Google used the opening of a data centre in the UK to commit another £5 billion to its local operations, focusing on AI research for the science and healthcare sectors and predicting it would support a little more than 8,000 jobs each year.

The company stated the opening of the data centre in the south of the UK forms part of a two-year investment spanning capex, R&D and associated engineering.

In a statement, it hailed the moves as “another milestone” in its commitment to the AI sector in the UK.

It was a view echoed by Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who opened the data centre and said Google’s investment “is a powerful vote of confidence in the UK economy”.

The politician also emphasised a strengthening of ties with the US resulting from the investment, which she said would create “jobs and economic growth for years to come”.

Most news organisations highlighted Google’s pledge came on the same day US President Donald Trump is due to arrive in the UK for a state visit: Reuters reported an expectation there would be a brace of other such deals agreed during the two-day stay.

Crux
Google emphasised the home-grown credentials of its latest data centre, stating more than 250 companies were involved in building it, “the majority of them local”. The facility was built to meet demand for its Cloud, Workspace, Search and Maps services.

Some of the £5 billion it now plans to invest will go towards Google DeepMind AI R&D, with the company emphasising benefits to the UK’s economy and cybersecurity, along with job creation.

Ruth Porat, president and chief investment officer of Google and its parent Alphabet, estimated AI could add £400 billion to the UK economy by 2030, a potential she argued her company is helping unlock along with “enhancing critical social services”.

Google unveiled a carbon free energy management arrangement with Shell Energy Europe it stated would “contribute to grid stability” by focusing on clean power creation and access to battery storage systems.

The company stated the arrangement with Shell and its other clean energy initiatives in the UK could result in its operations running “at or near 95 per cent carbon-free-energy in 2026”.