Newcastle is rapidly emerging as the Northeast’s digital powerhouse, anchored by world-class connectivity through multiple high-capacity fibre routes and peering hubs. Its proximity to major offshore wind farms and investment in grid modernization deliver abundant, low-carbon power - ideal for sustainable data-centre operations.
Supported by leading research universities and a growing tech cluster around Science Central, the city offers a deep talent pool in engineering and cyber-security.
Coupled with competitive real-estate costs and strong regional backing for digital infrastructure, Newcastle provides an optimal environment for building resilient, energy-efficient, and scalable facilities.
| Time | Session Details |
|---|---|
| 09:00 | Registration Opens Meet and greet, collect your badge, and connect with peers over coffee as we set the stage for a day of insight, networking, and strategic discussion. |
| 09:55 | Welcome Remarks Opening message from the event moderator with key information about the day’s schedule, delegate structure, and event format. |
| 10:00 |
Fireside Chat: Leading Through Transition — Powering Growth in the Northeast This opening discussion features a leading data centre operator exploring how the industry is navigating an era of energy volatility and accelerating digital demand. The conversation will examine what it takes to scale responsibly in the Northeast—balancing resilience, sustainability, and regional collaboration to build the infrastructure that will power the UK’s digital future. |
| 10:30 |
Panel 1: Beyond Redundancy — Building True Resilience for the Next Decade In the Northeast, where energy transition and industrial reinvention are reshaping the landscape, resilience has become a strategic imperative. This panel explores how operators across the region and beyond are redefining business continuity—moving beyond redundancy to create adaptive, secure, and energy-resilient data centre ecosystems. From grid stability to cyber-physical integration, we examine what it takes to thrive amid volatility and position the Northeast as a resilient digital hub for the UK. Vertiv  George Hannah Senior Director, Global Chilled Water Systems COE Leader Vertiv |
| 11:05 | Micro Insight Sessions Quickfire sponsor-led sessions sharing sharp, non-salesy insights in just five minutes each. Designed to educate and spark ideas ahead of the deeper roundtable discussions. |
| 11:15 | Networking Break & Refreshments Take a break, grab a coffee, and connect with fellow delegates and sponsors in a relaxed setting. |
| 11:45 |
Panel 2: Powering the Future — Innovation Across the Energy Ecosystem With the Northeast emerging as a national leader in clean energy, offshore wind, and grid innovation, power access is becoming the region’s defining growth opportunity. This panel explores how data centres can partner across the energy ecosystem—from modular generation and hydrogen to AI-enabled optimisation and microgrids—to ensure reliable, sustainable capacity. We’ll discuss how new technologies and collaborations are shaping investment priorities and future-proofing the Northeast’s role in the UK’s digital economy. |
| 12:15 | Strategic Insight Roundtable Sessions (Part 1) Delegates break into small groups to rotate through focused, sponsor-led boardroom sessions. Expect practical discussions, real-world solutions, and collaborative problem-solving on topics that matter most. |
| 13:45 | Lunch & Informal Networking Enjoy a high-quality lunch while continuing conversations with fellow leaders, sponsors, and speakers. |
| 14:45 | Strategic Insight Roundtable Sessions (Part 2) The second round of focused discussions, ensuring every delegate gains exposure to all sponsors and themes. |
| 15:30 |
Panel 3: The Impact of Intelligent Infrastructure — Designing for AI, Quantum & Beyond As AI and high-performance compute drive new levels of intensity, the Northeast’s evolving digital and energy infrastructure provides a testbed for next-generation design. This panel examines how operators are preparing for the next wave of intelligent infrastructure—leveraging advanced cooling, photonic interconnects, and AI-optimised hardware to meet exponential demand. We’ll explore how these technologies can underpin Newcastle’s ambition to become a hub for AI, advanced computing, and sustainable innovation. |
| 16:00 |
Panel 4: Collaboration at the Core — Delivering Together at Speed and Scale The Northeast’s success in attracting energy and digital investment depends on collaboration—between developers, utilities, planners, and technology leaders. This panel looks at how cross-sector partnerships are accelerating delivery, integrating sustainability, and addressing the region’s skills challenge. With insights from real-world projects in modular construction and regional infrastructure delivery, we explore how the Northeast can deliver digital capacity at speed and scale. |
| 16:30 | Wrap-Up & Closing Insights A short summary of the day’s key insights, with thanks to our sponsors, speakers, and delegates. |
| 16:35 | Drinks Reception & Networking Unwind, connect further, and continue the conversation in an informal setting over drinks. |
| 17:35 | End of Event |
INNSiDE By Melia
INNSiDE By Melia
River View
Bridge Court
Newcastle
The Data Centre Solutions Roadshow Series is an exclusive, invitation-only event programme uniting senior data-centre operators and IT service providers with leading technology vendors.
