Amazon Web Services (AWS) announces a significant £8 billion investment in the UK’s digital infrastructure, aiming to drive economic growth and job creation.
- The investment is expected to support over 14,000 full-time jobs each year within AWS’s data centre supply chain.
- AWS’s total UK investment is projected to exceed £11 billion by 2028, building on its initial investment since 2020.
- The move is seen as a crucial part of the UK’s economic revival, with a £42 billion impact from cloud computing recorded in 2023.
- AWS is committed to furthering digital transformation and AI education, having reached over 31 million learners globally by mid-2024.
Amazon Web Services has announced a major commitment to the UK, pledging £8 billion to bolster the country’s digital infrastructure. This significant investment is expected to support over 14,000 full-time equivalent jobs each year, spanning across various roles such as construction, facility maintenance, engineering, and telecommunications within the AWS data centre supply chain.
The planned £8 billion investment will bring AWS’s total investment in the UK from 2020 to 2028 to more than £11 billion. Since 2020, AWS had already invested £3 billion, supporting over 6,000 jobs annually during this period. This announcement comes as part of a wider strategy to enhance the UK’s digital economy, which saw a massive £42 billion impact from cloud computing in 2023, representing 1.6% of the GDP.
By expanding its operations in the UK, AWS aims to enable more businesses to access the advantages of cloud computing and artificial intelligence, thus enhancing their global competitiveness. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, hailed the announcement, stating that the substantial Amazon Web Services investment signals the beginning of economic revival and underscores Britain as a desirable place for business.
Technology Secretary, Peter Kyle, echoed similar sentiments, stressing the impact of AWS’s commitment on the growing strength of the UK’s digital economy. He highlighted the importance of having a significant player like AWS further expanding on British grounds.
AWS’s clientele in the UK is diverse, spanning industries like pharmaceuticals, research, food delivery, aviation, and retail. Organisations such as AstraZeneca, Cancer Research UK, Deliveroo, easyJet, and Sainsbury’s utilise AWS to cut costs, enhance flexibility, and foster innovation. Independent research highlights that 84% of AWS customers report both cost savings and faster deployment.
AWS’s support for the UK’s digital transformation extends beyond investments. The company is committed to offering free cloud computing skills training to 29 million people globally by 2025, a target it had already exceeded by reaching over 31 million learners by mid-2024, including many from the UK. AWS’s focus on AI education remains strong, with a goal to train two million individuals in AI skills by 2025, reaffirming its dedication to fostering technological advancement.
AWS’s £8 billion investment signifies a remarkable step in reinforcing the UK’s digital infrastructure and economic growth.
