TECHNICAL
In response, the sector is implementing important initiatives, such as the establishment of the National Data Centres Academy and HireHigher’s Rising Star Programme; while operators like Ark Data Centres, Telehouse and Colt Data Centre Services are building deep links in their communities by partnering with colleges and universities to create pathways from education to industry. It is equally vital that both central and local government adopt policies that will enable an uptick in the necessary digital and technical skills required for a successful career within both the data centre and wider tech sectors.
In the course of our qualitative research, we engaged representatives of those places – selected for their different data centre maturity levels – providing an important view on what can be done to support nations and regions at different stages along their data centre journey. Our research found that there is a need to consider data centres more strategically and proactively within broader spatial planning ambitions; for better collaboration between the public and private sectors; and for more evidence and understanding of the economic impact that data centres bring to these places, which this report addresses in part.
include collaborating to develop a data centre social value framework.
n Mayoral Combined Authorities (MCAs) should develop specific data centre strategies that ensure data centres are central to delivering regional priorities. Linked, Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) should ensure that data centres are integrated into, and appropriate attention is paid to considering data centre requirements within local plans. n DSIT, MHCLG and DESNZ should collaborate with industry to develop clear planning guidance – through the drafting of a National Policy Statement for data centre infrastructure – providing planning guidance for data centre developers and the Planning Inspectorate. n The industry welcomes the role that DSIT has been playing in coordinating with other government departments. We would encourage further coordination to ensure any further policy developments across areas of government remain coherent and consistent in their approach. In the past, data centres were often caught by default in numerous regulations (see our techUK 2020 report). It is therefore imperative to achieve growth objectives that various policies do not diminish these aims, and support DBT/OFI and DSIT in their efforts to promote internationally the industry in the UK and its competitiveness. Skills The data centre industry provides the opportunity for good and stable jobs, with a median salary well above the national average, but faces pressing skills challenges that must be addressed. As it stands, the industry is comprised of a significant volume of highly experienced employees. While they provide vital institutional and sector knowledge, there is a risk it is lost if it is not transferred to the next generation. There are also persistent challenges facing the industry, including fierce domestic and overseas competition for both entry-level and experienced talent; a lack of visibility of the sector as an employer of choice and negative data centre perceptions; and the relative lack of diversity within the sector more widely.
Policy recommendations
Conclusions
n The Department for Education (DfE) should engage techUK’s Data Centre Council to collate insights on the high-value data centre related training that should be accessible through the Growth and Skills Levy. n DfE should also reform the Apprenticeship Levy to cover intensive courses that focus on data centre skills. n The industry should proactively collate and showcase non-commercially sensitive information on the good, career progressing opportunities within the data centre industry – shining a light on the positive career pathways data centres provide. This will help to raise the profile and reputation of the sector and will aid Skills England’s ambitions to map occupations onto education pathways to understand the most common pathways into priority professions. n The industry should build on good practice of engaging local authorities and local educational institutions and develop a systems-level approach to the education sector in order to build a comprehensive understanding of the opportunities for young people to gain experience across the industry. Data centres in the nations and regions Whilst the UK’s data centre industry has predominantly called Greater London home, there are growing hubs – including in Greater Manchester and Cardiff and Newport – primed to host data centre infrastructure.
The data centre industry is making a significant economic impact today – and huge untapped potential remains. The sector itself is making great strides forward and stands ready to play an even greater role but capitalising on the opportunity to both enable and drive tech- led growth across the country requires further collaboration between industry and both central and local government. In this document, we set out a series of recommendations to enable this vitally important industry to play a leading role in the UK’s efforts to secure the highest sustained growth in the G7.
The article is an excerpt of the full whitepaper which can be found at the website:
www.techuk.org
94
SEPTEMBER 2026 Volume 48 No.3
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker