THE DATA CENTRE INTERVIEW
Mark Pestridge is Managing Director of Telehouse Europe, the data centre operator whose campuses include a longstanding site in London ' s Docklands. That data centre, Telehouse North, was the first purposebuilt co-location data centre in Europe.
Telehouse designs, builds and operates the physical infrastructure that underpins digital services, from cloud platforms to AI tools. Mark argues that as AI use grows, so does demand for the data halls, power, cooling and connectivity behind it.
That growth needs people to match it – and Mark points to stark figures on the scale of the challenge.
He says:“ It ' s estimated that around 480,000 workers could be needed across priority digital and technology occupations between now and 2035, including both new roles and replacements for people leaving the workforce.
“ Separately, 97 % of respondents to the UK Government ' s AI Labour Market Survey, which assesses skills shortages across the technology sector, identified at least one skills gap.”
But how many people actually know a career in digital infrastructure even exists?
The hidden careers behind AI infrastructure Every AI service depends on physical infrastructure, Mark explains, and data centres sit at the core.
“ Electrical engineers design and maintain the power systems that keep equipment running,” he notes.
“An AI application is only as dependable as the infrastructure beneath it”
Mark Pestridge Managing Director Telehouse Europe
“ Mechanical engineers manage cooling and airflow as computing densities rise.
“ Network and cabling specialists build the connections that move data quickly and securely, while critical operations teams monitor sites around the clock.”
Beyond these core disciplines, Mark identifies a much wider range of careers supporting AI infrastructure. He continues:“ There are also roles in sales and customer support, construction, cyber and physical security, energy management, compliance and project delivery.
“ As AI workloads become more demanding, we are seeing a growing need for skills in areas such as advanced liquid cooling and high-density hardware maintenance.”
Yet, Mark warns that public awareness of these careers remains low:“ Telehouse research found that fewer than 50 % of young people who took part had even heard the term‘ data centre’. That shows how early the awareness gap begins.” He believes that closing that gap starts with challenging a narrow view of what an AI career looks like.
20 October 2026