Kao Data’s SEED Fund: Powering communities through social action 

By Lizzy McDowell, Director of Marketing at Kao Data 

This year at Kao Data, we have had the privilege to watch our new Stockport Kao SEED Fund’s projects roll out across the community. 

The Kao SEED (Social Enterprise and Environmental Development) Fund provides financial support to not-for-profit, community-led projects that drive social, economic and environmental progress in the areas where Kao Data operates. 

First launched in Stockport, where Kao Data is building its first data centre outside of the South East, the Kao SEED Fund awarded financial grants to 20 not-for-profit community groups, enabling them to spark change within their own communities.

This community-led initiative highlights the positive impact that digital infrastructure can have on both individuals and communities in Greater Manchester. The digital transformation of our region isn’t just about technology -  it’s also about creating opportunity, inspiring participation and empowering communities. 

The Kao SEED Fund was launched in Stockport town centre in November 2024, with an application deadline of February 2025. Working alongside Sector 3, Stockport’s forward-thinking charity infrastructure organisation, we received 68 applications from a huge variety of community organisations. After a challenging impartial judging session, we awarded 20 community grants ranging from between £500 to £2,500. 

This fund empowers grassroots community groups at a time when access to funding has been increasingly challenging. However, all of these inspiring community projects showcase creativity, enterprise, sustainability and community spirit in action.

To date, the fund has supported a variety of projects, including: 

• A ‘Peace & Peas’ community garden in Brinnington 

• Funded plastic recycling boxes for the arts organisation Plastic Shed

• Re:Dish charity printed their own environmentally-friendly tote bags

• Marbury Road Edible Gardens ran horticulture sessions for young people

• Arc ran entrepreneurial workshops and a makers market 

• Men in Sheds ran a project where they repair bikes for the community 

This initiative is a key part of Kao Data’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategy. It is essential to our company values that we are active participants in our communities, being good corporate neighbours and providing genuine, tangible help to people who live near our data centres.

One of the wonderful elements of this initiative is that we are still very much engaged with all of the community groups. They have kept us up to date on their projects, invited us down to see them in action, and we have shared all of their good work across our social media channels. 

Just some of the excellent responses we received: 

“Without the Kao Seed Fund, a fantastic idea wouldn’t be the wonderful community garden resource it is now. Thank you again.”

- Mary Dutton MBE, volunteer and chair of BLOGS ( Brinnington local organised groups society)

“Thanks to support from the Kao Data SEED Fund, we delivered a powerful pilot programme that reached 10 young people from under-served communities.”

- Ben Riley, Director of Drywave Recovery CIC 

"The funding from Kao Data is what is making this prom happen. The Be You Prom is a first for Stockport and an opportunity for LGBTQ+ people to experience a welcoming, inclusive prom where they are celebrated for being who they are.

- Tina Carnally, Director of Forward CIC

We have been blown away by the interest from the community groups, as well as the ongoing support from our key stakeholders, such as GMCA and Stockport Council, and the wider data centre industry.  

The Kao SEED Fund has been such an overwhelming success and we’ve loved creating genuine community engagement in the town of Stockport. It’s really important to all of us at Kao Data to become truly embedded in the local communities where our data centres are located and also to help empower local people to support their community. This is the potential that digital infrastructure has - it can supercharge community empowerment.

This outlook also aligns strongly with GMCA’s Digital Strategy, with a commitment to create a thriving, inclusive digital region where innovation and social value go hand in hand. Kao Data’s investment in people complements the region’s focus on improving digital access, connectivity and skills.

The initiative has been such a huge success that we are already planning our 2026 launch, where the current recipients of the funding pots will be invited to talk about their projects and what the funding meant for them.