News Archives - Black & White Engineering

Black & White Engineering Advances Asia Pacific Expansion with New Australia Office

Black & White Engineering has announced its expansion into Melbourne, marking a key milestone in the company’s continued international growth strategy. The new office strengthens its presence across APAC and supports increasing demand for mission-critical and data centre projects throughout Australia. The move reflects Black & White Engineering’s commitment to delivering high-performance engineering solutions while creating new engineering opportunities in Australia as the business scales globally.

Black & White Engineering has announced further expansion into Australia, marking a significant step in the company’s continued growth strategy.

Melbourne has been selected as a strategic office base to serve clients across Australia and the wider region, focused on critical buildings and infrastructure for data centres.

With a global team of over 1,000 professionals across 18 locations worldwide, Black & White Engineering delivers high-performance engineering design solutions for complex, mission-critical environments. The new Australia office in Melbourne forms part of a wider growth strategy that includes expansion across Europe and Asia Pacific, alongside planned entry into North America in 2026.

Strengthening APAC leadership to support regional growth

Black & White Engineering has recently announced APAC leadership developments designed to reinforce regional capability as the business scales.

As part of this strategy, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Board member Steve Tode will relocate from Dubai to Singapore, strengthening executive oversight and alignment across the region.

In the medium term, Steve will also assume responsibility as Singapore and APAC Area Director, overseeing operational matters alongside his Group role. This structure provides continuity and clarity of leadership as the regional footprint expands, including the launch of Australia.

Commenting on his transition, Steve Tode said:

“I am excited by the opportunity to work in the APAC region. I am grateful for the trust placed in me by the board to assist in achieving not only our business and client goals but also to provide the right environment for success for the Black & White team to grow their careers and provide them with leadership opportunities as we expand regionally.”

The APAC leadership team will continue to be supported by experienced senior management, with further appointments planned, including an APAC Data Centre Director, to meet sustained demand across Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan and the Philippines.

Building the team in Australia

As part of the expansion, Black & White Engineering will begin recruiting across multiple engineering and support disciplines. Professionals joining the Melbourne team will have the opportunity to help establish Black & White’s presence in Australia while working as part of a collaborative global consultancy.

Australia represents the next step in Black & White Engineering’s commitment to building future-ready teams across APAC and beyond, delivering advanced engineering solutions that support a sustainable digital world.

Further details on upcoming opportunities in Australia can be found on the careers page

From Isolated Data Centres to Grid-Integrated Infrastructure

As data centres scale to hundreds of megawatts, their relationship with national power grids is fundamentally changing. What were once isolated facilities are becoming active participants in grid stability and energy management.
Wesley Daniel, Technical Director – Power Systems & Infrastructure, examines how power system design, grid readiness and active grid participation are becoming critical to future data centre development.

As data centre demand accelerates, the role these facilities play within national power networks is changing fast. Once designed as largely self-contained assets, data centres are now being engineered as grid-integrated infrastructure, with responsibilities and impacts comparable to major generation plants.

Wesley Daniel, Technical Director – Power Systems & Infrastructure at Black & White Engineering, explores why grid readiness is becoming one of the most critical design considerations shaping how power system design is redefining the future of data centres.

Data Centres Are Reaching Utility Scale

According to the IEEE Data Centre Growth and Grid Readiness report published in May 2025, the scale and pace of data centre development are now comparable to major power generation assets. Facilities that once required 20 to 50 megawatts are increasingly being planned at 500 megawatts and beyond.

This rapid escalation has outpaced traditional grid planning and permitting timelines. Transmission constraints, protection coordination challenges and concerns around resource adequacy are becoming more visible as large data centre campuses seek connection. In many regions, grid infrastructure simply was not designed for this level of concentrated demand.

As a result, the engineering focus is shifting outward. The challenge is no longer limited to internal reliability, redundancy and cooling performance. It now extends to how data centres interact dynamically with the grid itself.

A New Design Paradigm: Active Grid Participation

The emerging design approach treats the data centre as an active participant in the power system rather than a passive load. A range of established solutions are already being deployed to relieve pressure on constrained networks.

These include co-location with generation assets, on-site energy storage and hybrid AC and DC power architectures. Behind-the-meter generation and microgrids are also being developed, not only to enhance resilience, but to act as controllable assets that support voltage and frequency stability at a network level.

This represents a fundamental change in how power systems are conceived. Data centres are increasingly expected to ride through grid faults, participate in demand response programmes and integrate protection logic with utility relays in real time. Grid readiness is no longer optional. It is becoming a prerequisite for project viability.

What This Means for Power System Engineering

This evolution places new demands on data centre electrical engineers. Familiarity with generation technologies, storage systems and grid-interactive controls is now essential. Just as important is the ability to deploy these technologies in fit-for-purpose ways that align with local grid conditions, regulatory frameworks and utility requirements.

Designing for fault ride-through capability, protection coordination and dynamic grid interaction must be embedded early in the engineering lifecycle. These considerations increasingly influence site selection, connection strategy and overall project feasibility.

Grid Readiness as a Differentiator

Looking ahead to 2026 and beyond, grid readiness is set to become a defining differentiator across the data centre ecosystem. The organisations that succeed will be those that recognise grid integration as a core design challenge, not a late-stage constraint.

Power system design philosophies will play a central role in shaping how data centres scale sustainably, connect efficiently and operate reliably within increasingly constrained power networks.

If you are planning a data centre project and need to understand how grid integration could impact your power strategy, our Power Systems & Infrastructure team can help. Get in touch via our contact page to continue the conversation.

Building Careers through Apprenticeships at Black & White Engineering

To celebrate National Apprenticeship Week in the UK, we are proud to spotlight Daniel, Chelsea, Ross and Adam, whose apprenticeship journeys are shaping their careers at Black & White Engineering. From engineering design to HR and Learning & Development, our apprenticeship programmes combine academic study with real project experience, gaining technical expertise, confidence and professional skills along the way. Supported by experienced mentors and our collaborative One Global Team culture, they are empowered to grow, take on responsibility and build meaningful, long-term careers at Black & White Engineering.

At Black & White building the next generation of talent is more than a commitment; it’s embedded in how we work and innovate as a global engineering consultancy within the data centre industry.

Our apprenticeship schemes are designed to combine academic learning with real-world experience, allowing our team to build confidence, technical expertise, and their professional skills. Through our “One Global Team” approach, apprenticeships at Black & White Engineering are also supported by experienced mentors and encouraged to build careers that reflect their goals and ambitions.

This National Apprenticeship Week in the UK we are proud to spotlight four of our colleagues on their apprenticeships and the impact their learning experiences are having on their own development and the future of Black & White Engineering.

Daniel Wilding, MEP Engineering Apprentice, UK

Studying: Building Services Engineering Degree Apprenticeship

“The company has a genuine family feel, which made me want to complete my apprenticeship here, as I knew I would be supported and able to develop in a positive environment. I genuinely enjoyed the culture at Black & White, so I reached out to discuss the possibility of setting up an apprenticeship.

Choosing to undertake my apprenticeship in a company with such a wide mix of people has been hugely beneficial to my development. Being exposed to different work cultures, ages, experience levels and personalities has helped me grow both professionally and personally.

Being involved in meetings and chairing electrical discussion sessions has been especially valuable to my development. These are opportunities you don’t typically get through university alone, and they’ve helped me develop strong interpersonal and communication skills. As a result, I now feel far more comfortable and confident in situations that I would previously have found intimidating.

By continuing to balance my role at Black & White alongside my university studies, I’m able to steadily build both my technical knowledge and professional skills.”

Chelsea Graham, Regional HR Administrator, UK

Studying: Level 3 HR Support Apprenticeship (CIPD Certificate in People Practice)

“I joined Black & White in January 2022 as an Admin Assistant then moved to Office manager July 2022. I was made aware of an HR role within the business and asked if I was interested. I have previously done elements of HR in other companies and found it very interesting, so I decided to take the HR Administrator role and specialise in this field.

Now I am studying for my Level 3 HR Support apprenticeship, which includes the CIPD Certificate in People Practice. I find that marking time out of my diary to complete apprenticeship work really helps me to balance both my apprenticeship and hands-on work. It gives me a focused dedicated time to complete activities and Black & White have been really supportive in ensuring I have the time needed to complete my work.

I have had lots of support from my Line Manager and HR team colleagues during my apprenticeship, I have been able to ask questions and tap into their knowledge, which has helped massively throughout m apprenticeship so far.

I see myself growing at the company through continuing my learning and completing my level 5 CIPD qualification and progress within the HR field.”

Ross Simpson, Electrical Engineer, UK

Studying: BEng (Hons) Building Services Engineering

“I began my career through fabrication and welding apprenticeship, developing strong hands-on engineering skills across major industrial and commercial projects. I later transitioned into electrical building services design, progressing from Junior Electrical Engineer to my current role as an Electrical Engineer, working on complex projects including airports, hospitals, and educational facilities. This blend of practical and design experience gives me a well-rounded engineering perspective, which I now apply to data centre projects at Black & White Engineering.

For my apprenticeship I am currently studying BEng (Hons) Building Services Engineering. I manage this by planning, setting realistic goals, and linking my studies closely to my day-to-day engineering work.

My apprenticeship has significantly improved my confidence and technical ability, as well as a professional mindset, which has shaped my approach to engineering.

Looking ahead, I aim to develop my technical expertise, take on increasing responsibility in electrical design projects and building my leadership abilities.”

Adam Holdsworth, Learning & Development Partner, UK

Studying: Learning & Development Practitioner Level 3 Apprenticeship

“After working in sales, I discovered a passion for developing people and designing learning content, which led me to transition into Learning and Development and pursue it full time.

I am currently studying a Learning & Development Practitioner Level 3 apprenticeship. For me, balancing studying with hands on work is about discipline and routine. Creating good habits allows me to manage both effectively and make the most of every learning opportunity.

I’m particularly proud of facilitating learning sessions and engaging with global teams during learning weeks and in person. It has been fulfilling to support people’s development and see how learning connects teams across various locations. The culture at Black & White Engineering is a mix of top-tier expertise and a totally down to earth, supportive team spirit that makes you feel welcome from day one.

After my apprenticeship I might look to complete my Learning & Development Level 5, the learning is never finished!”

Build your career with us

Apprenticeships at Black & White Engineering aren’t just about gaining a qualification, they’re about building a career with purpose, working on projects that power the digital world, and joining a team that’s committed to your success.

To explore career opportunities at Black & White Engineering, visit our Careers page.

Black & White Engineering Seeks Chief People Officer to Lead Global People Strategy

Black & White Engineering has announced the recruitment of a Chief People Officer (CPO) as part of its ongoing C-suite expansion and strategic growth plans.
The appointment represents a significant investment in the company’s people strategy as it continues to scale operations across Europe, the Middle East, APAC and future markets. Following recent executive appointments, including the Chief Technical Officer, the CPO role underscores Black & White Engineering’s commitment to building world-class leadership capabilities to support its ambitious growth trajectory.

Black & White Engineering, a global engineering and design consultancy specialising in mission-critical infrastructure, has announced the recruitment of a Chief People Officer (CPO) as part of its ongoing C-suite expansion and strategic growth plans.

The appointment represents a significant investment in the company’s people strategy as it continues to scale operations across Europe, the Middle East, APAC and future markets. Following recent executive appointments, including the Chief Technical Officer, the CPO role underscores Black & White Engineering’s commitment to building world-class leadership capabilities to support its ambitious growth trajectory.

Since 2020, Black & White Engineering has grown 500% to over 1,000 employees globally. The company is strengthening its leadership infrastructure to support continued expansion and ensure its organisational culture and people practices scale effectively across all regions.

Strategic People Leadership at Scale

The Chief People Officer will serve as a key member of the executive leadership team, acting as strategic advisor to the Board. The role will be instrumental in developing and implementing a global people and culture strategy that attracts, develops and retains top-tier talent while building scalable, compliant and inclusive practices across multiple jurisdictions.

Driving Global Growth and Culture

The CPO will have accountability for the global People function, leading initiatives that span talent acquisition, leadership development, employee engagement, diversity and inclusion, reward and recognition and compliance across all operating countries. Key responsibilities will include supporting international expansion overseeing organisational design and workforce planning and championing the company’s values-led culture across borders.

Black & White Engineering has established itself as an employer of choice, achieving 5-star employer status for four consecutive years. The company’s award-winning portfolio spans mission-critical infrastructure projects globally, with particular expertise in the data centre sector.

Ready to Lead People Strategy on a Global Stage?

Black & White Engineering is seeking an exceptional People leader with experience in senior HR leadership roles at executive level within global, multi-regional organisations. The ideal candidate will bring a strong background in people leadership experience at global executive level with experience in engineering, construction, professional services or complex project led environments. The role will be based in one of our European or Middle East offices.

Interested candidates are invited to contact our recruitment team for a confidential discussion about this opportunity. Please contact Mike Tonks at [email protected].

You can also apply directly via our Jobs page on LinkedIn.

Application deadline: Monday 2nd March 2026.

Creating a Skills Evolution in the Data Centre Industry

As data centre design continues to evolve at pace, the conversation around talent is becoming just as critical as technology itself. From AI-driven infrastructure to increasingly complex sustainability demands, data centre careers are no longer defined by static skillsets but by the ability to adapt, collaborate and learn continuously.
In this article Caff Allen, Global Director of Learning and Development at Black & White Engineering, explores why the industry must shift its thinking from a perceived skills gap to an ongoing skills evolution.

From AI-driven infrastructure to increasingly complex sustainability demands, data centre careers are no longer defined by static skillsets but by the ability to adapt, collaborate and learn continuously. As data centre design continues to evolve at pace, the conversation around talent is becoming just as critical as technology itself. Global staffing demand is expected to reach 2.3 million roles, meaning the skills gap is set to increase by 2030, according to the Uptime Institute.

In this article Caff Allen, Global Director of Learning and Development at Black & White Engineering, explores why the industry must shift its thinking from a perceived skills gap to an ongoing skills evolution.

The data centre sector often talks about a “skills gap”. In reality, what we are experiencing is something more nuanced and more persistent: a skills evolution. As technology advances at pace, the knowledge required to design, deliver and operate data centres is constantly shifting. Engineers are not falling behind. They are working against a moving target.

Technical expertise remains essential. The complexity of modern, high-density and AI-driven data centres demands deep engineering capability. But many of the challenges facing the industry today are not technical alone. They are human. How people communicate, collaborate and make decisions under pressure often has just as much impact on project outcomes as technical design.

Why Capability Is About More Than Technical Knowledge

In an always-on environment, decisions are made quickly and information moves fast. The ability to pause, listen and think critically can easily be lost. Yet these skills are becoming increasingly valuable. Planning before acting, engaging with different perspectives and responding thoughtfully rather than reactively all contribute to better outcomes for clients and teams alike.

This is where capability development must evolve. Strong engineering knowledge is the foundation, but it needs to be supported by skills that enable people to work effectively together in complex, fast-moving environments.

Bridging Generations and Learning Styles

Generational diversity adds another dimension. Many early-career engineers are highly comfortable with AI tools, video content and digital platforms. Others prefer traditional research, reading and analysis. Neither approach is better than the other. The challenge, and opportunity, lies in bringing these strengths together.

At Black & White Engineering, our learning programmes deliberately mix people from different regions, cultures and career stages. The discussions that happen in these settings are often as valuable as the formal content. Shared learning builds understanding and helps teams appreciate different ways of working.

Turning Knowledge Into Capability

The industry has leaned heavily on e-learning and video-based training. These tools have value, but they are not enough on their own. Watching a video does not build a skill. Capability develops through practice, feedback and reflection. People need space to try, adjust and learn from experience.

This principle underpins our approach to learning and development. Our management development framework spans multiple levels, from learning to lead yourself through to advanced leadership. Alongside technical training, it focuses on communication, collaboration and self-awareness, skills that influence every interaction with colleagues and clients.

Learning as an Ongoing Conversation

Technical knowledge sharing is equally important. Our global and regional engineering conferences bring teams together to share expertise across disciplines and geographies. Sessions are recorded and stored, but critically, each presentation remains connected to the individual who delivered it. This keeps knowledge live and accessible, encouraging ongoing conversation rather than passive consumption.

Mentoring also plays a key role. We do not see it as something reserved for senior leaders. Often, the most relevant guidance comes from someone who has recently navigated the same challenges. This peer-to-peer approach benefits both mentor and mentee, reinforcing learning through shared experience.

Preparing for Continuous Change

The data centre sector will not stand still. Technology will continue to evolve, client expectations will shift, and the expectations placed on data centre careers will change with them. Capability development must reflect that reality. It needs to be flexible, practical and human.

By reframing the conversation from a skills “gap” to a skills “evolution”, we take a more honest and constructive view of what the industry needs. The goal is not to chase a finish line, but to build teams that can adapt, collaborate and grow with change.

Interested in shaping the future of data centre design?

Explore data centre careers at Black & White Engineering and discover how we invest in developing the next generation of engineering talent. Visit our Careers page to find out more.

Power, Water and the Future of Sustainable Data Centres

As data centre workloads continue to grow, balancing energy efficiency with responsible water use has become a defining sustainability challenge for the sector. In this article, Kevin Laugo, Senior Sustainability Engineer at Black & White Engineering, examines how rising power density, regulatory pressure and climate considerations are forcing a more integrated approach to design. From liquid cooling and water reuse strategies to waste heat recovery and on-site power generation, the piece explores how sustainable data centres can improve both performance and environmental outcomes without compromising resilience.

As high-density and AI-driven workloads accelerate, sustainable data centres are entering a far more complex phase. Kevin Laugo, Senior Sustainability Engineer at Black & White Engineering, examines how rising power density, regulatory pressure and climate considerations are forcing a more integrated approach to design.

Balancing Energy Performance with Water Use

Power and water, once treated as separate design considerations, are now deeply interconnected. With global electricity demand from data centres forecast to double by 2030, operators face growing pressure to reduce environmental impact while maintaining resilience and performance.

Across markets, tighter efficiency regulations are shaping design decisions. Germany’s mandated Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) target of 1.2 is one example of how energy efficiency has moved from best practice to baseline expectation. Yet lowering PUE often comes with an unintended consequence: increased water consumption. Evaporative cooling strategies may reduce electrical load, but they can significantly worsen Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE). The challenge is no longer achieving the lowest PUE at any cost, but finding the right balance between energy and water.

Why Sustainability Requires a System-Level View

True efficiency cannot be delivered through isolated upgrades or single metrics. Sustainable data centre design demands an integrated, system-level approach that considers how power, cooling and water interact across the full lifecycle of the facility.

Several technical strategies are already shaping this next phase of sustainability:

Liquid cooling is becoming essential for high-density environments. Technologies such as direct-to-chip and immersion cooling remove heat more efficiently at source, reducing reliance on large volumes of air movement and lowering overall energy demand. When designed correctly, these systems can also reduce water intensity compared to traditional evaporative approaches.

Smarter water management is equally critical. Increasing cycles of concentration (COC) in cooling systems and using reclaimed or non-potable water sources can significantly improve WUE without compromising operational reliability.

Waste heat reuse offers another opportunity to extend efficiency beyond the data centre boundary. Capturing and exporting heat to industrial processes or district heating networks improves overall energy performance and supports wider decarbonisation goals.

Bring-Your-Own-Power: A Shift in Control

A growing trend reshaping sustainability strategies is Bring-Your-Own-Power (BYOP). By investing in on-site generation, such as fuel cells, microgrids or hybrid energy systems, operators gain greater control over both carbon and water impacts.

BYOP enables the direct deployment of lower-carbon or carbon-free energy sources, accelerating decarbonisation. Just as importantly, it reduces exposure to the significant indirect water consumption associated with centralised power generation, whether from gas, coal or nuclear plants. When water use is considered holistically, including both on-site and off-site impacts, BYOP becomes a powerful lever for achieving meaningful environmental outcomes.

Designing for What Comes Next

The future of sustainable data centres will not be defined by a single metric. It will be shaped by integrated engineering decisions that balance power efficiency, water stewardship and long-term resilience. As demand continues to rise, those who adopt a holistic, data-driven approach will be best positioned to meet regulatory, operational and environmental expectations.

If you’d like to explore how integrated power and water strategies could shape your next sustainable data centre project, get in touch with our team via the contact page to continue the conversation.

Black & White Engineering Expands In Middle East With New Dubai Office

Black & White Engineering has relocated its Dubai office to a larger, purpose-designed space in Dubai Internet City, reflecting the company’s continued growth across the Middle East and its commitment to providing a workplace that enables their team to do their best work. The new office is strategically situated in the heart of Dubai’s technology sector, providing closer proximity to key clients and streamlining collaboration and site visits. The location is easily accessible by public transport, supporting the company’s sustainability goals.

Strategic Location in Dubai’s Technology Hub

The new office is strategically situated in the heart of Dubai’s technology sector, providing closer proximity to key clients and streamlining collaboration and site visits. The location is easily accessible by public transport, supporting the company’s sustainability goals while positioning the team within a hub aligned with the evolving data centre and engineering industry.

Designed for Collaboration and Growth

The Dubai office has been designed to accommodate over 150 colleagues, supporting the company’s plans for regional expansion. Facilities include meeting rooms, a full pantry with recreational amenities and a variety of informal breakout spaces to encourage collaboration and creativity.

Accessibility and employee experience were central considerations in the design, ensuring that staff can commute easily while benefiting from a workspace that promotes interaction and innovation.

“It is a proud moment for the Dubai team,” said Alistair Davis, Director. “We started out in Shafar Tower with just a handful of desks, and today we are moving into a space that reflects the scale of the team and the work we are delivering. The new office provides room to grow, collaborate, and enjoy coming into work while maintaining the culture we have built over 15 years.”

Creating Opportunities for People and Clients

The move to Dubai Internet City creates tangible opportunities for both talent growth and client service. The expanded capacity allows the company to recruit and develop professionals across different career stages, while also providing existing staff with a better day-to-day working environment.

For clients, the relocation ensures stronger coordination across teams, easier collaboration, and a setup that supports consistent delivery as project demands scale. The expansion demonstrates Black & White Engineering’s strategic focus on:

Investing in people: creating a workspace that supports wellbeing, collaboration and professional growth
Fostering innovation: providing facilities that enable creativity and efficiency
Putting clients first: improving accessibility and coordination to deliver high-quality projects

As the Dubai team settles into its new premises, Black & White Engineering looks forward to continued growth in the region, building on a legacy of over a decade of engineering excellence in the Middle East.

If you would like to speak with our team about upcoming projects or collaboration opportunities, get in touch with our Black & White Engineering Dubai office.

Five Trends Impacting Data Centre Engineering in 2026

The data centre industry is entering a defining new chapter. Driven by rapid advances in AI, a global surge in high-performance compute and growing pressure on power and sustainability infrastructure, the demands placed on facilities are changing at unprecedented speed.
At our Global Engineering Conference in Manila, our engineers from across Europe, the Middle East and Asia discussed the big shifts reshaping how data centres are designed, built and operated. Their discussions highlighted five major trends that will steer the industry into 2026 and beyond.

The data centre industry is entering a defining new chapter. As new data centre trends emerge driven by rapid advances in AI, a global surge in high-performance compute and growing pressure on power and sustainability infrastructure, the demands placed on facilities are changing at unprecedented speed.

At our Global Engineering Conference in Manila, our engineers from across Europe, the Middle East and Asia discussed the big shifts reshaping how data centres are designed, built and operated. Their discussions highlighted five major data centre trends that will steer the industry into 2026 and beyond.

Cooling for the New Compute Era

Rising compute intensity is pushing traditional cooling approaches to their limits. Air cooling, long the backbone of data centre thermal management, can no longer support the heat loads generated by next-generation processors, AI accelerators and high-density racks.

Liquid cooling is rapidly becoming a core requirement rather than a future trend. Direct-to-chip systems, immersion cooling and water-cooled chiller technologies are now central to conversations about future-ready facilities. This shift is also driving a need for more advanced control strategies and detailed simulation work to ensure systems are safe, scalable and efficient.

As density continues to increase, designing for liquid cooling readiness even if deployment is phased has become essential. Data centres that can flex and adapt to these thermal demands will be better positioned to support emerging AI workloads safely and sustainably.

Eduardo Golloy Jr. – Senior Building Physics Engineer

“The key to successful adoption lies in de-risking the transition through robust, forward-looking design strategies. Thoughtful system architecture along with advanced thermal simulations, can mitigate implementation challenges and ensure scalability for future technologies.”

Scaling at Unprecedented Speed

The sector has moved far beyond incremental cloud growth. AI adoption, consolidation among hyperscalers and the rise of multi-site campus strategies are accelerating development at a pace.

Niamh O’ Halloran, Mechanical Engineer

“The surge for rack density as AI and newer technologies push demands for power greater than before is reshaping the industry. We need infrastructure strategies to match this scale, sustainably and reliably.”

Single-facility builds in the range of 20–50 MW are being replaced by 150–300 MW campuses delivered in phases, often with highly compressed timelines. This growth demands new levels of design coordination, sequencing and supply-chain integration. As densities rise, the pressure on national grids is also intensifying, making early utility engagement and long-term energy planning more important than ever.

New Models for High-Demand Power

Power availability has become one of the defining challenges for future data centres. In many regions, utility networks simply cannot deliver the capacity or connection timelines required to meet demand.

Wesley Daniel, Technical Director – Power Systems & Infrastructure

“Engineering focus is moving outward. From optimising internal reliability to managing dynamic interactions with the grid. The new design paradigm treats the data centre as an active grid participant. Known solutions to relieve pressure on constrained networks include co-location with generation, on-site energy storage, and hybrid AC/DC architectures. Behind-the-meter generation and microgrids are also being developed not only for resilience but as controllable assets that support voltage and frequency stability. This evolution places new demands on data centre electrical engineers. They must be familiar with these technologies and deploy them in fit-for-purpose ways to ensure systems can ride through faults, participate in demand response, and integrate protection logic with utility relays in real time.”

The rise of Bring-Your-Own-Power (BYOP) models also offers a path to decarbonisation and improved water stewardship by allowing operators greater control over the sustainability profile of the power they consume.

AI-Enabled Engineering

AI is reshaping both how data centres operate and how they are designed. Many equipment manufacturers now offer AI-enhanced performance features as standard, and that capability is beginning to shift from individual systems to centralised platforms.

This evolution paves the way for facility-wide data environments where integrated controls, automation and digital twins can support more predictive, informed and evidence-based decision-making.

Stuart Bridges, Associate Director – BMS & Smart Buildings

“With a robust data structure and continuously streaming live data, digital twins will transform from technology development toys and allow realistic simulation resolving ‘what-if’ scenarios for tasks such as capacity planning, outage simulation, sustainability benchmarking and better reporting.”

AI is also influencing how engineering teams work. Automation tools, bespoke applications and intelligent modelling workflows are helping streamline design processes and improve accuracy, enabling teams to focus on optimisation and innovation.

Rethinking How We Build

As the industry evolves, construction methodologies are changing alongside technology. Sustainability expectations combined with speed, cost pressures and investor demands are driving a fundamental rethink of how buildings are delivered.

Clients are increasingly open to revisiting technologies previously seen as too risky or unconventional, prompted by the urgent need to solve rising energy and cooling constraints.

This shift mirrors a wider transformation: data centres are moving from bespoke construction projects to industrialised assets. Productised MEP systems, modular factory-built components and repeatable design platforms are enabling faster, more predictable, large-scale delivery.

Charlie Bater, Chief Technical Officer

“The centre of gravity in engineering is shifting from drawings and construction packages to supply-chain integration, modularisation strategies and factory-led manufacturing. The question is no longer “Can we design it?” but “Can we produce it globally, repeatedly, and on schedule?” Digital engineering, configuration engines, and parametric MEP systems are becoming essential tools to meet the expectations of institutional capital and to unlock industrial-scale delivery.”

Looking Forward

The data centre industry is maturing into a global infrastructure class. Meeting the demands of AI, sustainability and long-term resilience will require tight collaboration between engineers, suppliers, developers, operators and regulators.

At Black & White, our global engineering teams are preparing for these data centre trends and the next era by bringing together technical innovation, and a shared commitment to building a more sustainable digital world.

If you’re exploring upcoming projects or looking for a partner to help navigate these shifts, we’d love to connect. Contact us here.

Black & White Engineering Announces Key Leadership Developments to Support Global Growth

Black & White Engineering has announced two senior leadership changes to strengthen governance and technical capability as the business scales. Mick Cairns moves into the role of Chairman and CEO to provide continued strategic oversight, while Charlie Bater is appointed Chief Technical Officer to lead the company’s technical function and drive innovation across mission-critical infrastructure projects. Both appointments support Black & White’s 2029 growth ambitions and reinforce its commitment to technical excellence and career development.

Black & White Engineering has announced two significant leadership developments that strengthen the company’s governance and technical capability as it continues its rapid global expansion.

Mick Cairns Transitions to Chairman and CEO

Mick Cairns, Founder of Black & White Engineering, will assume the role of Chairman and CEO, a governance enhancement designed to support the company’s long-term growth strategy. This transition enables the business to maintain the founder-led strategic insight that has shaped its success, while building additional leadership depth for the next phase of expansion.

As Chairman and CEO, Mick continues to play an active and central role in guiding the company’s strategic direction as it advances its 2029 Vision. Black & White’s mission, culture and priorities remain unchanged, with a continued focus on leading in advanced engineering and design and delivering sustainable, high-performance solutions across mission-critical sectors.

Charlie Bater Appointed Chief Technical Officer

Black & White Engineering has also appointed Charlie Bater as Chief Technical Officer (CTO), effective immediately. This strategic appointment reflects the company’s continued investment in strengthening its technical leadership as it scales to meet global demand for mission-critical digital infrastructure.

Charlie joined Black & White seven years ago and has progressed through several senior roles, most recently serving as Global Datacentre Director. Throughout his tenure, he has been instrumental in driving regional expansion, elevating technical standards and embedding a Client First approach across project delivery.

The creation of the Chief Technical Officer role reinforces Black & White’s commitment to technical excellence and innovation. The strengthened technical leadership structure will support the company’s rapid growth, enhance engineering capability and create new opportunities for career development across its global technical teams.

Leadership Commentary

Mick Cairns, Chairman and CEO
“The last decade has been an incredible journey, and now that we embark on our vision for the next decade, I look forward to working with our executive board and regional directors to achieve our ambition to become the world’s leading critical buildings and infrastructure engineering consultancy. With clear short, medium and longer-term goals in place to build a global business that meets the challenges of our sector, it is essential to strengthen our leadership group further.”

Charlie Bater, Chief Technical Officer
“Stepping into the CTO role is an incredible opportunity, and I’m grateful for the trust placed in me. Having grown with the business over the past seven years, I’ve seen firsthand the strength of our people and the ambition that drives Black & White. My focus is to build on our position as the leading data centre design consultancy by further enabling a technical function that drives innovation, supports our teams and ensures we continue delivering industry-leading solutions for our clients across the globe. The best is still ahead of us.”

These leadership developments reinforce Black & White Engineering’s commitment to sustainable, long-term growth as it continues expanding its global footprint.

Celebrating 10 Years At Black & White: Career Growth Stories From Our Global Team

At Black & White Engineering, we believe that long-term success comes from investing in our people and creating genuine opportunities for career growth across our global offices. This month, we’re proud to celebrate two colleagues who have reached an incredible milestone: Hassaan Farooq, Group Finance Manager based in Dubai, and GP Avecilla, Associate Director based in Manila. Each mark 10 years with Black & White joining a growing group of long serving team members who have shaped our success from the early days to the global business we are today.

At Black & White Engineering, we believe that long-term success comes from investing in our people and creating genuine opportunities for career growth across our global offices.

This month, we’re proud to celebrate two colleagues who have reached an incredible milestone: Hassaan Farooq, Group Finance Manager based in Dubai, and GP Avecilla, Associate Director based in Manila. Each mark 10 years with Black & White joining a growing group of long serving team members who have shaped our success from the early days to the global business we are today.

With more than 1,000 colleagues across the world, reaching a decade of service is a significant achievement. For us, it reflects a culture where people choose to stay and continue to grow their careers within our One Global Team.

Hassaan and GP’s stories, while beginning in different corners of the world, reflect the same spirit of collaboration and innovation that connects all our teams worldwide.

Hassaan’s Career Growth Journey at Black & White

For Hassaan, what first stood out about Black & White was “the energy and ambition from the very top.” He recalls walking through the office during his first interview and being inspired by the passion and vision of the leadership team. “Ten years later, that same drive is still what inspires me to stay,” he reflects. Over the past decade, he has seen the company evolve into a more global, structured and forward-thinking organisation, and he has grown alongside it.

“One of the highlights for me was leading the implementation of Microsoft Dynamics 365. It was a huge challenge, but the trust and support I received made it one of my proudest achievements here.”

GP’s Leadership Story

Across the world in Manila, GP shares a similar appreciation for the culture that has shaped his career.

“I joined Black & White for its teamwork and meaningful global projects. Ten years later, I stay inspired by the people and the culture of collaboration and excellence.”

Known for his leadership and dedication to mentoring others, GP takes pride in seeing the younger engineers he has guided now thriving in their own leadership roles. “It’s proof that when you stay curious, embrace challenges, and take ownership of your growth, you can go a long way with the support of your team.”

Growing With a Company That’s Always Moving Forward

Both Hassaan and GP have witnessed remarkable change over the years, from the company’s expansion into new regions and markets to its continued focus on innovation, learning and engineering excellence that drives long-term success.

As Hassaan puts it, “What excites me most about the future is that the ambition hasn’t slowed down. There’s always a new goal, a new opportunity, and a real sense that we’re building something lasting.”

At Black & White Engineering, we are proud to celebrate the dedication, passion, and professional career growth of our people. Their stories remind us that our greatest success lies not only in the projects we deliver but in the people who make them possible.

Inspired by Hassaan and GP’s Stories?

Explore where a career at Black & White Engineering could take you. Visit our careers page to learn more.

Black & White Engineering reaches 1000 Global Colleagues

Global engineering consultancy Black & White Engineering has surpassed the milestone of 1,000 colleagues worldwide. This achievement underscores the company’s rapid growth and expanding role in delivering mission-critical, sustainable digital infrastructure across data centres, AI and cloud-driven industries.
The milestone comes as Black & White recently welcomed its 1,000th team member signaling continued momentum across Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

The milestone was reached with the arrival of Rey Anthony Gatmaitan, a Graduate Mechanical Engineer, who joined the Manila office as Black & White continues expanding its presence across Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

With over 15 years of innovation, Black & White has seen rapid growth, achieving over a 500% increase in size since 2020, and is highly regarded across industry for its engineering excellence, data centre sector expertise and sustainable delivery across complex infrastructure projects.

Strategic Growth Across Regions

This year has seen Black & White execute a multi-regional expansion plan. The acquisition of Dublin-based Homan O’Brien strengthened the firm’s presence in Ireland, while new office openings in Manila and India support the company’s delivery capability across key global markets. Further office expansions in Dubai, London and Newcastle are planned in the coming months.

Mick Cairns, Founder and CEO, Black & White Engineering said:

“I’m incredibly proud to see our exceptionally talented team grow to 1,000 in just over a decade. From a single office with 34 staff in August 2014, we’ve expanded into a global business established in 23 cities – with many more planned.

As we continue scaling our business at an unprecedented pace to meet the exciting demands of the data centre sector, our leadership has recognised the importance of becoming an industry leader in staff training and development. We’re committed to building an ecosystem where engineering talent, from graduate to director, remains focused on delivering excellence to our projects and clients. Knowledge sharing and nurturing are at the heart of everything we strive to achieve.

As we embark on the next exciting milestone together, we’ll keep driving innovation to engineer a sustainable digital future.”

With this growth, Black & White reinforces its positioning as a global partner for clients seeking sustainable infrastructure solutions amid rising demand from cloud computing, artificial intelligence and digital transformation.

As Black & White continues to expand into new offices and markets, the firm’s commitment remains to lead in advanced engineering and design, while keeping solutions consistent with the clarity and precision their clients expect.

How Gen Z Engineers Are Building Futures at Black & White

A new generation of engineers are shaping the data centre industry. Gen Z graduates and apprentices are bringing fresh perspectives, digital fluency and a strong sense of purpose to the workplace. At Black & White Engineering, we see this generation not just as future talent but as active contributors to our progress. Our graduate and apprenticeship programmes combine real-world experience with structured learning, giving every graduate the opportunity to apply their knowledge, develop their skills and make a meaningful impact from day one.
Meet Abby, Ashutosh, Catriona and Ziddney, all at different stages in their career journey who are contributing as part of our One Global Team.

A new generation of engineers are shaping the data centre industry. Gen Z graduates and apprentices are bringing fresh perspectives, digital fluency and a strong sense of purpose to the workplace.

At Black & White Engineering, we see this generation not just as future talent, but as active contributors to our progress. Across our global offices, our graduate and apprenticeship programmes combine real-world experience with structured learning to equip Gen Z engineers with the confidence, skills and insight to build what’s next.

Every journey at Black & White is unique. From Newcastle to Noida and across to Manila, our graduate and apprentice engineers are shaping their careers while contributing to projects that matter. Here are just a few of their stories.

Abby Broadbent – Mechanical Engineer, Newcastle UK

Abby began her engineering career with Black & White through the UK’s PlanBEE programme, an industry-led initiative developing the next generation of built environment professionals. After completing her apprenticeship and gaining hands-on experience within our data centre team, Abby has recently been promoted to Mechanical Engineer, continuing her journey from trainee to qualified engineer while contributing to major projects.

“When I was completing the PlanBEE programme, I applied to three companies as part of the course and Black & White was my first choice. The opportunity offered the chance to study part time for a Building Services Engineering degree, supported by experienced mentors and clear career progression routes.

Through my apprenticeship placement at Black & White, I gained valuable, real-world experience working on live client projects. I also felt completely supported during my placement and learnt so much in a short space of time. My opinions were valued, and I felt included as a key member of the team.

One of the best things about working at Black & White is the diversity of work and freedom to gain experience within the consultancy’s different sectors and learn from everyone on the team, across all levels. I am very pleased to have been promoted to Mechanical Engineer. Black & White is a great company to work for and I feel equipped with the tools, training and support required to excel in my job.”

Ashutosh Kumar – Revit / CAD Specialist, Noida, India

Meet Ashutosh. Ashutosh joined Black & White as a graduate in 2024 with his education and expertise in electrical engineering.

“I joined Black & White as a graduate because of the company’s strong reputation for delivering innovative, high-impact engineering solutions across multiple sectors, including electrical, mechanical, plumbing and ELV systems. I was looking for a place where I could grow technically while also contributing to meaningful projects early in my career.

During my research and after speaking with a few people already working here I was impressed by the collaborative culture and the level of support offered to graduates. The structured development programme, mentorship opportunities and exposure to real-world engineering challenges made Black & White the ideal place to start my journey.

One of the most valuable experiences I’ve had is learning how to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical teams. I’m committed to developing deeper technical expertise, as engineering is a constantly evolving field. I want to continue growing not only as an engineer but also in my overall professional journey.

For new graduates, I highly recommend Black & White as a great place to learn, grow and build a strong foundation for your career.”

Catriona Gluyas – Sustainability Consultant, Newcastle, UK

Catriona joined Black & White in 2023 after graduating from the University of Edinburgh and within just 12 months was promoted to Sustainability Consultant.

“When I first applied to Black & White’s graduate programme, I was struck by their unique approach to hiring graduates all year round. It showed a real commitment to attracting top talent and tailoring the programme to individual needs.

From the start, the company’s investment in my development was clear. Within my first two weeks at Black & White, I’d already completed and passed the BREEAM Associate exam. But it’s not just about formal qualifications the Learning Week sessions through the Global Academy have been invaluable too. A session on ‘prioritising time’ helped me create strategies that I still use every day to manage project workloads. The Global Academy is also a great way to connect with other graduates globally and build a sense of community.

Mentorship is a cornerstone of the graduate experience. My line manager, mentor and buddy have each played a part in helping me transition from university graduate to professional life. Since my recent promotion to Sustainability Consultant, I’ve continued to build on that support through in-person learning residencies and formal qualifications that are helping me take the next step in my career.”

Ziddney Jandusay – Graduate Mechanical Engineer, Manila, Philippines

We recently welcomed one of our newest graduates, Ziddney, to our Quezon City office in Manila. A licensed mechanical engineer and graduate of Batangas State University, Ziddney is already putting his strong foundation in HVAC system design into practice.

“Starting a new career straight from university can be daunting, but joining Black & White made the transition smooth and fulfilling. It’s a supportive environment where learning is encouraged and every question, no matter how small, is welcomed. Growth here is guided every step of the way.

What stands out most is the teamwork. From my first month, I saw how collaboration drives success and being part of One Global Team means you’re never working alone. There’s always someone ready to share their knowledge and offer guidance.

Beyond work, the company promotes balance through activities like sports, which help build connections and well-being. The graduate training programme is comprehensive, helping you build both technical and professional confidence through real project experience, mentorship and feedback.

My advice to future graduates: embrace the learning process. Black & White gives you every opportunity to grow. You’ll find not just a workplace, but a community that helps you become the engineer you aspire to be.”

Building the Next Generation

From technical capability to professional confidence, our apprentices and graduates are building strong foundations for their future careers. Supported by mentors, on-the-job experience and structured learning through our Global Academy, they are part of our One Global Team culture that values collaboration and continuous development.

If you are looking to start your engineering journey in a place where learning never stops, discover our Graduate and Apprenticeship opportunities on our Careers Page.