Compliance and sustainability have never been more important in the data centre industry. With increasing regulation and a global push towards more sustainable practices, finding the right balance is a challenge that requires dedication and focus. At the forefront of this effort at Datum is James Hagan, who recently transitioned into the role of Compliance & Sustainability Lead.
We caught up with James to learn more about his background, his new role, and the impact he hopes to make at Datum.
When James joined Datum in July 2022 as an Engineer & Compliance Officer, he immediately set out to learn as much as he could about the data centre industry with a view to transitioning to compliance and sustainability at a later stage. Reflecting on his experience, James said:
“The goal was clear – immerse myself in the data centre world, absorb every detail, and gain invaluable insight into its operations and the role of ISO standards.”
Fast forward to today, and that experience has paved the way for James to take on the focused role, as planned.
With regulation becoming more prominent in the data centre sector, we recognised the importance of having a dedicated expert to guide our compliance and sustainability initiatives.
“Compliance and sustainability are an ever-growing factor in the data centre world with more and more regulation coming in,” explains James.
“Datum always wants to be on the front foot when it comes to compliance and sustainability to ensure that we are operating efficiently and with the best practices. Having a dedicated role not only ensures that we meet these standards but also reflects our commitment to our beliefs and values.”
One of James’s primary responsibilities is managing Datum’s ISO accreditations and annual audits. From policy management and staff training to asset management and maintaining extensive logs, this role requires meticulous attention to detail.
Sustainability isn’t limited to the confines of our data centres. Helping clients meet their own sustainability needs is a key part of the role. With initiatives like the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR), James assists by completing annual questionnaires, providing evidence, and helping clients showcase their commitments.
Beyond these structured frameworks, James is always on hand to address any queries from clients, whether it’s providing certification, sustainability documentation, or other supporting materials. His consistent involvement ensures clients feel supported every step of the way.
Similarly, for GRESB (Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark) – an important benchmark for sustainability – James tracks our ESG metrics (including energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, water management, waste management, building certifications, diversity and inclusion, and corporate governance), and compiles data and evidence for our annual assessment and rating.
When asked about the impact he hopes to achieve, James said:
“I hope I can bring a consistent and familiar feel to Datum and its clients when it comes to compliance and sustainability, an assurance that you know the goals and needs will be achieved.”
With a growing data centre sector and increasing focus on climate change, his role goes beyond box-ticking exercises:
“The wider issues facing all of us – like climate change – are an ever-looming problem. By working in compliance and sustainability, we can help ensure we’re acting in the right way and delivering on what we believe in,” James adds.
Data centres are at the heart of our tech-driven world, forming the backbone of everything from cloud computing to financial services. But as the sector grows, so does its environmental impact:
“The data centre sector is growing rapidly,” James reflects.
“To be able to work in an emerging field and help steer it towards a more sustainable future is a really interesting proposition – and one that’s sure to throw up more than a few challenges!”
When we asked James about his favourite aspect of the role, his enthusiasm was clear:
“Working in a rapidly growing sector and helping people understand what we do and how we plan to do it sustainably.”
And when he’s not managing compliance or responding to sustainability queries?
“Spending time with my wife, daughter, and dog… whilst the football is on the TV, of course,” he says with a smile.
James Hagan’s dedication to compliance and sustainability reflects Datum’s broader commitment to operating responsibly and transparently. James will play a pivotal role in ensuring Datum not only meets but exceeds expectations in these critical areas.
This is the perfect time to get in touch to learn more about how we can support your data centre needs sustainably. Our brand-new MCR2 data centre in Manchester is set to go live in Q2 2025, offering 1,200 racks across multiple data halls. And planning permission is in place for our upcoming FRN2 facility in Farnborough, adjacent to our flagship FRN1 facility, with an expected launch at the end of 2026. Talk to us to find out more.