JLL bolsters UK Data Centre Expertise with new appointment

JLL has appointed Sam Hill as its new Project & Development Services (PDS) Lead for Data Centres in the UK. This strategic move strengthens JLL’s data centre services portfolio and reflects the booming sector within the UK real estate market.

In his new role, Sam will spearhead PDS projects for data centres across the UK, collaborating closely with established JLL teams in both PDS and data centres. His arrival follows a series of high-level appointments, signifying JLL’s commitment to expanding its data centre services and delivering exceptional value to investors, owners, and occupiers in this rapidly growing field.

Sam brings a wealth of industry experience to the table, having previously managed all aspects of engineering, construction, and design deliverables for data centres at Arcadis, where he led a key EMEA account.

Kevin Williams, Head of Project & Developments Services, UK & Ireland, JLL, said: “In a world increasingly fueled by the internet, data, and artificial intelligence, demand is rising for the real estate that makes it all happen. In UK, the data centre sector is experiencing incredible growth, which is driving demand for data centre design, construction and operations.

Sam’s strong track record in delivering projects in this sector combined with his clear understanding of future demand type and customer will be key to delivering fit-for-purpose facilities. His strategic mindset and collaborative style will help our clients realise greater value across every stage of their projects. I am excited to welcome Sam to the team.”

Hana Sutton, Head of EMEA Project & Development Services Data Centres, JLL, added: “Sam’s appointment is key to strengthening our end-to-end data centre offering to clients. His extensive experience and strong industry knowledge will be instrumental in helping us further scale our data centres business in the region to provide clients with comprehensive solutions that support every aspect of data centre projects.” 

Sam Hill, Project & Development Services Data Centres Lead, UK, JLL, commented: “Demand for data centres shows no sign of deceleration and more and more companies are searching for specialist real estate data centre knowledge. I am confident that my experience across multiple critical infrastructure projects will be instrumental in driving the growth of JLL’s PDS and data centre business. I look forward to working with the teams to deliver the best results to our clients.”

Continued Growth in the Data Centre Market

JLL’s 2023 Data Centre report highlights the sector’s exceptional performance. The report reveals record data centre take-up across FLAPD markets (Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam, Paris, and Dublin), reaching a staggering 352MW, reflecting a 19% year-on-year increase.

The year also witnessed a significant influx of new data centre supply, with a total of 391MW coming online, including a record-breaking 161MW added in the final quarter. Frankfurt maintained its dominance in 2023, boasting both the highest market growth and data centre take-up (119MW and 134MW, respectively, representing a 20% and 51% year-on-year increase). While London is poised for a comeback in 2024 after a period of slower growth, JLL anticipates continued expansion across the data centre sector throughout the UK.