Amazon's cloud computing division, Amazon Web Services (AWS), recently announced that it will invest $10 billion over the next five years to build, operate, and maintain data centers in the UK.
Image source note: The image is AI-generated, authorized by service provider Midjourney
This decision marks Amazon's further expansion in the UK, where the company established its first AWS region in 2016, featuring centralized data centers. Additionally, AWS has three availability zones, two WaveLength zones, two edge locations, and one regional edge cache in the UK.
This investment will provide the UK's local supply chain with more than 14,000 full-time equivalent positions annually, including jobs in construction, facility maintenance, engineering, communications, and more. This not only injects vitality into the local economy but also promotes more talent cultivation and employment opportunities. Tanuja Randery, Vice President and General Manager of AWS Europe, Middle East, and Africa, stated that the next few years are crucial for the digital and economic future, with an increasing number of enterprises accelerating innovation through technologies like cloud computing and artificial intelligence.
Randery also noted that Amazon plans to invest £8 billion over the next five years in digital and artificial intelligence infrastructure to meet the growing needs of customers and partners, supporting the transformation of the UK's digital economy. Amazon stated that to date, their investments in the UK have exceeded $14 billion, serving customers including AstraZeneca, food delivery giant Deliveroo, Just Eat, and digital bank Monzo.
UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves welcomed this investment, viewing it as the beginning of the national economic recovery. Meanwhile, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport, Peter Kyle, said that this investment reflects the continuous growth of the UK's digital economy, and innovators need the corresponding infrastructure to drive their growth and breakthroughs.
Amazon also mentioned that if the UK could help half of the small and medium-sized enterprises that have not yet become digital leaders adopt technologies like cloud computing and artificial intelligence, it could potentially create an additional $50 billion in value for the UK economy over the next five years. However, Amazon also warned that to seize this opportunity, investments in digital skills are necessary, and support must be provided to businesses so they can effectively adopt new technologies, reaping economic and productivity benefits.
According to a survey commissioned by AWS from Gallup, 72% of UK businesses have a shortage of digital skills talent, yet only 11% of the UK workforce possesses advanced digital skills. To address this issue, AWS has committed to providing free AI skills training to 2 million people by 2025, to fully leverage technology.
Key points:
📈 Amazon Web Services will invest $10 billion in the UK over the next five years to build data centers, driving local economic development.
💼 This investment is expected to create over 14,000 full-time positions, offering opportunities in multiple fields.
🤖 AWS plans to provide free AI skills training to 2 million people by 2025, aiming to enhance the UK's digital skills level.
