As we close out 2025, I want to take a moment to reflect on what has been a defining year for Health, Safety and Environmental performance at Kao Data. This year’s End of Year HSE Report demonstrates not only strong metrics and governance, but something far more important: a maturing safety culture, genuine collaboration, and a shared commitment to excellence across our organisation and partner network.
A Year of Measurable Progress
Throughout 2025, Kao Data has continued to raise the bar in how we manage health, safety and environmental risk across both construction and live operational environments. The introduction of a structured HSE inspection programme across the estate has provided consistent visibility, accountability and local ownership.
Harlow’s construction performance consistently met or exceeded our 75% benchmark, peaking at 81% in June, while Slough demonstrated strong progress with multiple months approaching full compliance. These results are particularly encouraging given the complexity of managing overlapping construction and operational activities within live data centre environments. They reflect disciplined planning, strong leadership on site, and teams who are willing to engage, challenge and improve.
Just as importantly, our additonal sites at Northolt and Manchester have been closely monitored throughout the year and will be formally integrated into the performance framework in 2026—ensuring complete alignment and transparency across the entire Kao Data estate.
Strong Partnerships, Strong Outcomes
Our partnership with CBRE has been a standout success in 2025. Across the year, CBRE delivered 100% audit coverage, completing nine project inspections, including five QHSE and three AGM audits, with zero overdue actions. This is a genuinely industry-leading outcome and one that speaks volumes about the robustness of our systems, the clarity of expectations, and the professionalism of the teams involved.
Audits are not about compliance for compliance’s sake—they are about learning, accountability and continuous improvement. The maturity demonstrated through this process has strengthened our safety culture and reinforced Kao Data’s position as a responsible and high-performing operator.
Investing in People and Capability
People sit at the heart of everything we do. In 2025, Kao Data and CBRE delivered a comprehensive programme of operational and organisational HSE training, achieving a 96.4% mandatory core training completion rate, with 183 hours of training recorded through CBRE systems.
This investment is about more than numbers. It ensures the right competence, at the right level, at the right time—supporting safe decision-making, confident risk management and personal wellbeing. It also underpins our broader ESG commitments, ensuring our growth is both responsible and resilient.
Continuous Improvement by Design
The 2025 CBRE–Kao Data HSE Improvement Plan has been a key enabler in strengthening critical operational controls across the estate. By focusing on structured reviews, improved assurance, and consistent implementation, we have continued to embed best practice into day-to-day operations. This collaborative, data-driven approach ensures we do not stand still—but continually evolve.
Looking Ahead: 2026 and Beyond
As we move into 2026, our ambition is clear: to continue excelling as health, safety and environmental leaders within the data centre sector. Our focus will remain on proactive risk management, integration of new sites and projects, further strengthening of governance and assurance, and continued alignment with our wider ESG and sustainability goals.
The foundations are strong, and the direction is set.
A Personal Thank You
Finally, I want to say a heartfelt thank you to Team Kao and all of our partners and collaborators. Your professionalism, care and commitment throughout 2025 have made a real difference—not just to performance metrics, but to the lived experience of everyone working across our sites.
Safety is not owned by one function or one individual. It is a shared responsibility—and in 2025, that responsibility has been embraced across Kao Data. I am immensely proud of what we have achieved together and excited for what lies ahead.
Here’s to building on this success and continuing to lead with purpose into 2026 and beyond.
