Digital Futures Programme hosts Thrilling Sustainability Challenge Day with KAO Data

Students at UTC Heathrow were immersed in an exciting and educational day of challenges focused on sustainability in data centres, hosted by KAO Data and supported by VIRTUS, Vertiv, JLL, Cyrus One, LMG, AWS, ARK, and others. The Digital Futures Programme event offered a hands-on, creative exploration of renewable energy, engineering principles, and the importance of sustainability in today’s digital world.


KAO Data at UTC Heathrow for a Digital Futures Programme event

Inspiring the next generation of innovators

Led by KAO Data’s team, including Mike Tamblingson, Chris Small, Lizzy McDowell, and Faisal Akram, the day aimed to educate students about data centres—vital hubs for powering the digital age—and their role in the journey towards a sustainable future. KAO Data, a leader in green energy solutions, operates their centres using 100% renewable energy, making them the perfect hosts for this inspiring event. 

Mike Tamblingson, Operations Director at KAO Data, spoke passionately about the company’s commitment to fostering the next generation of STEM professionals: 

“I am personally very passionate about the next generation. I love working in data centres and wanted to give something back. I’m keen to drive initiatives like this at KAO Data and feel privileged to be part of days like today.” 


A day of engaging challenges

The day began with an introduction to data centres, explaining their crucial role in students’ daily lives and emphasising the need for sustainable solutions. Students then embarked on a series of hands-on activities: 

1. Designing a data centre model

Working in teams, students cut and constructed their own data centre models, carefully considering critical features like security, backup generators, and location. The activity encouraged creative thinking and a deeper understanding of data centre design and functionality. 

2. Building a windmill 

Next, students designed and built windmills in a competitive challenge to generate the highest DC voltage. Using a digital multimeter with a “Peak Hold” feature, teams tested their windmills’ performance. Designs varied widely, showcasing students’ ingenuity and engineering skills. 

3. Constructing a wind-powered car

The final challenge saw students build wind-powered cars, focusing on friction, aerodynamics, and surface area. Cars were tested in front of a fan, with winners judged on distance covered and design innovation. One team’s clever use of a brown paper bag to capture maximum wind earned them the top prize. 


Inspiring conversations and future aspirations 

Throughout the day, students shared their aspirations, with some expressing newfound excitement about data centre careers. One student, already set on becoming a civil engineer, explained how events like this reinforced her decision to leave her mainstream school and join the UTC to complete her GCSEs in more relevant subjects. Others, still exploring their options we inspired by the innovative possibilities in STEM fields. 


Kao Data at UTC Heathrow

Celebrating success

Winners of each activity were rewarded with Amazon vouchers, and all students left with a deeper appreciation for sustainability, technology and a potential career in data centres. Reflecting on the event, KAO Data’s team and supporting partners were thrilled with the enthusiasm and creativity on display. 


A bright future

Events like this exemplify the power of collaboration between industry leaders and education to inspire the next generation of innovators. UTC Heathrow and KAO Data’s partnership has not only highlighted the importance of sustainability in data centres but also ignited a passion for STEM careers among students. 

UTC Heathrow, with its forward-thinking approach to education, continues to be a hub for preparing young minds for the challenges and opportunities of the future. 



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Increasing Apprenticeship Opportunities in the Data Centre Industry: Our Platinum Membership in The 5% Club

The data centre sector is experiencing remarkable growth, fuelled by the ever-increasing demand for cloud services and artificial intelligence. However, this expansion is hindered somewhat by a shortage of talent. The shortage is causing challenges not only for data centre professionals but also for employers and the industry as a whole.

Data is crucial to shaping the future and we need the right talent to tackle humanity’s most complex challenges. We genuinely want to help tackle these challenges by working together with companies and partnerships to highlight the ways they can help as well as coming up with new practical solutions. 

Some of the ways we help data centre companies build a pipeline of future talent directly are: 

  • Leading by example, showing our clients that Platinum membership in the 5% Club is possible as a company in the data centre industry
  • Participating in initiatives such as the Digital Futures Programme, a programme to give 14–19-year-olds exposure to the data centre sector from a young age
  • Showcasing the great work done by other companies in launching their own future talent initiatives, such as The AVK Academy, a new training hub for data centre engineers 

the 5% club platinum award

5% Club Platinum Membership Award

We’re thrilled that we’ve been awarded Platinum accredited membership as part of The 5% Club’s esteemed 2024-25 Employer Audit Scheme. This accolade highlights our unwavering commitment to empowering our employees through “earn and learn” initiatives such as Apprenticeships, Graduate Schemes, and Sponsored Student Placements. 

Achieving Platinum status is something we are very proud of. We have aways been passionate about the importance of continual learning and development. We also want to encourage the businesses we work with the consider investing in the development of the next generation of talent.

By being part of The 5% Club, we proudly stand alongside over 1,100 forward-thinking employers who are dedicated to driving positive change. The 5% Club represents a powerful movement of companies working together to make workplace training more inclusive, diverse, and accessible. Collectively, members support 1.9 million employees, with more than 108,000 individuals participating in “earn and learn” schemes. The Employer Audit rigorously assesses our efforts, future ambitions, and commitment to social mobility, diversity, and inclusion, further strengthening our mission. 

Mark Cameron OBE, Chief Executive at The 5% Club, commented:  

“We are incredibly proud of the outstanding employers, like DataX Connect, who have gone above and beyond to invest in the future of their workforce through a diverse range of ‘earn and learn’ initiatives. Their dedication, especially during these challenging times, deserves to be celebrated. By achieving Platinum membership, DataX Connect has shown an exceptional commitment to shaping the skills of tomorrow, contributing not only to their business but to the wider economy.” 

Gill Cronin, Director of Operations at The 5% Club, added: 

“It is inspiring to witness the dedication and passion our members bring to providing meaningful career development opportunities. DataX Connect’s Platinum membership highlights their leadership in creating impactful learning environments that prioritises inclusion and diversity. As we see 20% of our members reaching these prestigious tiers, it’s a true reflection of how companies like DataX Connect are laying the groundwork for the future talent pipeline.” 



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An Exciting Training Hub for Data Centre Engineers: The AVK Academy

This week, AVK introduced The AVK Academy, a data centre engineer training academy based in Kent.

Read on to find out more about the key features of the academy, why it is so needed, and how to apply if you’re interested.


data centre engineer training

Who is AVK? 

AVK provides generator and uninterrupted power supply solutions for mission-critical services and systems. “No matter the scale of the project or its complexity, clients rely on us to deliver the best-in-class solutions in the smartest, most sustainable and cost-conscious ways.”  

With 35 years’ experience and more than 240 team members globally, AVK has delivered over 20,000 projects and services helping their clients meet their power demands and sustainability goals. 

Demand for data centre space has been turbocharged in recent years by the rise of artificial intelligence, which demands ever more high-end computers, and ever more electricity to power them.”


What is the AVK Academy? 

The AVK Academy is a dedicated training hub that will play a pivotal role in developing the next generation of data centre engineers. The Academy, located in Kent, will provide comprehensive, hands-on training to data centre professionals. 

Trainees will have access to state-of-the-art technology so that they can “immerse themselves in real-world scenarios ensuring they gain the practical experience required to excel in their careers.” 


Key features of the academy  

  • Hands-on, comprehensive learning 
  • Combination of classroom and practical exercises 
  • Entry point into industry for new talent 
  • Focus on continuous professional development 
  • Data centre engineer training programmes catering to all experience levels 

Why does the industry need data centre engineer training? 

“The AVK Academy is more than just a training facility—it represents a strategic investment in the future of our company and the industry. By nurturing talent within a controlled, supportive environment, we are helping to build a pipeline of skilled professionals who will drive innovation in power generation.  

For AVK, this is crucial as we continue to grow and adapt to the evolving demands of data centres and other critical sectors. Our Academy is not just about training individuals; it is about creating a culture of continuous learning and development that permeates every level of our organisation.” 

The AVK Academy will act as a tool for attracting new talent into the data centre industry and providing professionals with clear career pathways, that’s why we’re supporting the academy here at DataX. 

Listen to Ben Pritchard, CEO AVK-SEG, speak to Andy Davis on the Inside Data Centre Podcast


How to apply to the academy

The AVK Academy has a range of data centre engineer training programmes for every experience level.

To find out more information and to apply to join the academy, you can contact the AVK team at [email protected]. Submit a copy of your CV and let them know your area of interest. 



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Bridge-Building with Yondr: UTC Data Centres Workshop July 2024 

On Monday 22nd July, we had the pleasure of attending a workshop at UTC Reading hosted by Yondr Group. The workshop was the fourth run by the hyperscale data centre developer and was a fantastic opportunity for us to watch the Digital Futures Programme in action.

We had the chance to speak to Yondr volunteers about why they got involved in the programme, and to teachers and students about the impact that the programme is having on their education and career plans. One teacher we spoke to said that students who study at a UTC are far more confident with interviews and in workplaces because they get to work with employers regularly while they are studying.  


Contents


What is a UTC?

UTC stands for University Technical College. It’s an innovative approach to learning for 14-19-year-olds that offers specialist programmes alongside traditional subjects. For example, students that we spoke to at UTC Reading study subjects like IT, Engineering, and Computer Science as part of their Yr 10 and Yr 11 curriculum.

Yondr and DataX - Digital Futures Programme

What is the Digital Futures Programme?

“Aimed at 14-19-year-olds, the [Digital Futures] Programme equips students with the essential knowledge and skills needed to thrive in technical careers within the digital infrastructure industry, comprising engineering, the network cabling and data centre sectors and other digital environments. 

It also gives students a real taste of the world of work and helps them develop employability skills in readiness for interviews and entry level roles – and not just in the data centre sector, as the skills they learn are hugely transferable.”

UTC Heathrow


Who is Yondr?

Yondr is a global developer, owner and operator, of hyperscale data centres. They deliver complex data centre capacity needs for the world’s largest tech companies.

Having delivered over 450MW of built capacity, Yondr now have data centre campuses across the globe in North America, EMEA, and APAC.

Yondr Group Digital Futures Programme

Why is Yondr involved in the Digital Futures Programme?

Yondr is one of the co-founders of the Digital Futures Programme. Paul Hood, COO Global Data Center Operations at Yondr said, “We’re really proud of the Digital Futures partnership; I’ve seen first-hand how much of an impact it has in providing the support and skills to young people to help them succeed. We understand the importance of supporting students, often from under-represented backgrounds, into STEM/digital infrastructure careers. It’s important for our business, the industry and for society.”

Programmes like Digital Futures mean that they can inspire children at a young age to access opportunities and get into a career in data centres through different routes. Even if students don’t end up at Yondr, it gets them into the industry.


The workshop

The day consisted of a presentation followed by a bridge-building activity. Throughout the day, we had the chance to speak to some students who wanted to pursue architecture and were particularly interested in this activity so they could show their passion and skills to Yondr, a potential future employer.

Days like this are important for the data centre sector because they introduce students, like those wanting to study architecture, to new industries. Students that might not have otherwise considered the sector are now aware of the many possibilities within it.

Presentation

The day started with a presentation from Yondr introducing the concept of a data centre. The presentation was done by Vijay Bedarkar, Sustainability and ESG Manager, and the new sponsor for Digital Futures at Yondr. His passion for his role showed through as he launched an interactive task getting students to think about the sustainability of data centres. 

Armed with post-it notes and lots of enthusiasm, the 80+ year 10 students got to work coming up with ideas about the different elements of sustainability, power availability, and cooling needed in every data centre.

Vijay said, “I’ve been passionate about helping young people access employment opportunities for a long time and believe that businesses have a powerful role in creating positive social impact. It’s incredibly rewarding to mentor and coach students from diverse backgrounds, witnessing their enthusiasm and eagerness to learn. Initiatives like the Digital Futures programme have the potential to inspire greater diversity within the industry and open doors for many.”

Phase one: the task

After the presentation, the students split into teams of four to five and set about examining their task for the day. Each team had to build a freestanding bridge that would hold a 1kg weight and matched certain fixed dimensions to allow an object to pass underneath it.

In addition to the technical requirements, the bridge design also had to be considerate of its surroundings, a rural town, and needed to be costed. Not only did the bridge materials have a monetary cost associated with them, but they also had a carbon cost. Materials like wooden dowels were low monetary cost but high carbon cost, and vice versa for materials like tin foil.

One of the first assignments for each team was to decide on team roles. Some teams were very specific with their roles, designating a Project Manager, Sustainability Manager, Finance Manager, and Designer, while others simply split their team into two: Building and Design.

Phase two: design and construction

Most teams got straight to work designing the bridge. When observing the teams, we saw many unique approaches and creative ideas to tackle the brief.

Some students made paper models to visualise the dimensional requirements for the bridge, while others used the internet to source inspiration photos. Some teams drew scale drawings to ensure that all team members were on the same page. 

DataX Connect join digital futures programme

When it was time to begin constructing, teams could use lollipop sticks, wooden dowels, tape, tin foil, hot glue, and string. Crucially, they had to keep track of all materials used so they could accurately portray their costs in their presentation, including any materials they used in testing the bridge.

Phase three: presentation

Once teams had finished constructing their bridges, they tested them and presented their finished product to the group. The students showed teamwork and communication skills throughout the project, and this was a big factor in how they were scored.

The teams were graded on criteria such as team communication, bridge sustainability, total cost, and design. Ultimately, the most successful teams had strong bridges resulting from good leadership and effort from all team members. 

DataX Connect join the digital futures programme

Upon speaking to students and teachers, we learnt that students really enjoy the practical aspects of workshops like this one with Yondr. In particular, they benefit from working with employers directly from a young age and getting exposure to sectors that they might not have otherwise been exposed to.

The Yondr volunteers also gave the children an opportunity to ask them questions about their jobs and gave life advice. For example, they encouraged the students not to always work with friends for a project, to encourage diversity of thinking. 

It was great to see the Digital Future Programme in action and to see how invaluable partners like Yondr are in helping bringing real-word careers to life. We also saw how different UTC pupils are; a number of year 10 students asked us if we had any internships or took on apprentices.

We’re looking forward to attending more workshops like this one, and to hosting our own next academic year.



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