Google announces £5 billion investment in the UK
Google has announced the opening of a new data centre in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, as part of a two-year £5 billion investment in the UK.
Opened on Tuesday (16 September) by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, the state-of-the-art data centre will help meet growing demand for Google’s AI-powered services like Google Cloud, Workspace, Search, and Maps that people, businesses, and public organisations across the country use every day. More than 250 companies worked on building the facility – the majority of them local.
Google said that the £5 billion investment includes capital expenditure, research and development, and related engineering over the next two years – and encompasses Google DeepMind with its pioneering AI research in science and healthcare.
The investments will help the UK develop its AI economy, unlock AI breakthroughs across the country, fortify cybersecurity, and create future-focused career opportunities for millions of Britons, it said.
Google’s investment is projected to create 8,250 jobs annually at UK businesses.
“Google’s £5 billion investment is a powerful vote of confidence in the UK economy and the strength of our partnership with the US, creating jobs and economic growth for years to come,” said Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
“This government is reversing decades of underinvestment that have held us back for too long, by slashing burdensome red tape, delivering bold reforms of the planning system, and investing in better tech to unlock better jobs and opportunities. Through our Plan for Chan, we are building an economy that works for, and rewards, working people.”
Energy and joare are a key focus
Google said that its data centres are among the most energy-efficient in the world and that it is committed to responsibly growing its infrastructure, while applying AI to increase energy availability and resilience in the communities where it operates.
As part of the new investment, Google also announced it has selected Shell as its 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy Manager in the UK, a pioneering agreement which will contribute to grid stability and the UK’s energy transition.
Between the Shell alliance and Google’s other clean energy initiatives, Google’s UK operations are projected to run at or near 95% energy in 2026.
Google said it is also investing to support people across the UK to gain the critical AI and job-ready skills that support AI adoption.
The company has trained more than one million Britons with skills in the past decade and is part of the industry group, announced by the Prime Minister in July, partnering to train 7.5 million people by 2030.
