Banking boss raises Brexit talent concerns

The chief executive of Goldman Sachs has raised concerns that the US banking giant may not be able to fill its new European headquarters in London due to Brexit.

Lloyd Blankfein took to social media to post a bird’s-eye photo of the under-construction headquarters that is set to open in 2019, as he expressed worries over continued uncertainty.

He wrote: “In London. GS still investing in our big new Euro headquarters here. Expecting/hoping to fill it up, but so much outside our control. #Brexit”

The new office is expected to be around nine storeys high when it is ready to house staff in two years’ time.

However, it is understood that Goldman has kept the option of letting out remaining space to other tenants, depending on how much square footage it needs for its local workforce.

It is the second time this month that Mr Blankfein has aired his Brexit views.

Goldman Sachs, which employs around 6,500 people in the UK, has previously confirmed it is looking to at least double its 200-strong employee base in Frankfurt as part of its Brexit contingency plans.

Earlier this month it was reported that the group has signed a contract to lease eight floors of a skyscraper in the city, capable of holding 800 staff.

The bank has said it is also looking at bolstering its footprint in other financial hubs across the EU.

A raft of international banks, insurers and asset managers are preparing to shift portions of their UK operations to the Continent in preparation for Britain’s divorce from the EU in hopes of safeguarding against the loss of passporting rights which currently give UK-based financial services crossborder access to the bloc.

Many have turned to Dublin, while others have reached out to the likes of Paris and Luxembourg for a post-Brexit base.

Lloyd Blankfein of Goldman Sachs.