Worker shortage hampers datacentre boom

Industry Quotes:

• “There’s just not enough skilled construction workers to go around.” – Dame Dawn Childs

• “It is very, very fast. It’s very, very highly engineered.” – Matt Perrier-Flint, operations director (UK & Ireland) at Datalec Precision Installations.

• “The time to start investing in apprentices was 10 years ago.” – Mark Yeeles, vice president, Secure Power Division, UK and Ireland, at power and automation firm Schneider Electric.

Datacentres are massive warehouse-like buildings that serve as central hubs for big tech firms like Amazon, Microsoft, and Facebook to deliver their cloud services.

The Rise of Artificial Intelligence

The demand for datacentre space has been turbocharged in recent years by the rise of artificial intelligence, which demands ever more high-end computers and electricity to power them.

Specific Needs of Datacentres

Datacentre operators have very specific needs. They require staff who can work in a fast-paced, highly engineered environment where everything is carried out in a calculated and structured way.

The Worker Shortage

The industry is also facing a shortage of skilled electrical installers, with experienced workers able to earn six-figure salaries working on datacentres. However, this has not made it easier for companies like Datalec to recruit and retain staff.

Dame Dawn highlights the need for the industry to rethink how it recruits younger people, including increasing diversity and recognising young people’s need for a “mission” or “purpose”. Schneider Electric is changing its ratio of graduates to apprentices, doubling its intake of apprentices in an effort to address this issue.

Key Statistics:

• Total datacentre floorspace across Europe will hit more than 10 million sq ft this year.

• In London alone, datacentre “take up” in 2025 is expected to be almost triple that of 2019.

• The UK needs to recruit 50,300 extra workers annually for the next five years.

Challenges Faced by Companies Like Datalec

Companies like Datalec face a constant battle to ensure they have enough suitably qualified staff on hand. This is due in part to the industry’s focus on university education at the expense of traditional technical or apprenticeship routes in recent decades.

The Importance of Diversity and Inclusion

The entire industry must rethink how it recruits younger people, including in terms of gender, background, and experience. Schneider Electric has launched a sustainability apprenticeship program to address this issue.

A Purpose-Driven Career Path

Young people need a “mission” or “purpose” from their career paths. Companies like Datalec are starting to recognize this need and offer more appealing career options.

The Rewards of Working in Datacentres

Experienced electrical installers can make six-figure salaries working on datacentres. However, the industry faces a constant battle to ensure it has enough suitably qualified staff on hand.

The Need for More Apprenticeships

The Construction Industry Training Board predicts that the UK needs to recruit 50,300 extra workers annually for the next five years. Many are concerned that the construction workforce is greying.

The demand for datacentre space has been increasing rapidly due to the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). According to real estate firm Savills, total datacentre floorspace across Europe was just over six million sq ft in 2015, but will hit more than 10 million sq ft this year. In London alone, datacentre “take up” in 2025 is expected to be almost triple that of 2019.

Despite the growing demand, delivering and satisfying that demand is challenging, says Dame Dawn Childs, chief executive of UK-based operator Pure Data Centres Group. One of the main problems facing the industry is finding enough skilled construction workers to build new datacentres.

“There’s just not enough skilled construction workers to go around,” says Dame Dawn. This shortage is not only affecting the construction sector but also other technical industries, including the datacentre industry.

Companies like Datalec are struggling to recruit staff from more traditional construction sectors due to the specific needs of the datacentre market. “It is very, very fast. It’s very, very highly engineered,” says Matt Perrier-Flint, operations director (UK & Ireland) at Datalec Precision Installations.