There has been lots of money committed to European data centres this year. September brought another major funding announcement from VIRTUS, while Spain’s growing role in the sector has been back in the news this month.
New buildings need construction teams, and the electrical and mechanical installations create opportunities for specialist businesses – but the challenge is knowing which developments are progressing and when.
VIRTUS secures funding for expansion
VIRTUS Data Centres secured £2.45 billion in funding in September to support its expansion across the UK and Europe. (Standard Chartered, 2026) Its plans include the Saunderton development in Buckinghamshire and further investment in Slough.
It is a significant commitment, particularly for contractors following opportunities closer to home. There is often a lot of attention on new European locations, but established UK areas remain an important part of the market.
The announcement gives businesses something concrete to follow. The next details to look out for are the individual construction plans and the packages coming up for tender. Those will give a clearer idea of when teams are likely to be needed.
Spain is drawing more attention
Aragón, in northeast Spain, has become one of the regions attracting major data centre investment. Reuters reported on 6 October that more than €60 billion is expected to be invested in data centres and digital infrastructure there over the next decade. (Lombardi and Pons, 2026) Faster planning decisions have helped bring developers to the area, although the pace of growth has also raised concerns about environmental scrutiny.
Amazon is a major part of that activity. In March, it announced plans to increase its investment in Spain to €33.7 billion through 2035, expanding its data centre infrastructure. (Amazon, 2026)
For construction businesses, this is a market worth following. The scale of investment suggests opportunities could continue for years, with work becoming available as separate developments progress.
Taking on a project overseas does need some thought beyond the tender itself. Finding suitable accommodation near the site, arranging travel and keeping a reliable team in place all affect how a job runs. These details can be easy to underestimate when the initial focus is on winning work.
Finland remains one to watch!
Microsoft’s plans in Finland are at an earlier stage. In June, the company announced a preliminary agreement to buy around 190 hectares of land in Vaasa and Mustasaari for potential data centre development. (Microsoft, 2026)
There is no confirmed construction start in that announcement. For now, it is a development to keep track of rather than a reason to begin recruiting.
It does show why contractors interested in European work need to look beyond the best-known locations. Following projects from an early stage gives businesses time to understand the area and decide if the work would suit them.
A busy market still comes with delays
Europe’s established data centre locations also have substantial work underway. JLL reported in August that Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam, Paris and Dublin had a combined 1.4GW of data centre capacity under construction. Its report also highlighted electricity connection waits of 24 months or more affecting delivery in Frankfurt. (Thorpe, 2026)
A developer can have the money and the land, but a data centre of course still needs power before it can operate.
That can mean changes to the plan and to the dates when people are needed. How much notice will there be if a package moves? Can the existing team stay together if the start is delayed?
Keeping recruitment plans close to the site plan helps avoid committing too early or trying to fill a large requirement at short notice.
What should contractors take from the latest news?
There are reasons to be positive about the amount of data centre work being planned across Europe. Recent funding announcements add to that confidence, and investment is reaching a wider range of locations.
For a contractor, though, the useful information is more specific. Which projects are funded? What stage have they reached? When will the relevant work be available?
Getting those answers early makes it easier to plan the people needed to deliver the job.
OSG works with construction, M&E, and data contractors on data centre projects across Europe. If you are pricing an upcoming package or need additional operatives for a live site, speak to our International team about your requirements.
Reference list
Amazon (2026) ‘Amazon increases investment in Spain to €33.7 billion to expand data centre infrastructure and drive AI innovation across Europe’, 2 March. Available at: https://www.aboutamazon.eu/news/job-creation-and-investment/amazon-investment-spain-2026
Lombardi, P. and Pons, C. (2026) ‘Fast-track permits turn Spain’s Aragon into a $70 billion data centre magnet. At what cost?’, Reuters, 6 October. Available at: https://www.reuters.com/technology/fast-track-permits-turn-spains-aragon-into-70-billion-data-centre-magnet-what-2026-10-06/
Microsoft (2026) ‘Microsoft signed preliminary agreement on acquisition of approximately 190 hectares of land in Vaasa and Mustasaari on the west coast of Finland’, 5 June. Available at: https://news.microsoft.com/source/emea/2026/06/microsoft-signed-preliminary-agreement-on-acquisition-of-approximately-190-hectares-of-land-in-vaasa-and-mustasaari-on-the-west-coast-of-finland/
Standard Chartered (2026) ‘Standard Chartered supports VIRTUS Data Centres’ GBP2.45 billion financing package’, 25 September. Available at: https://www.sc.com/uk/2026/09/25/standard-chartered-supports-virtus-data-centres-gbp2-45-billion-financing-package/
Thorpe, D. (2026) ‘EMEA data centre mid-year 2026 report’, JLL, 3 August. Available at: https://www.jll.com/en-uk/insights/emea-data-centre-report