Graham Harle & Steve Kelly, Gleeds: Delivering the Data Centers of tomorrow.
Jul 8, 2024
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Graham Harle and Steve Kelly from Gleeds discuss transitioning into the data center sector, the importance of apprenticeships, Gleeds' capabilities in the industry, challenges faced by the sector, and advice for those looking to develop a career in data centers. They also touch on the evolution and future outlook of data centers, including the need for continuous learning and the global opportunities within the field.
Importance of apprenticeships for talent generation in data center sector.
Need for agility, local market knowledge, and collaboration to meet data center challenges.
Innovative solutions like prefabrication and modularization crucial for efficient data center delivery.
Deep dives
Graham Hall's 35-Year Career in Gleeds and the Data Center Sector
Graham Hall, Global CEO of GLEADS, started his career 35 years ago and has been with GLEADS for 29 years. Hall shares his journey into the industry, starting as a quantity surveyor with a passion for economics. Over the years, he worked with diverse teams on significant projects, including early exposure to data centers, emphasizing the industry's evolution and impact.
Steve Kelly's Transition to Data Centers and Sector Growth
Steve Kelly, Global Sector Lead for GLEADS, initially aimed to become a history teacher but ventured into quantity surveying. With extensive experience in various global projects, he entered the data center sector around 10 years ago. Kelly highlights the rapid changes in data center demand globally, emphasizing the need for agility, local market knowledge, and collaboration to meet challenges.
Urgency and Connectivity in Data Centers
Data centers, characterized by quick construction timelines and high energy demands, require innovative solutions like prefabrication and modularization for efficient delivery. The industry's continuous growth and global demand emphasize the importance of local market experience, collaboration, and sustainability initiatives to address evolving challenges.
Gleeds' Focus on Talent Development and Future Prospects
GLEADS prioritizes attracting and nurturing talent within the sector by offering internal training programs, mentoring, and career development opportunities. The organization acknowledges the significance of empowering employees, enhancing retention, and contributing to sustainability efforts while meeting client demands.
Challenges and Future Outlook for the Data Center Sector
Key challenges in the data center sector revolve around resource allocation, energy efficiency, and community engagement. Addressing these challenges requires industry-wide collaboration, upskilling local talent, and leveraging innovative solutions from other sectors to promote sustainability and transparency. The sector's rapid growth and evolving demands call for strategic planning and continuous development to ensure industry success.
In this episode I am joined by Graham Harle, CEO, and Steve Kelly, Global Director Data Centers & Mission Critical, at Gleeds.
Graham and Steve both share their career journeys and how they made the transition to the data centre sector. They outline the importance of apprenticeships to generate future talent and how you can make the transition from other sectors.
They discuss Gleeds capability within the Data Center sector and how the organization has evolved as the sector has developed. We also discuss how data centres differ from other real estate, what we can learn from other organisations, and the future outlook for Gleeds and the data centre sector.
Finally Graham and Steve discuss the challenges currently faced by the sector, and offer some advice for anyone looking to develop a career in data centres.
The Inside Data Centre Podcast is recorded in partnership with DataX Connect, a specialist data centre recruitment company based in the UK. They operate on a global scale to place passionate individuals at the heart of leading data centre companies.
To learn more about Andy Davis and the rest of the DataX team, click here: DataX Connect
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