Amazon Web Services (AWS) has earmarked £8 billion for investment in the UK over the next five years (2024-2028).
The company said the funds will be used to build, operate, and maintain data centres in the UK. This investment is part of the company’s long-term commitment to supporting growth and productivity across the country, and will support an average of more than 14,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs on an annual basis at local UK businesses.
The company said those positions all form part of the AWS data centre supply chain, ranging from construction, facility maintenance, engineering, telecommunications, and other jobs within the broader local economy.
Tanuja Randery, vice president and managing director, EMEA, AWS (pictured), said, “The next few years could be among the most pivotal for the UK’s digital and economic future, as organisations of all sizes across the country increasingly embrace technologies like cloud computing and AI to help them accelerate innovation, increase productivity, and compete on the global stage.
“We’re proud to announce our plans to invest £8 billion in digital and AI infrastructure over the next five years to help meet the growing needs of our customers and partners, and support the transformation of the UK's digital economy.”
AWS first launched an AWS region in the UK in December 2016 and, over the last few years, the company has continued to expand the region to include three Availability Zones (AZ), two WaveLength Zones, two Edge Locations, and a Regional Edge Cache.
The company said it has invested over £3 billion in the UK since the start of the decade (2020-2023), as well as supporting an average of more than 6,000 FTE jobs at local businesses.
AWS’s total investment in the UK from 2020-2028 is now planned to reach more than £11 billion.
Earlier this summer, AWS gathered its UK partner community in London to showcase its revamped partner-first vision. The company expects to deliver on the promise of AI through combining the power of three: AWS together with consulting partners and technology partners.