Amazon Web Services backs UK start-ups with free support pledge

Amazon has pledged to back UK start-ups at a London event on Monday, promising free support services and specially tailored advice for budding entrepreneurs.

Amazon chief technology officer Werner Vogels spoke at an Amazon Web Services (AWS) Start-Up Masterclass, claiming that the company is committed to helping "younger companies".

"We will continue to develop our services to meet the need of the younger business," said Vogels. "We also believe we should help our customers cut costs as low as possible."

Vogels explained that Amazon will deliver free support services specifically for start-ups in the UK, including "time with architects and personalised advice". Companies should email ukstartups@amazon.com for more information.

The company will also run six free intensive training courses on AWS for 120 UK entrepreneurs, although Vogels said that places for the course are going fast.

Vogels also made a vague commitment to lower pricing for all existing customers in the future.

"We have lowered pricing at least a dozen times," he said. "This July some of our AWS customers saw a 40 per cent reduction in their bill. These price reductions will be across all of our services."

Amazon has a long-standing relationship with start-ups and is known particularly for the AWS Start-up Challenge, which it has run since 2007. Start-ups compete for up to $100,000 in cash and AWS credits.

Eligible start-ups that are AWS customers can submit an entry to the contest by laying out their business plans and how they use AWS paid services.

The news will come as another boost for the UK's technology entrepreneurs as they look to the private sector to back the government's pledge to turn part of the East End of London into a thriving technology hub to rival Silicon Valley in the US.

O2 has already pledged its committment to the cause with a dedicated workspace for start-ups in its Tottenham Court Road store, while BT Business has given start-ups the chance to lease up to £15,000 worth of technology and communications equipment.