Apprenticeships tackle UK data centre engineering gap

Engineers at Cundall say apprenticeships are becoming a central route into the UK's data centre sector as the industry faces sustained demand for specialist skills.

Voices from across the firm's data centre team describe apprenticeships as a way to ease labour shortages, broaden access to engineering careers and align academic study with live project experience.

The comments come as data centre operators and their supply chains report rising pressure on recruitment in mechanical, electrical and controls disciplines, driven by continued growth in digital infrastructure and cloud services.

Cundall works across building services and critical systems engineering. Its staff highlight structured schemes such as the PlanBEE programme and degree apprenticeships as examples of routes that combine formal learning with project delivery.

Skills pressure

Senior figures in the firm say the UK's engineering skills gap remains a constraint on data centre growth. They point to apprenticeships as one way for employers to widen their intake while responding to new technical requirements and client expectations.

Andrew Livesey, Partner in Cundall's data centre team, links the issue directly to market conditions and investment trends.

"The skills shortage in the UK is an ever-growing pressure, and despite increased investment into the market and AI, the talent pool is still under pressure to expand. National Apprenticeship Week is an important time to recognise the value apprentices can bring to the market and to tackle these issues.

Apprenticeships widen participation and open doors to those may not see engineering as a possible career; we must work to increase the industry's diversity. They can and will help meet the demand for talent and benefit the sector by providing their teams with diverse skillsets and perspectives.

Organisations like The Land Collective are already helping people to bridge this gap by connecting people with engineering opportunities, and I'm proud to be a champion sponsor of this at Cundall," said Andrew Livesey, Partner, Cundall.

Livesey highlights outreach work by industry groups and intermediaries. He notes that these organisations connect potential recruits with technical roles that they might not otherwise consider.

Rotational routes

Younger engineers inside Cundall describe rotational apprenticeship schemes as a way to test different disciplines before deciding on a specialism. They say this model suits complex sectors such as data centres, where projects involve electrical, mechanical and architectural inputs.

Electrical Apprentice Ana Villarroel began her career on the PlanBEE apprenticeship programme. The scheme runs as a two-year rotation across multiple built environment roles.

"I began my career with the PlanBEE apprenticeship programme, a two-year rotation that brought me to the built environment. On the programme, I spent time in a variety of roles from Quantity Surveyor to Design Manager, from Architect to MEP engineer. Whilst I'd originally thought architecture was my calling, the variety of roles I had helped me discover a passion for engineering. I'm grateful that apprenticeships like this exist, as they gave me the chance to find my career path early.

Now, I'm working through my Level 6 apprenticeship with Cundall, developing my skills on actual projects. National Apprenticeship Week is key to showing that apprenticeships aren't just an alternative; they can be a better option. By combining academic learning with the practical experience of projects, you can develop a broader knowledge to advance in your career, which traditional routes alone cannot replicate," said Ana Villarroel, Electrical Apprentice, Cundall.

Villarroel now works in the company's data centre team. She applies the broad exposure gained during PlanBEE on live schemes with critical power and resilience requirements.

Learning by doing

Mechanical Apprentice Oshia Rahmani follows a similar route. She started with Gateshead College on PlanBEE and then moved into a degree apprenticeship focused on building services engineering.

"Apprenticeships have been a huge part of my journey so far and have given me opportunities I wouldn't have had through a traditional route alone. I began my journey with Gateshead College, completing the two-year 'PlanBEE' programme. This helped me build an understanding of the built environment and gain real insight into how the industry works, as I rotated through different companies in the architecture, engineering, and construction industry every 4 months. I'm now completing a Building Services Engineering degree apprenticeship with Cundall, working in the Mechanical team in the data centre sector.

Being able to learn on the job while studying has helped me grow in confidence and better understand how the theory I learn at university applies to real engineering projects. For me, an apprenticeship is all about learning by doing. It allows you to earn, gain hands-on experience, and develop valuable skills at the same time, while building confidence and understanding how the industry really works. National Apprenticeship Week is a great initiative to raise awareness of this," said Oshia Rahmani, Mechanical Apprentice, Cundall.

Rahmani's comments underline the role of live project work in building familiarity with data centre-specific systems. These include high-density cooling, energy use in continuous operation and resilience planning for critical loads.

From apprentice to chartered

For some, apprenticeships have formed the first stage of longer technical careers in building services. Senior Mechanical Engineer Zak Heitmann describes a route from post-GCSE apprenticeship through to Chartered Engineer status.

"Last year, I achieved Chartered Engineer status with CIBSE. The achievement marked a big milestone in my engineering journey, which began when I chose an apprenticeship after leaving school with my GCSEs. Because of this, I've seen the benefits that apprenticeships can have, and that's why recognising National Apprenticeship Week is important to me.

"Through my apprenticeship, I gained the real-world experience that mattered most to me. When I later completed my bachelor's degree part-time, I found that the practical knowledge I'd gained over the last few years really supported the theory I was learning in lectures and enabled me to achieve a first-class honours in Building Services Engineering. An apprenticeship enabled me to still get a degree, but with the knowledge, mindset, and experience to know what I wanted to do with it.

Over the last ten years, my time from apprentice to Chartered Engineer has showcased that there are always opportunities to learn. Whilst choosing an apprenticeship can seem daunting at first, it is an option that offers the benefits of an academic route to work, with greater exposure to the real world. This week shows that many have similar stories to mine, and I hope more people consider apprenticeships as a way to enter the engineering world," said Zak Heitmann, Senior Mechanical Engineer, Cundall.

Heitmann works on data centre projects that require detailed understanding of airflow, energy use and thermal management. His route illustrates how apprenticeship pathways can align with chartered status in professional institutions.

Diversity and access

Engineers at Cundall suggest that apprenticeships are essential for diversifying the recruitment base within the data centre sector. They argue that these vocational pathways attract individuals from a broader range of academic, social, and regional backgrounds into roles that are frequently overlooked by school leavers. By increasing the visibility of the industry to a wider audience, these programmes help address the specific technical demands of data centre infrastructure.

According to Livesey, these schemes are designed to complement existing degree courses and graduate recruitment initiatives rather than replace them. By integrating apprenticeships into the professional landscape, the industry can significantly expand the total pool of qualified engineers capable of delivering data centre projects across the United Kingdom.

This dual approach ensures a steady pipeline of talent, combining academic theory with practical, on-the-job training to meet the growing needs of the digital economy.