By Spencer Lamb, CCO at Kao Data

Over the next two years, our new 40MW data centre in Reddish, Stockport, will come to life, providing critical digital capacity to the North West region. With the location now cleared of the previous concrete works, during 2025 we will see power capacity being connected to the site, a main contractor appointed and initial groundworks commence. Incrementally, one of the UK’s most advanced data centres is starting to take shape.

This project represents a significant step forward in our mission to provide world-class infrastructure for AI and advanced computing, while also delivering substantial benefits to the local community and economy.

However, our work in Greater Manchester is not just focused on building a data centre. Over the past year, we have been working hard to do our bit as part of the community, which includes local residents, schools and colleges, charities and not-for-profits and the business community too.

While many data centre companies place a unit on an industrial site with very little engagement with the local communities, Kao Data has larger and different ambitions. We want to ensure that the people of Stockport and across Greater Manchester benefit from a new data centre and the subsequent growth of the tech economy across the whole region.  

On top of that, our data centre development, as well as our business ethics and values, align with the Greater Manchester Digital Blueprint to empower people and communities, build responsible data-driven public services, create connected, inclusive and sustainable places to digitally enable a resilient and prosperous economy and strengthen Greater Manchester’s position as a global digital influencer.

We are also at the forefront of ensuring that the North West becomes a key hub for both AI and technology, underpinning the Government’s new AI Opportunities Action Plan. We will be supporting GMCA on the work they’re doing to position Greater Manchester and the North West region as the best location outside of London in which to develop an AI Growth Zone.

The North West as the newest AI Growth Zone?

Our new facility is set to become a cornerstone of Greater Manchester's fast-growing tech ecosystem. By 2027, when the data centre becomes operational, it will provide a home for cutting-edge AI and cloud workloads, cementing the region's status as a hub for digital innovation.

Fundamentally, Greater Manchester and the North West has enormous potential to become the next AI Growth Zone - it is home to the largest AI ecosystem in the UK by headcount; it has the largest digital sector outside of the south east and boasts a robust tech talent pipeline from a host of world-class universities and research institutions.

In Cheshire there is SciTech Daresbury which houses an innovation centre and also partners with universities, as well as Jodrell Bank, which is a world-leading deep science research facility owned by the University of Manchester. On top of this, Global IT company Kyndryl announced it is creating 1000 AI jobs in Liverpool, which has been welcomed by Liverpool Mayor Steve Rotheram.

Furthermore, with a vision provided by Greater Manchester’s Mayor, Andy Burnham, and GMCA’s Digital Blueprint, there really is no better location for a new AI Growth Zone.

Empowering local talent

At Kao Data, we're passionate about nurturing the next generation of tech talent from a young age. We're excited to engage with local schools, colleges, and universities to support Mayor Andy Burnham's vision for a Greater Manchester Baccalaureate (MBacc). We’re working on a number of initiatives with Stockport and Trafford College group to ensure that we’re helping to build a skilled workforce that will drive innovation in the region for decades to come.

We recently held a careers evening for students, in partnership with Trafford & Stockport College, with speakers from a wide range of Stockport businesses, who gave inspirational talks about their own career journey and overcoming different challenges.

Planting seeds in our community

In November 2024, we launched our new Kao Stockport SEED Fund, which will empower projects that champion sustainability, enterprising behaviour, and economic growth. Remarkably we’ve had 67 entries and working with our brilliant partner Sector 3, we will support the projects that matter most to people locally. Our goal is to nurture grassroots initiatives that will flourish in the communities around our data centre. Funded projects will be announced by the end of March 2025, and we can’t wait to see the projects that are rolled out.

Driving economic growth

The impact of this project extends far beyond the tech sector. Our £350 million investment is expected to inject £155 million into Stockport's local economy during the construction phase alone. But that's just the beginning. As we become an integral part of the community, we'll be creating new job opportunities and becoming an integral part of the growing tech economy.

Sustainability at our core

As leaders in sustainable data centre design, we're bringing our commitment to environmental responsibility to Reddish. Our new facility will be powered by 100% certified renewable energy and will set new benchmarks for sustainability in the industry. With features like our award-winning design blueprint and the use of hydrotreated vegetable oil in our backup generators, we're ensuring that our growth goes hand-in-hand with environmental stewardship.

Looking to the future

As development begins in Stockport, we're not just building a data centre – we're helping to shape the future of Greater Manchester. By providing the backbone for AI and advanced computing, we're enabling innovations that will transform industries and improve lives, and providing the launchpad for the development of a world class AI Growth Zone area.

Fundamentally, data centres connect people, whether that be across continents or within local communities. We’re not just building infrastructure—we’re contributing to the wider Greater Manchester digital and tech economy and becoming a positive, proactive part of that wider community as well.