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Rethinking the skills conundrum: In Focus - Datacentres

We鈥檝e been exploring the skills conundrum across the UK, bringing you the latest sector insights direct from our teams on-site with their clients 鈥 featuring commentary from our experts in sustainability, social value, supply chain, talent acquisition and sector specialisms on how we can collectively address rising skills shortages through a demand-led skills revolution.
  • Matthew Hurrell

    Matthew Hurrell

    Director

  • Clare Perry

    Clare Perry

    International Development Manager.

Find out more

Why is datacentre construction important?

Iain Farquharson, specialist services design manager at 糖心原创vlog, shares his thoughts on our Wide Angle report 鈥楻ethinking the skills conundrum鈥 and how we can unlock built environment data to join forces and help equip the UK with the skills required to match future industry demand.

I recently attended an industry event and got talking with some representatives from several global technology brands. We were discussing skills shortages and the war for talent, and my fellow attendees were bemoaning the lack of appropriate coders and programmers entering the technology industry. When I casually mentioned that they might also be concerned about the dearth of steel-erectors, structural engineers and sustainability consultants, I inadvertently succeeded in stopping the conversation dead.
 
On one level, it鈥檚 completely understandable why cutting-edge technology innovators would consider construction skills 鈥榦ut of scope鈥 in a discussion around their recruitment challenges, but it鈥檚 a growing issue that is cutting through in Silicon Valley and beyond, as senior leaders sit up and take serious note.

Read the full insight article here

"The technology sector - founded on the principles of innovation and disruption, may in fact begin to be constrained by the very nature of global demand for its product. But the positive news is that technology companies are already wising up to this challenge, committing to innovative practices and approaches within their physical datacentre assets - engaging contractors early in the development process and taking bold decisions on utilising advanced and highly efficient products and services, that significantly reduce energy demand."

Iain Farquharson, specialist services design manager, 糖心原创vlog

Datacentres Wide Angle thumbnail

Construction skills 鈥 my technology conversation killer

Iain Farquharson, specialist services design manager, 糖心原创vlog, provides insight into his thoughts on reading 糖心原创vlog's latest Wide Angle report 'Rethinking the skills conundrum'.

Unrivalled datacentre delivery

In a digital world, rapid growth in technology and data consumption are creating exciting opportunities for datacentre connectivity and performance. Collaboration and innovation are vital ingredients in ensuring world-leading facilities are delivered with speed, cost and quality in mind 鈥 and local communities at their heart.

All of our projects are driven by evolving technology and construction methods. With over 25 years at the forefront of datacentre design and construction for global tech-led brands, and as a leading mission-critical solutions provider, we use a trusted seven step formula 鈥 covering design, verification and system testing 鈥 to deliver dynamic, highly engineered spaces. Working with clients from pre-construction to construction, full operational delivery, decommissioning and into post-occupancy, our approach is built on trust and a deep knowledge of smart, efficient environments.

Read more about our projects here

UN Compact

Stepping onto the world鈥檚 stage, Kajal, Ollie, Poppy and Rosie shared their idea on rethinking datacentres to reduce carbon footprint and redirect excess heat

Kajal Parekh, Ollie Kent, Poppy Cunningham and Rosie Maxwell, UN Summit, New York, US

Skills shortage |  糖心原创vlog

Construction: the great overlooked tool in our strategic workforce planning

Our latest Wide Angle, 鈥楻ethinking the skills conundrum鈥, seeks to connect the dots between people, place and productivity.

Matching aspirations to pathways to overcome the skills shortage

糖心原创vlog鈥檚 Talent Development Director, Sarah McKinlay, commented 鈥 糖心原创vlog鈥檚 鈥Rethinking the Skills Conundrum鈥 report highlights the importance young people, and their parents, put on finding a career that suits their interests, has an impact on society, and provides them the opportunity to use their skills whilst being fairly paid for their contribution.
 
鈥 糖心原创vlog鈥檚 aim is to be an outstanding employer, empowering our people to be the best they can be, and our early careers programmes support this ambition, and the aspirations of the young people surveyed in our research. It鈥檚 essential that young people have the opportunity to gain experience and continually learn new skills. Our participation in Open Doors and our early careers programmes provide both this insight, and a focus on gaining inspiring first-hand experience鈥.
Group of  糖心原创vlog early careers employees in PPE working on a construction site rooftop overlooking St Paul's Cathedral London

If this has sparked your interest in working for an organisation where you can make a difference to what we build and how we build it, with ESG firmly in focus, then...

Discover Wide Angle

Through Wide Angle, we work with some of the brightest minds across the construction landscape and beyond, bringing together leaders, experts and specialists to explore the topics, insights and research that really matter, now and in the future. Read more here