GlobalWelsh, Wales’ diaspora network, is launching GlobalWelsh London, its first city hub. The launch event will take place at Spotify’s UK office in Central London on 28th February. The new hub will seek to facilitate unique networking and mentorship opportunities for Welsh diaspora living in London and act as an intermediary for Welsh businesses and talent, as well as diaspora around the world.

With estimations that there could be as many as 300,000 Welsh diaspora living in and around the city, London has one of the most dense Welsh populations outside of Wales. GlobalWelsh London will seek to connect this large Welsh diaspora network with like-minded people locally, back in Wales, and globally via GlobalWelsh's growing community around the world. Through this it will facilitate unique mentorship and career growth for its members as well as the opportunity to give back to Wales.

For Wales, the new hub will act as an ‘on the ground’ intermediary for Welsh businesses who are looking to trade and find talent in London. It will also be an enabler for Welsh-based talent looking for career or mentorship opportunities in London.

Led by Jason Smith, GlobalWelsh co-founder and former CEO of Blurrt, currently holding a senior role with Experian, GlobalWelsh London has already gained early support from a diverse group of London-based GlobalWelsh Pioneers, many of which met at the inaugural GlobalWelsh Cwtch event in November last year.

Jason comments:

“As a previous CEO of a tech company based in Wales, I know first-hand how difficult it can be to trade in London; develop a network; find board advisors and raise capital so I am passionate about easing these challenges for other Welsh businesses. ‘GlobalWelsh London presents a fantastic opportunity to create a unique platform on which to forge meaningful connections, share knowledge and find and create opportunities both locally and globally. But most of all, the opportunity to reconnect and give back to Wales.”

GlobalWelsh, is a grassroots, privately-funded, not-for-profit community interest company, on a mission to connect and engage Wales’ global diaspora network with the goal of benefitting the Welsh economy.

CEO of GlobalWelsh, Walter May, said:

“Launching our first city hub outside of Wales is an incredibly exciting first step towards our goal of having hubs in all major cities around the world and a key milestone in our plans to bring diaspora investment to Wales. ‘London is a Welsh expatriate powerhouse, financial capital of the world and most prosperous city in the UK and it’s practically on our doorstep. Many people will have left Wales to fulfil ambitions and will have gone on to do great things, we want to find and connect with them. In doing so, we hope that it will not only benefit them but also businesses, talent and the economy back in Wales.”

The launch event on 28th February, during Wales Week in London, will see 120 London and Wales-based diaspora gather for an evening of talks and networking at Spotify’s London office. The opportunity to join GlobalWelsh London will be available during and following the event.