Lanarkshire announced as next AI Growth Zone
Scotland will host a new AI Growth Zone in Lanarkshire, as delivered by UK-based data centre firm DataVita, in partnership with AI cloud provider CoreWeave.
The project in Airdrie is backed by £8.2 billion in private investment and is expected to create more than 3,400 jobs, including around 800 high-value AI roles spanning research, engineering, and data centre operations.
At least 50 apprenticeships will also be delivered to support the next generation of Scottish AI talent, alongside wider skills and training programmes linked to local universities and businesses.
A new community fund of up to £543 million will be established over the next 15 years to support local programmes, including skills, training, cost-of-living support, and community services.
When complete, the Lanarkshire site is planned to have more than 500MW of on-site power generation over the next four years and to prioritise renewable energy sources, including nearby solar and wind capacity, alongside innovative approaches to managing AI-related energy demand. Excess heat generated by the data centres will be captured and explored for reuse, including potential future supply to University Hospital Monklands.
Link to Government’s AI Opportunities Action Plan update
The announcement forms part of the delivery of the AI Opportunities Action Plan, published in January 2025. The government reports that 38 of the Plan’s 50 commitments have now been met, with progress tracked via a new public dashboard. AI Growth Zones are positioned in the plan as a key mechanism for 20x-ing the UK’s compute capacity and regional growth and AI adoption.
techUK’s position
techUK welcomes the Government’s announcement of a new AI Growth Zone (AIGZ) in Lanarkshire and continues to support the ambition set out in the AI Opportunities Action Plan. The technology sector stands ready to work with Government to accelerate the adoption of AI, spur regional investment, and strengthen the UK’s position as a global AI leader.
While we are supportive of this, there are ongoing concerns about the delivery of this policy and the barriers - particularly planning, energy costs and connections - that still need to be overcome to maximise the success of AIGZs and compute infrastructure across the UK more broadly.
Moreover, a successful AIGZ should be more than simply a physical location or building. It should be an adoption flywheel that drives deep adoption of AI alongside the compute infrastructure needed. Focusing many of the welcome AI Skills and adoption announcements made by Government this week into AIGZ would be a good step in helping to create this virtuous circle.
techUK is keeping track of the 2026 updates to the AI Opportunities Action Plan. A full summary of all the announcements this month is forthcoming.
techUK - Seizing the AI Opportunity
The UK is a global leader in AI innovation, development and adoption.
AI has the potential to boost UK GDP by £550 billion by 2035, making adoption an urgent economic priority. techUK and our members are committed to working with the Government to turn the AI Opportunities Action Plan into reality. Together we can ensure the UK seizes the opportunities presented by AI technology and continues to be a world leader in AI development.
Get involved: techUK runs a busy calendar of activities including events, reports, and insights to demonstrate some of the most significant AI opportunities for the UK. Our AI Hub is where you will find details of all upcoming activity. We also send a monthly AI newsletter which you can subscribe to here.
Upcoming AI Events
Latest news and insights
Subscribe to our AI newsletter
AI and Data Analytics updates
Sign-up to our monthly newsletter to get the latest updates and opportunities from our AI and Data Analytics Programme straight to your inbox.
Contact the team
Kir Nuthi
Kir Nuthi
Kir Nuthi is the Head of AI and Data at techUK.
She holds over seven years of Government Affairs and Tech Policy experience in the US and UK. Kir previously headed up the regulatory portfolio at a UK advocacy group for tech startups and held various public affairs in US tech policy. All involved policy research and campaigns on competition, artificial intelligence, access to data, and pro-innovation regulation.
Kir has an MSc in International Public Policy from University College London and a BA in both Political Science (International Relations) and Economics from the University of California San Diego.
Outside of techUK, you are likely to find her attempting studies at art galleries, attempting an elusive headstand at yoga, mending and binding books, or chasing her dog Maya around South London's many parks.
- Email:
- [email protected]
Usman Ikhlaq
Usman Ikhlaq
Usman joined techUK in January 2024 as Programme Manager for Artificial Intelligence.
He leads techUK’s AI Adoption programme, supporting members of all sizes and sectors in adopting AI at scale. His work involves identifying barriers to adoption, exploring solutions, and helping to unlock AI’s transformative potential, particularly its benefits for people, the economy, society, and the planet. He is also committed to advancing the UK’s AI sector and ensuring the UK remains a global leader in AI by working closely with techUK members, the UK Government, regulators, and devolved and local authorities.
Since joining techUK, Usman has delivered a regular drumbeat of activity to engage members and advance techUK's AI programme. This has included two campaign weeks, the creation of the AI Adoption Hub (now the AI Hub), the AI Leader's Event Series, the Putting AI into Action webinar series and the Industrial AI sprint campaign.
Before joining techUK, Usman worked as a policy, regulatory and government/public affairs professional in the advertising sector. He has also worked in sales, marketing, and FinTech.
Usman holds an MSc from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), a GDL and LLB from BPP Law School, and a BA from Queen Mary University of London.
When he isn’t working, Usman enjoys spending time with his family and friends. He also has a keen interest in running, reading and travelling.
Sue Daley OBE
Sue Daley OBE
Sue leads techUK's Technology and Innovation work. This includes work programmes on AI, Cloud, Data, Quantum, Semiconductors, Digital ID and Digital ethics as well as emerging and transformative technologies and innovation policy. In 2025, Sue was honoured with an Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to the Technology Industry in the New Year Honours List. She has also been recognised as one of the most influential people in UK tech by Computer Weekly's UKtech50 Longlist and was inducted into the Computer Weekly Most Influential Women in UK Tech Hall of Fame.
A key influencer in driving forward the tech agenda in the UK, in December 2025 Sue was appointed to the UK Government’s Women in Tech Taskforce by the Technology Secretary of State. She also sits on the UK Government’s Smart Data Council, Satellite Applications Catapult Advisory Group, Bank of England’s AI Consortium and BSI’s Digital Strategic Advisory Group. Previously, Sue was a member of the Independent Future of Compute Review and co-chaired the National Data Strategy Forum. As well as being recognised in the UK's Big Data 100 and the Global Top 100 Data Visionaries in 2020, Sue has been shortlisted for the Milton Keynes Women Leaders Awards and has been a judge for the Loebner Prize in AI, the UK Tech 50 and annual UK Cloud Awards. She is a regular industry speaker on issues including AI ethics, data protection and cyber security.
Prior to joining techUK in January 2015, Sue was responsible for Symantec's Government Relations in the UK and Ireland. Before that, Sue was senior policy advisor at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). Sue has an BA degree on History and American Studies from Leeds University and a Master’s Degree in International Relations and Diplomacy from the University of Birmingham. Sue is a keen sportswoman and in 2016 achieved a lifelong ambition to swim the English Channel.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 020 7331 2055
- Twitter:
- @ChannelSwimSue,@ChannelSwimSue,@ChannelSwimSue,@ChannelSwimSue
Visit our AI Hub - the home of all our AI content:
Enquire about membership:
