Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government is touting a £5 billion ($6.80 billion) investment from Google as definitive proof of the UK’s enduring economic appeal. The major commitment from the tech giant is a significant boost for the Labour administration’s efforts to attract private capital and revive a slow-moving economy.
The announcement, strategically timed before a state visit by U.S. President Donald Trump, was celebrated by Finance Minister Rachel Reeves as a “powerful vote of confidence.” It reinforces the government’s message that the UK is open for business and a top destination for global investment.
Central to the plan is the development of a data centre in Waltham Cross, which will expand the UK’s capacity to support the burgeoning demand for AI-powered services. The investment is also a catalyst for job growth, with projections of 8,250 new jobs being created annually for British companies.
Google has also made environmental sustainability a key feature of its expansion. A partnership with Shell aims to enhance grid stability, and the new data centre is a model of green design, utilizing air-cooling technology and a system to repurpose its heat output for local use.
This investment is a key part of the more than $10 billion in economic partnerships expected to be announced during Trump’s visit. With its pledge to run UK operations on nearly 95% carbon-free energy by 2026, Google’s plan offers a blueprint for modern, sustainable economic growth.