The Last Word: John McGee

www.duratauk.com
LinkedIn: Durata

The business recently expanded with a number of appointments. What prompted the recruitment drive, and how has it strengthened operations?

We are scaling fast – and for good reason. The demand for cloud services, data storage, smart devices and high-speed connectivity like 5G is exploding. Every business, from start-ups to global giants, is continually expanding and improving digital infrastructure, and data centres are the backbone of this transformation. The advancements in artificial intelligence are also playing a massive role. That is why the data centre industry is on the brink of a boom. Data centres provide the critical power and solutions needed to keep operations running, customers connected, lost revenues limited and security risks avoided. We’ve all seen the high-profile examples in recent months where failures have occurred, like the Heathrow delays, Lloyds Bank outages and the PlayStation network shutdown. That’s where we come in. We are at the heart of the critical power and data centre ecosystem. And just like businesses are future-proofing by investing in our solutions and expertise, we’re future-proofing by investing in our team. Our senior leadership team is expanding, our team is growing by the week and we’re ready to take on what’s next.

As you allude, artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly integral to daily life. And the Government – through the AI Opportunities Action Plan – has pledged to further embed it into UK infrastructure. How do you view the blueprint, and what opportunities does it present for Durata?

This is an exciting time, not just for Durata but for the entire UK economy. The artificial intelligence boom is creating jobs and strengthening our global competitiveness. We are on the crest of a wave, and it’s already revolutionising industries and improving daily life. Every single use of artificial intelligence, from looking up a recipe idea on ChatGPT to programmed robots on a Mars space mission, needs data processing capabilities. And the Government’s commitment is welcomed, with hopefully more to come. The opportunity is huge; we’ve already seen new business, and there is so much more on the horizon.

Durata operates from Tees Advanced Manufacturing Park, a key hub within wider developments across the south of the region that include Teesworks, which is turning former steelworks land into clean energy space. What momentum is building across Teesside, and how is it helping drive Durata’s growth?

We are proud to have our headquarters at Tees Advanced Manufacturing Park. Teesside has a rich industrial history and a strong community spirit. And momentum is building; Middlesbrough is the UK’s fastest-growing tech hub outside London, and there is huge investment in logistics, a freeport and Teesside International Airport too. All of this has helped us expand our customer base across the UK, US and Europe, where we have an office in Frankfurt. Teesside University is becoming a key player for tech degrees, attracting students from across the globe to Middlesbrough. We also strongly support local apprenticeships, and are looking forward to more coming through the ranks soon. We are scaling at pace and creating high-quality jobs with longevity and scope to grow. We will continue to passionately play our part in the growth of Teesside, putting it on the map on a global scale within the data centre and critical power industry.