Building services contractors are increasingly taking the lead on UK data centre projects, according to the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA). The trend was highlighted in the Association’s latest Top 30 Contractors’ report and discussed during an industry roundtable in Manchester.
BESA reported that data centre development in the UK has grown significantly over the past five years, with the market currently valued at £2.3 billion (approx. USD 2.9 billion). The association forecasts growth to £1.1 trillion (approx. USD 1.4 trillion) by 2030, driven in part by the expansion of artificial intelligence.
Construction research firm Barbour ABI identified data centres as “the boom segment of 2024”, with planning application values rising to £2.6 billion (approx. USD 3.3 billion), nearly double the previous year. The Top 30 report noted that in many of these projects, building services account for over 60% of total value, often positioning mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) contractors as the lead.
BESA technical director Kevin Morrissey said, “The pace of growth provides significant opportunities for companies to scale up and diversify. However, the pace of growth is putting pressure on supply chains and our members are facing significant resource constraints in these high demand sectors.” He also emphasised the importance of sustainability, particularly energy and water use, and the reuse of waste heat in heat pump and network applications.
The roundtable, chaired by Remi Suzan, managing director of Gratte Brothers Ltd, also addressed the role of off-site fabrication in improving delivery timelines and addressing skills shortages. Andy Harrop of Armstrong Fluid Technology said off-site methods could enhance quality control, a key requirement for data centre clients.
Barbour ABI’s head of analytics Ed Griffiths said demand is currently concentrated in London and the south east due to energy access and undersea cable infrastructure. However, saturation in these areas is expected to prompt regional expansion.
To support sector growth, BESA is investing in workforce development through the BESA Academy. Head of skills and policy Stuart Rattray said the Association is working to align training with industry needs, attract new talent, and expand apprenticeship pathways. BESA is also contributing to the development of National Occupational Standards for the data centre sector.
“The discussions at this week's BESA roundtable underscored the critical role that our industry plays in the data centre sector,” said Suzan. “We are helping to drive innovation, sustainability, and resilience in our digital economy.”
Further discussion on high-value sectors including data centres will take place at BESA’s Annual Conference on October 16 in London.
