An £8 billion investment from Amazon Web Services (AWS) to help drive data centre growth in the UK and support thousands of jobs is being made, chancellor Rachel Reeves has confirmed.

The chancellor secured the planned five-year investment at a meeting with the cloud giant last week.

The investment is estimated to support around 14,000 jobs per year at local businesses, including those across the company’s data centre supply chain such as facility maintenance, engineering, telecommunications, and construction, as well as other jobs within the broader local economy.

AWS estimates that these investments in the UK will contribute £14 billion to the UK’s total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from 2024 to 2028.

Speaking from a University Technical College in Silverstone today, which works with Amazon Web Services to introduce students to the skills required to enter the digital infrastructure industry, the Chancellor warns that “change cannot happen overnight” regarding Britain and economic revival.

“I am under no illusion to the scale of the challenge facing our economy and I will be honest with the British people that change will not happen overnight,” Reeves said.

“Two quarters of positive economic growth does not make up for fourteen years of stagnation under the previous government.

“However, this £8 billion investment marks the start of the economic revival and shows Britain is a place to do business. I am determined to go further so we can deliver on our mandate to create jobs, unlock investment and make every part of Britain better off. The hard work to fix the foundations of our economy has only just begun.”

Recommended reading

• UK Biobank Gets Millions to Boost Health Data Storage Capabilities
• AWS Commits Over £180 Million to GenAI Startups
• New Survey Reveals UK T&L Has “Significant” Data and AI Gap

Amazon Web Services vice president and managing director, Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA), Tanuja Randery, also 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.

“AWS is 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.”