If we were to identify one industry with guaranteed growth over the next ten years, it would be data centres in the UK. Expected to rake in £13.51 billion in revenue in 2024, the UK data centre market is predicted to grow to £16.82 billion by 2029, according to Statista. Presently, the UK accounts for about 20% of total data centre investment in Western Europe, with 200 facilities built and another 40 planned.
Initially driven by the rise of cloud computing, growth in data centre infrastructure is now being supercharged with the advent of artificial intelligence technology, which Goldman Sachs predicts will represent about 19% of global data centre power demand by 2028.
This rapid growth is set to spark a surge in data centre jobs across the UK, from skilled technicians and engineers to construction experts. Get ready as we dive into some of the UK’s biggest, most exciting data centre projects that are shaping the future of tech!
Colt – Hayes, London
Colt broke ground on its Hayes Data Centre in early 2023, with phase one scheduled to launch in 2025. This 57MW hyperscale facility is designed for high energy efficiency and uses recycled materials to minimise environmental impact. With the completion of the main structure anticipated by late 2024, the Hayes centre will span a whopping 49,000 square metres, after the business acquired even more land for the project.
Kao Data - Stockport
Construction is underway for Kao Data’s £350 million data centre in Stockport, Greater Manchester. Expected to be operational by 2026, the 25,900 square metre facility will be powered entirely by renewable energy, generating 40MW. To meet the future demand for data centre talent in Manchester, Kao Data plans to support students pursue technical career pathways through local colleges and schools, a positive sign for the local economy.
QTS - Cambois
In the planning stages is a £10bn AI data centre project in Cambois, Northumberland, run by Blackstone-owned QTS. Blackstone expects to break ground in 2026, upon application approval. The site is slated to create 4,000 jobs according to the government, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer stating the project marks the UK “open for business”.
CloudHQ – Didcot
CloudHQ has approval to develop a £1.9bn data centre in Didcot, Oxfordshire, which the US-owned company says will create more than 1,500 jobs. The 209,032 square metre campus will provide over 100MW IT load, with the capacity to expand to 300MW.
Vantage Data Centers – LHR2
Vantage Data Centers is investing £250m to develop a second London data centre campus, LHR2, in Park Royal. Opening in early 2025, LHR2 will deliver a 20MW IT load throughout its 18,023 square metre site. The LHR2 campus brings Vantage’s total campuses in the UK to three, which will provide a combined IT capacity of 216MW across over 244,000 square metres.
Equinix – Slough LD14
Digital infrastructure giant Equinix is expanding its footprint in Slough, a key area where it has already invested heavily. The latest project on Banbury Avenue, known as LD14, will deliver a substantial 30MW load on less than a hectare of land. With six existing data centres in the region, Equinix is a dominant force in this part of the Thames Valley, solidifying its position as a key player in the UK’s data centre market.
Summary
The growth of data centres in the UK represents an exciting range of possibilities – and plenty of momentum for job growth in the coming years. With billions invested into the sector annually, the challenge will be to find the talent that can help build and run facilities over the long term.
Find Data Centre Jobs UK
If you’re a data centre technician or engineer searching for the best data centre jobs in the UK or need to grow your data centre team, the team at Fields & Rudd is ready to help you. With a deep understanding of the unique demands of the sector, our data centre recruitment specialists will consult with you to make your next move a successful one. Contact us today to get started!