Data Centre Business News and Industry Trends

DataPro+ launches job board and social network

DataPro+ has launched what it describes as the first AI-powered job board and professional network dedicated to the global data centre industry. The platform features more than 7,500 live job listings from employers worldwide and a pre-registered community of over 40,000 professionals. Alongside recruitment, it offers a closed professional network for the industry, providing space for knowledge sharing, news, and career development. Features of the platform DataPro+ combines job listings with AI-driven tools and professional networking. Key functions include: • AI job matching to connect candidates and roles more quickly• Global job aggregation to provide a single access point for industry opportunities• Automated distribution of vacancies across aggregators, social channels, and newsletters, with optimisation for reach and applications• Performance tracking to boost jobs where they receive the best engagement• Exclusive community features for data centre professionals to connect and share updates• Industry hub tools including job alerts, events, and insights• Next-generation support for students, graduates, and apprentices exploring career paths in the sector Josh Young, Managing Director of DataPro+, says, “Our vision with DataPro+ is bigger than just jobs. We’re building the first dedicated hub where the data centre workforce can not only find opportunities, but also connect, share ideas, and strengthen the next generation of talent. "Our AI technology ensures jobs don’t just sit on a site; they’re actively distributed, optimised, and delivered to the right professionals. LinkedIn is for everyone, DataPro+ is for our industry.” Employers can advertise roles and access branding, marketing, and sponsorship packages to reach the industry workforce. DataPro+ says early sponsors will gain enhanced visibility across the platform’s job board, community, and news channels.

Industry reacts as EU Data Act comes into force

The EU Data Act officially comes into effect today, ushering in a new regulatory framework that aims to give users greater rights over their data while imposing fresh obligations on businesses around access, sharing, and cloud portability. The legislation seeks to improve transparency, promote fair competition, and create a more open data economy across Europe. However, industry reactions remain mixed, with some hailing the Act as a positive step forward and others warning of challenges with its implementation. A call for resilience and flexibility Tim Pfaelzer, Senior Vice President and General Manager EMEA at Veeam, says the Act arrives at a critical moment for organisations already navigating complex hybrid environments: “Many organisations have embraced hybrid models for their flexibility, but often at the expense of data portability. "The Act highlights why flexibility must be embedded into operations from the ground up. Proactive action now will not only support compliance, but also become a competitive advantage as data sovereignty and portability grow increasingly central to digital operations.” An opportunity for trust and openness Juliet Bramwell, Vice President EMEA at Glean, emphasises the Act’s potential to rebalance the data economy: “By giving users greater access to their own data and removing barriers to switching providers, the Act shifts power back to businesses and consumers. "Data sovereignty and interoperability are no longer optional; companies that embrace these principles will be better placed to innovate responsibly and build long-term trust in AI and cloud ecosystems.” Concerns around ambiguity and burden Adam Blake, CEO of ThreatSpike, welcomes the Act’s intent, but voices concern over its clarity and impact on smaller firms: “The language on forced data sharing is far too ambiguous and could end up weakening security. "Larger enterprises may have the resources to adapt, but for SMEs, redesigning products and meeting compliance demands could become a serious bottleneck. "Five years after GDPR, many businesses are still failing to comply [and] I fear this law could face the same fate.” Balancing ambition with practicality With the EU Data Act now in force, businesses across Europe will need to assess their compliance strategies, data management policies, and technical architectures to align with the new requirements. While many see it as an opportunity to improve trust and flexibility, others warn of potential risks and burdens. How effectively the Act is enforced - and how businesses adapt - will determine whether it becomes a cornerstone of Europe’s digital transformation, or another layer of complex regulation.

DataX Connect's salary survey results are in

UK data centre recruitment company DataX Connect has today, on National Data Centre Day, released the results of its 2025 Data Centre Salary Survey, coinciding with the company’s fifth anniversary of its founding. The study, which draws on insights from over 1,500 data centre professionals across Europe and the United States, reveals an industry that continues to offer strong pay and rapid progression, but also faces challenges around retention, satisfaction, and pay fairness. With demand for digital infrastructure only increasing, competition for skilled talent is fiercer than ever. The report shows that while salaries are rising, money alone is no longer enough to keep professionals engaged. The key findings • Pay rises ≠ retention — One in five professionals who received a pay increase last year still plan to leave their role. Overall, around 40% of respondents intend to change jobs within the next 12 months. • Women earn less — DataX Connect suggests the "gender pay gap persists across all levels of seniority." • Young professionals are progressing fast — One in five professionals with less than five years’ experience, and 30% of under 35s, already hold senior roles. Ambitious, early-career employees are finding fast routes to progression in the sector. Those aged 18–24 are already earning an average salary of £64k, showing what’s possible for ambitious young talent in this space. • Competitive pay, low satisfaction — While more than half of respondents believe data centre pay is more competitive than other industries, only one in five are truly satisfied with their compensation. The frustration often comes down to bonuses that feel out of reach or benefits that "aren’t cutting it." Looking ahead The findings highlight that, while the data centre sector is a lucrative industry, the next 12 months could contain a critical turning point. Businesses that invest in fairer pay structures and more transparent rewards could have the edge in attracting and retaining great talent. "The takeaway from this year’s survey is clear: the industry’s doing well, but salary alone won’t solve the bigger challenges," says Andy Davis, Director at DataX Connect and Data eXec. "If we’re serious about retention and satisfaction, we’ve got to do more than just pay competitively.”

EcoDataCenter secures €600m for expansion

Swedish sustainable data centre operator EcoDataCenter has raised €600 million (£518 million) in debt financing from Deutsche Bank Private Credit and Infrastructure to support the continued growth of its data centre operations. The funding will be used to expand its campuses in Falun and Borlänge, Sweden, where the company is developing facilities focused on high-performance computing and artificial intelligence (AI) workloads. Financing to drive AI data centre growth EcoDataCenter has been expanding rapidly over the past two years. In 2024, it partnered with AI provider CoreWeave to build one of Europe’s largest AI clusters in Falun, and later that year it acquired the former Kvarnsveden paper mill in Borlänge to convert the site into additional data centre capacity. With the latest funding, EcoDataCenter and its owner, Areim, have now secured a total of around €1.8 billion (£1.5 billion) since 2023. Peter Michelson, CEO of EcoDataCenter, says, “AI infrastructure is a new base industry and we are building one of Europe’s most exciting companies in the sector. We are proud of the trust placed in us and look forward to continuing our journey towards becoming Europe’s leading player in high-performance data centres.” Johan Rydmark, CFO of EcoDataCenter, adds, “Our platform attracts partnerships with world-leading companies and we have a proven ability to deliver the scale and flexibility our customers demand. "The fact that we can attract financing of this magnitude is a testament to the strength of our business model and the confidence the market has in our team and strategy.” EcoDataCenter opened its first site in Falun in 2019 and has since expanded its footprint to meet growing demand for compute-intensive workloads. Its customer base includes organisations such as BMW, DeepL, and CoreWeave. LionTree Advisors acted as financial advisor and White & Case LLP served as legal counsel for the transaction. For more from EcoDataCenter, click here.

Zoho to open new UK data centre

Zoho, a provider of cloud-based business software and productivity tools, has announced it will open a new UK data centre in the first quarter of 2026. The announcement comes alongside 43% growth in the UK and a tripling of staff numbers over the past two years. The new facility will allow customers to retain data within the UK, addressing demand for greater data sovereignty, particularly in sectors such as financial services and the public sector. The company will also relocate its UK office from Bletchley to Milton Keynes in the same quarter to support further team expansion. Strengthening UK operations and compliance Zoho’s UK strategy is built around its Transnational Localism programme, which provides local teams to support customer needs and contribute to self-reliant regional economies. The latest growth expands its customer-facing staff across sales, support, and marketing. Sachin Agrawal, UK Managing Director of Zoho, says, "In a constantly moving landscape impacted by geopolitical tensions and economic instability we are focusing deeply on enhancing the customer experience we provide to our UK customer base. "We understand the shift to customers wanting to host their data within the boundaries of the UK, which is particularly important in industries such as the public sector and financial services. Data privacy and protection continue to be at the core of our operations and is enhanced further with our new data centre. "Investment in our new office space enables us to continue to strengthen our growing team, ensuring that we not only deliver the best software, but the best service and support from those with excellent local knowledge of the market." At its Zoholics Birmingham event, Zoho also confirmed new compliance features for UK customers. Zoho Books is now recognised by HMRC for Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax Self Assessment (ITSA), adding to its existing approval for VAT. From April 2026, this regulation will apply to sole traders with qualifying income above £50,000 and from April 2027 to those above £30,000.

ODATA secures $1.02bn green financing for data centres

ODATA, a Latin American data centre provider and part of Aligned Data Centers, has secured $1.02 billion (£757 million) in green financing to support sustainable data centre infrastructure across Latin America. It is the largest financing of its kind in the region’s data centre sector, bringing ODATA’s total funding to $2.25 billion (£1.67 billion). The financing will be directed towards projects that meet sustainability benchmarks, including renewable energy use, improved efficiency, and responsible construction practices. Supporting sustainable growth in Latin America "This historic achievement, representing the largest issuance of sustainable data centre financing in Latin America, has allowed ODATA to build a solid financial structure," says Rafael Bomeny, CFO of ODATA. "With these high-quality resources, we're incredibly well-positioned to empower our customers in their digital infrastructure expansion across the region. "This green financing also reinforces our mission to contribute to Latin America's sustainable development by leading the way in adopting innovative technologies that drive a more efficient future for our customers and communities." Funding has been provided by a syndicate of international banks, including Apterra, BNP Paribas, Crédit Agricole CIB, Deutsche Bank, MUFG Bank, Natixis, Nomura, Société Générale, and SMBC. The new investment will support projects in Brazil, Mexico, Chile, and Colombia, strengthening ODATA’s position in the regional market and enabling cloud and AI infrastructure growth. Innovation and energy strategy "Sustainability is a top priority for ODATA," Rafael continues. "In addition to major investments in renewable energy, we adopt designs that seek the highest levels of energy efficiency without wasting water. "With this new green financing, we can continue contributing to the development of Latin America’s digital infrastructure while upholding the highest standards of sustainability." ODATA is the first hyperscale data centre operator in Latin America to self-produce 100% renewable energy in Brazil. The company has also introduced the Delta Cube (Delta³) air-cooling system, developed by Aligned Data Centers, which supports high-density power loads of up to 50kW per rack and can integrate with liquid cooling technologies. For more from ODATA, click here.

8x8 opens new data centre in France

Cloud communications provider 8x8 has opened a new data centre in France to meet growing demand for in-country data hosting and regulatory compliance. The facility is designed to support France’s data sovereignty and residency requirements, including GDPR and local hosting mandates. It also seeks to provide low-latency access and enterprise-grade reliability for businesses and public sector organisations. Expansion in the French market The announcement follows a year of growth for 8x8 in France. The company appointed Christian Laloy as Country Lead, strengthened its collaboration with IT services group SCC, and formed a partnership with the French trade association for customer relations (AFRC). “While others choose to operate remotely, we’re investing locally,” says Christian Laloy, Country Manager, France at 8x8. “Some providers choose not to locate in France and, in my mind, that shows a lack of respect for the local businesses, the local people, and the culture. "This new data centre makes our position clear: 8x8 is committed to serving French organisations with secure and fully compliant technology and transparency.” Supporting regulated industries The new site is part of 8x8’s wider strategy to serve regulated and security-conscious sectors. By storing data in-country and complying with European requirements, the company aims to increase trust amongst French customers. “8x8 isn't just entering the market with an innovative approach; by locating its data centres in France, the company helps deliver its customers a high level of data sovereignty, in line with European regulatory requirements,” claims Regis Davesne, Director of SCC France. “This choice significantly boosts confidence and makes a real difference for customers looking for a solid, reliable long-term partner.” The French opening is one of several European investments planned for 2025 as 8x8 expands across markets where compliance and security are key considerations.

Inspired, VIRTUS sign wind-powered tri-party CPPA

Inspired, a UK commercial energy and sustainability advisory firm, has announced the signing of a tri-party corporate power purchase agreement (CPPA) with VIRTUS Data Centres, a UK data centre provider, and Lynn and Inner Dowsing (LID) windfarms. VIRTUS has subscribed to a combined power purchase agreement (PPA) totalling 31MW of wind power, representing 16% of the total generation from Lynn and Inner Dowsing (LID) offshore windfarms, with a commencement date of 1 October 2025. This agreement seeks to ensure a long-term supply of renewable energy. The agreement A CPPA is a long-term energy contract between a corporate customer and a renewable power generator/developer. They are becoming an increasingly popular choice for companies wanting to reach net zero as they offer up to 100% renewable power. Having a CPPA means the energy businesses use can be traced back to a specific renewable energy project, such as a wind or solar farm, which feeds an equivalent amount of power into the grid. David Cockshott, Chief Commercial Officer at Inspired, says, “Inspired has been proud to partner with VIRTUS as their dedicated energy consultant. We are excited to continue supporting their sustainable journey and to commence this tri-party agreement, which allows renewable power to flow directly to their data centres.” Helen Kinsman, SVP Commercial and Regulatory Affairs at VIRTUS, adds, “As an energy intensive user, we know it’s our responsibility to minimise the environmental impact from all our data centre facilities. Hence, since going live with our first site in 2011, we have been procuring power from 100% renewable sources. "We are committed to delivering reliable, resilient, and responsible digital infrastructure to our customers and operate the gold standard in sustainable data centres in the UK and Europe.” The renewable power will be delivered by Lynn and Inner Dowsing (LID) offshore windfarms, owned by funds managed by Macquarie Asset Management. Macquarie Asset Management is supported by XceCo, a UK asset management company specialising in the full project life cycle of renewable energy ventures. The offshore wind farms are located 5km off the east coast of England, by the town of Skegness in Lincolnshire. Bailey Bradley, Managing Director and co-founder XceCo, comments, “The successful delivery of this CPPA for one of our offshore wind farm assets under management stands as a testament to the exceptional collaboration between XceCo and all stakeholders involved in delivering this transaction. "The commercial complexities involved in delivering this CPPA have proven to be a great experience. Through painstaking efforts, continuous multi-party engagements, a shared vision, and unwavering commitment, we turned a complex challenge into a powerful achievement, generating success together." Inspired also provide a variety of additional services to VIRTUS as their dedicated energy and sustainability consultant. For more from VIRTUS, click here.

NorthC completes acquisition of six Colt data centres

NorthC, a Dutch provider of sustainable data centre and colocation services, has finalised the acquisition of six data centres from multinational telecommunications company Colt Technology Services, taking over operations on 1 September 2025. The sites are located in Frankfurt, Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, and Düsseldorf in Germany, and in Amsterdam in the Netherlands. The acquisition adds more than 25MW of capacity to NorthC’s platform and expands its presence in both the Benelux and DACH regions. In Germany, the deal increases the company’s footprint to seven data centres in total, while simultaneously boosting capacity in Amsterdam, a key connectivity hub. Expansion in Germany and the Netherlands NorthC says it plans to invest further in the newly acquired sites to expand capacity and improve efficiency and sustainability. The sites will be integrated into the company’s platform and aligned with its operational and service standards. Customers will also gain access to NorthC’s digital services, including the MyNorthC self-service portal. Alexandra Schless, CEO of NorthC Group, comments, “Today marks a major milestone in NorthC’s mission to build the premier regional data centre platform in Northwestern Europe. The integration of these six strategic sites accelerates our expansion, particularly in Germany, enabling us to support customers across all major metropolitan regions with scalable, secure, and sustainable digital infrastructure.” Customers and continuity Colt Technology Services will remain a long-term customer at the acquired facilities, which NorthC says will ensure continuity of service. The company adds that the new sites are in regions with strong connectivity and growing demand for digital infrastructure, allowing it to better serve enterprises, cloud and IT providers, and public sector organisations with cross-border operations. For more from NorthC, click here.

Data centre boom demands predictive maintenance shift

As the data centre sector undergoes rapid expansion, operators are being urged to adopt condition-based monitoring and predictive maintenance strategies in facilities. The callout comes from Arfon Engineering, after a BBC report suggested that the number of data centres in the UK is set to increase by almost 20%. With the majority due to be built in the next five years, 66% of operators are also planning to retrofit at least a quarter of their existing estate within the same timeframe. Designated as critical national infrastructure, data centres are central to the UK’s economic future. To ensure 99.999% uptime and optimal energy efficiency, Arfon has encouraged the shift from reactive to predictive maintenance by adopting condition-based monitoring (CBM). Using real-time data from sensors and monitoring systems to assess equipment health, CBM forecasts potential failures well in advance. This enables informed and proactive maintenance decisions before the point of costly downtime, eliminating unnecessary interventions and extending asset life in the process. Alice Oakes, Service and Support Manager at Arfon, says, “As data centres become more complex and energy-intensive, the transition to predictive maintenance has never been more important. Outages can cost thousands per minute, and the consequences often stretch from financial to reputational damage. “Predictive maintenance is more cost-effective and environmentally responsible than traditional reactive or preventative approaches. This presents decision-makers with the chance to produce less waste from prematurely replaced components, benefit from greater energy efficiency of assets, and significantly extend the lifespan of mission-critical assets, such as cooling systems and power supplies.” Reducing the frequency of unnecessary part replacements contributes to lower carbon emissions and reduced energy consumption, both of which are key goals for a sector under scrutiny for its environmental impact. With tens of billions set to be invested in UK data centres over the coming years, CBM also plays an important role in preventing significant financial losses caused by unplanned outages. Earlier this year, more than half (54%) of respondents to Uptime Intelligence’s annual survey reported their most recent significant outage to have cost more than $100,000. Alice continues, “By integrating predictive maintenance strategies into both new build and retrofit facilities, operators can create smarter data centres that adapt to real-time conditions. We encourage businesses to view it as a strategic investment from the outset in maintaining uptime and resilience.”