ServiceNow, CoreWeave, and others to invest $8.2 billion in UK data centers to accelerate AI growth

Less than a week after securing $650 million in funding from major Wall Street banks, Nvidia-backed AI startup CoreWeave is joining forces with enterprise software giant ServiceNow to make a multi-billion dollar investment in the UK, aimed at speeding up AI advancements.

Today, ServiceNow, CoreWeave, and other major tech players announced a combined investment of $8.2 billion in the UK, signaling strong support for Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s efforts to attract foreign capital.

As part of this initiative, ServiceNow plans to invest $1.5 billion over the next five years to expand its UK operations. The company, based in the U.S., is looking to grow its workforce, which currently sits at over 1,000 employees, and will also be expanding its office space in the region.

Additionally, ServiceNow will focus on processing data for large language models (LLMs) within the UK, using Nvidia GPUs in its data centers in London and Newport. This will enable localized data processing to support AI models designed specifically for UK clients and government needs.

European regulators have increasingly emphasized the importance of AI sovereignty, advocating for technology and data to be stored locally within Europe. This move by ServiceNow aligns with those demands, ensuring that the AI models better reflect European culture and history.

CoreWeave, an AI cloud computing startup that provides developers with access to high-performance GPUs for AI training and deployment, is investing £750 million (around $978.6 million) to meet the UK’s growing demand for AI infrastructure. This follows a £1 billion commitment announced earlier this year, CNBC reported.

Meanwhile, U.S.-based data center operators CyrusOne and CloudHQ also revealed plans to invest billions in the UK. CyrusOne is ramping up its investment to £2.5 billion, while CloudHQ is building a £1.9 billion data center campus in Oxfordshire.

In total, these cloud infrastructure investments add up to £6.3 billion, according to the UK government.

UK Technology Minister Peter Kyle hailed these announcements, stating, “Today’s wave of investment reflects confidence in Britain’s strategy to partner with businesses and drive sustainable growth.”

ServiceNow also plans to introduce new skills programs in the UK, with a target to train 240,000 individuals.

Bill McDermott, CEO of ServiceNow, emphasized the country’s leadership in embracing technological change.

In a statement on Monday, McDermott said, “The United Kingdom is embracing technology transformation at scale. In this new age of AI, the country continues to be a global leader in driving innovation for the benefit of all its communities.” McDermott added:

“Our investment accelerates the U.K.’s push to put AI to work, empowering people, enriching experiences, and strengthening societal bonds. Together, ServiceNow and our customers across the U.K. are delivering a future where technology benefits everyone.”

These announcements coincided with the International Investment Summit, where Prime Minister Starmer will meet with 300 business leaders to encourage foreign investment.

ServiceNow, CoreWeave, CyrusOne, and CloudHQ are part of a broader trend of U.S. tech companies heavily investing in the UK’s AI capabilities. Salesforce, for example, launched its first global AI center in London earlier this year, as part of a $4 billion commitment to the UK. Microsoft also announced its largest UK investment to date last year, pledging £2.5 billion ($3.2 billion) to advance AI technologies.

These investments highlight the UK’s growing importance as a global hub for AI innovation.