Claire Keelan, UK MD at Onnec, is warning that the UK will fall short of its AI ambitions and data centre expansion targets, unless it tackles the growing workforce shortage by tapping into underused talent – particularly women and flexible workers. With AI demand forecast to drive a fivefold increase in UK data centre capacity by 2030, and increasing investment from major tech providers, Claire says the sector won’t keep up unless it modernises how it attracts, trains, and mobilises people.