FMJ Facilities Management magazine providing industry-specific intelligence to FM and property professionals
Richard Sykes, SVP & President, ABM UK & Ireland on the crucial role of facilities management in the UK’s data centre growth
The UK and US Tech Prosperity Deal was announced recently to establish joint initiatives between the two nations’ premiere research and standards institutions across artificial intelligence, nuclear energy and quantum computing. This will offer transformative benefits, from accelerating breakthroughs in health care, to lowering energy costs and supporting national security.
The deal is set to inject billions into new data centre infrastructure, advancing Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s ambition to establish the UK as an “AI Superpower”. For the facilities management sector, this surge presents not only immense opportunity but also significant operational complexity.
Across the UK and Ireland, FM teams are already embedded in the heart of digital infrastructure. At ABM, we already service more than 4.5 million square feet of data centre space across the UK and Ireland annually, supporting over 600 large-scale client facilities. With more than 30 years of experience in critical environments, our teams know how crucial FM is to maintaining uptime and safeguarding growth.
MEETING THE DATA CENTRE CHALLENGE
One of the biggest challenges is coordinating multiple suppliers and systems at a rapid scale, but this also marks the greatest opportunity. The providers who succeed will be those with a deep understanding of critical spaces who can provide multiple service lines and offer support from construction phase through to operations.
But the challenges don’t stop there. Skills shortages in engineering are intensifying and there is increased scrutiny of energy use and carbon impact. This means providers must deliver measurable gains in efficiency and sustainability.
Data centres are notoriously energy intensive as cooling systems alone represent a major share of power use. Strong ESG credentials will be essential for FM providers looking to take advantage of the boom. Clients will expect partners who can enhance their own reporting and demonstrate measurable progress on sustainability goals, as cost and efficiency will be secondary to how actively suppliers can minimise the environmental impact of digital expansion.
THE UNSEEN IMPORTANCE OF POST-CONSTRUCTION CLEANING
Air contamination is the enemy of data storage. Only spaces that are technically cleaned can be cleared for use. With 30 years of experience, our Critical Solutions team know the risk which invisible particles pose to the uptime of digital infrastructure. Even 30 minutes of unscheduled downtime can cost businesses dearly.
With the Tech Prosperity Deal promising to fund significant numbers of new data centres; involvement during the construction phase is vital. If the builders’ clean is done thoroughly, it significantly decreases the work needed later. Dust, debris, and microscopic particles left behind during construction can infiltrate sensitive equipment.
Industry specific qualifications are essential, but so too is specialist knowledge of the unique environment data centres present. Cleaning teams must balance rigorous safety standards with precision techniques designed to protect high-value assets. The process goes beyond the visible, targeting subfloors, overhead voids and the smallest of particulates that could compromise air quality.
Ultimately, effective builder and post-construction cleaning lays the foundation for operational resilience. By ensuring a facility is contamination-free from day one, FM providers reduce the risk of disruption and give clients the confidence that their investment in digital infrastructure will deliver at full capacity from the outset.
SKILLS FOR AN AI SUPERPOWER
As the UK positions itself as an “AI superpower,” expectations on supporting infrastructure are immense. FM must adapt fast. Technical depth in high-voltage systems, advanced cooling and critical environments remains non-negotiable. But digital skills are equally essential: including data analytics, cyber-aware maintenance and compliance monitoring. The ability to maintain power redundancy, with backup and fail-safe systems that ensure no single point of failure – is also critical. In data centres, even a momentary lapse can cause massive disruption.
Building these capabilities requires investment in apprenticeships, reskilling, and partnerships with technical institutions today, not tomorrow.
PREPARING FOR VARIABLE DEMAND
Some are already warning that the AI boom could be overhyped, with infrastructure investment outpacing demand. If history has taught us anything it’s that staying adaptable is key. Plan for growth, yes, but be prepared to evolve the plan in meeting that growth. Even if AI adoption slows, digital infrastructure demand will keep rising. The key is in building scalable, efficient, and sustainable models that add value in any scenario. The skills needed for data centres are transferable across a number of sectors including life sciences and healthcare. FM providers cannot predict cycles, but they can design for resilience.
A DEFINING INFLECTION POINT FOR FM
The Tech Prosperity Deal is a catalyst, but the long-term test is whether FM evolves into a true strategic enabler of the digital economy. Uptime, sustainability, and cost efficiency are converging, and FM sits at the intersection.
The opportunity is enormous, but it will only be realised by providers who combine technical depth with adaptability, innovation and sustainability leadership.
