QTS, the global digital infrastructure leader in designing, building and operating world-class data centres, today celebrated the start of enabling works for the development of its state-of-the-art data centre campus in Cambois – the first new build data centre in the UK to receive National Skills Academy for Construction status by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), which provides a platform to exemplify QTS’s workforce development strategy and achievements.
With the investment of funds managed by affiliates of Blackstone, work is already underway to start building this world-class data centre, which will create thousands of jobs in the North East.
QTS secured planning approval for the enabling works from Northumberland County Council in August, with work now underway to pave the way for breaking ground and vertical development. With the North East recently designated as an AI Growth Zone, this milestone marks the first visible step in uniting cutting-edge technology, sustainability innovation, job creation, incentivization for additional clean energy production and meaningful economic regeneration across the region.
The enabling works celebration was attended by nearly 200 stakeholders and community members, including local business leaders and politicians. QTS Co-CEO, Tag Greason, joined to mark this significant moment and gave keynote remarks alongside Glen Sanderson, Leader of Northumberland County Council.
The occasion also marked the launch of QTS’s new Social Value Programme.
The North East is experiencing the highest economic inactivity rate in the UK and an unemployment rate well above the national average.[1] The Social Value programme unveiled at the ceremony will help address these challenges through targeted social, economic and environmental initiatives aimed at boosting employment and skills development, including:
1,000+ new jobs, with a target of 50 percent of roles to be filled from within the surrounding area.
Opportunities for young people, including over 100 apprenticeships and jobs with training, over 150 paid internships and over 200 work placements including 100 ‘T-level’ placement days, to provide valuable hands-on experience and career pathways for young people. T-level placements include 2-year technical qualifications for students with a focus on vocational skills that combines classroom learning with real-world industry experience.
Training and upskilling opportunities through various events, courses and initiatives to develop the existing and future workforce.
Local supply chain investment and partnerships with small businesses to support local entrepreneurship.
Tag Greason, Co-CEO at QTS, said: “QTS is thrilled to have officially started work on the site of our data centre campus. While this is the first step in a long journey, it is a visible milestone of progress made possible by the support of the local community and Northumberland County Council. We want to have a lasting positive impact on the North East, which is why we’ve announced our commitment to create more than a thousand new jobs – boosting the skills of hundreds of local people in the coming years.”
Kanishka Narayan, AI Minister, said: “When we said this would create new opportunities for people in the North East, we meant it. Within weeks of announcing, work on the site is already starting – creating new routes for young people to move into employment. That includes hundreds of apprenticeships, placements and internships – as well as fresh opportunities for local businesses so the whole community gets behind this effort. By attracting investment, putting researchers within touching distance of tech that will lead to major breakthroughs and backing the North East as an AI powerhouse, we’re delivering real change for generations to come.”
Kim McGuinness, Mayor of the North East, said: “AI will be transformational for our communities. It will create thousands of jobs for local people while allowing the North East to lead the way in tech innovations. That’s why we’re wasting no time in building the technology of the future, today. Just two weeks ago we announced £30 billion investment to make the North East the country’s first AI Growth Zone. We’ve wasted no time and work is already underway to get the world-class data centres up and running so we can make sure there are opportunities for local people as quickly as possible.”
Glen Sanderson, Leader of Northumberland County Council, said: “Today marks a huge step forward towards realising the massive benefits and opportunities this scheme will bring – not just for this area, but the whole county and the wider region. This is a multi-billion-pound vote of confidence in Northumberland – bringing jobs, cutting edge technology and a massive investment in our future. With the enabling works underway, we’re looking forward to construction starting on the ground in the near future.”