Stockport has always held a special place in my heart. 

Growing up in Greater Manchester, I spent summers working at my Dad’s small business on Lancashire Hill in Stockport town centre. Those early experiences gave me a deep appreciation for the resilience and vibrancy of this special town – a spirit that is shining brighter than ever today.

Now, in my role as Marketing Manager at Kao Data, I feel incredibly proud and privileged to reconnect with this unique area. From thriving businesses to passionate local organisations, Stockport is full of energy, innovation, and collaboration. It’s a place where people genuinely care about building a flourishing and sustainable community and I’m excited that we are able to contribute in a meaningful way with the launch of our ‘Kao SEED Fund’.

Kao Data is a company that believes in being a good, genuine corporate citizen. We were the first European operator to switch to hydro-vegetated oil (HVO) in our backup generators, and all our facilities run on certified 100% renewable energy. We were also the first operator to become OCP-Ready outside of the United States, an accolade which showcases our company’s drive towards energy efficiency. We were also the first operator to establish a campaign – the Kao Academy – dedicated to teaching children about digital infrastructure.  

But, whilst sustainability, energy efficiency and promoting our industry is at the heart of what we do, we also aim to contribute to the local communities we operate in evidenced through the support of projects such as Changing Lives Harlow or the Digital Futures programme near Slough. 

This commitment to doing business the right way has guided the development of the Kao SEED Fund. SEED stands for Social Enterprise and Environmental Development, and it is our way of giving back to Stockport. The fund offers small grants, from £500 to £2,500, to community-led projects that create a positive social or environmental impact.

The fund will help launch or expand initiatives in areas like:

• Environmental Sustainability: Projects that enhance green spaces, promote recycling or integrate renewable energy solutions.
• Community Empowerment: Initiatives that bring people together, like youth programs, cultural events or mentorship schemes.
• Economic Development: Ideas that support local businesses, such as pop-up marketplaces, community workshops or skill-sharing networks.

Working with our incredible partners at Sector 3, we aim to support the projects that matter most to people locally. Our goal is to nurture grassroots initiatives that will flourish in the communities around our data centre.

Over the next 2 years, our 40MW data centre in Reddish will come to life, providing critical digital capacity to the region. At the same time, we want to ensure that the people of Stockport benefit and join us on this journey. The Kao SEED Fund is one way we’re making that happen. It will empower projects that champion sustainability, enterprising behaviour, and economic growth.

Fundamentally, data centres connect people, whether that be across continents or within local communities, and as we grow, our connection to Stockport will deepen. Through the Kao SEED Fund, we’re not just building infrastructure—we’re contributing to a brighter future for the people who make this town extraordinary.