Investment SummitHe said “Our expanded office in Swansea enables us to continue building services which make it easier for entrepreneurs and businesses to sell around the world. I’m proud that we’ve continued creating highly skilled tech jobs in Wales and that our homegrown company is making a big global impact.”John Boumphrey, UK country manager at Amazon, said: “Since launching our first Welsh development centre just three years ago, we’ve watched Veeqo’s team grow from 60 to over 200 people globally—proof that Wales has the talent and ambition to build world-class technology"Its new headquarters represents our long-term commitment to Wales, and I’m excited to see what Veeqo will build next as they help 100,000 businesses worldwide sell and ship more efficiently.”Pension Minister and MP for Swansea West, Torsten Bell, who cut the ribbon at the new office, said: “Veeqo is a true Welsh success story and exactly the kind of high-value, technology-driven growth we want to see flourishing across Wales."Their commitment to nurturing local talent right here in Wales and their support for apprentices and interns demonstrates a real investment in our local community."Companies like Veeqo demonstrate that Wales is at the heart of Amazon’s £40 billion investment across the UK over the next three years. This is about creating opportunity, developing skills, and building a technology sector that can compete on the global stage while remaining rooted in Welsh communities.”Rebecca Evans, Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary for Economy, said: “This investment by Amazon demonstrates Wales’s growing reputation as a hub for technology and innovation. Veeqo’s expansion creates high-quality jobs and opportunities for our young people, whilst supporting businesses across Wales and beyond.“"We are creating an environment where homegrown companies can thrive and where global leaders choose to invest, driving sustainable economic growth for communities throughout Wales.”Matt Warren (Veeqo CEO) and Torsten Bell MP tour the new facilities at Veeqo's new HQ in Swansea(Image: Mark Lewis)Leader of Swansea Council, Rob Stewart, welcomed Veeqo as the latest tenant to the council’s flagship scheme.He said: "This is tremendous news for Swansea. Veeqo is a true local success story — a business born here, grown here, and now thriving internationally under Amazon. Having them at the 71/72 Kingsway development is a vote of confidence in our city’s talent, infrastructure, and future as a leading city for businesses in the tech sector."Staff at Veeqo will now be joining hundreds of staff from other companies already working at the building, with more tenants to be announced in the coming weeks as we head towards full occupancy and up to 600 people working there."This development will also combine with other schemes in the city centre to create far more footfall, which will help support existing city centre traders and attract more shops and other businesses to the city centre in future.”Amazon's e-commerce fulfillment centre in Swansea employs around 2,000 people.
