GeN+1 is delighted to welcome AVK, the UK’s fastest-growing supplier of innovative power solutions for data centres, as its latest Impact Sponsor. This partnership marks a significant step in both organisations’ shared mission to raise awareness of the data centre industry among young professionals and create career pathways in this rapidly growing sector.
By joining GeN+1 as an Impact Sponsor, AVK strengthens its position as a champion for industry-wide collaboration to nurture the next generation of professionals. GeN+1 is dedicated to fostering a valuable community where young people can build networks, access career development opportunities, and gain insight into the data centre industry. AVK’s involvement will further enhance these efforts, offering real-world exposure and hands-on training that helps bridge the gap between education and employment.
Driving Industry Awareness and Skills Development
AVK has long recognised the importance of investing in future talent. Its AVK Academy is a dedicated training hub that provides hands-on experience and technical knowledge across all aspects of power solutions and critical infrastructure. By focusing on practical learning, apprenticeships, and professional development, the AVK Academy ensures that young professionals gain the necessary skills to thrive in an evolving industry.
As an Impact Sponsor, AVK will work closely with GeN+1 to expand outreach efforts, promote career opportunities, and support GeN+1 initiatives that make the data centre sector more accessible and appealing to the next generation.
A Unified Vision for the Future
Ben Pritchard, CEO of AVK, commented: “Investing in young talent isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s essential for the future of our industry. The data centre sector is evolving rapidly, and by working together with GeN+1, we have a unique opportunity to attract and develop the next generation of professionals. Through initiatives like the AVK Academy, we can ensure that young people gain the hands-on experience and technical skills they need to succeed.”
Richard Irwin, Co-Founder of GeN+1, added: “AVK has supported the GeN+1 initiative from the start, and we are incredibly excited to welcome them as an Impact Sponsor. Their dedication to career development and apprenticeship programmes aligns closely with our mission at GeN+1. We look forward to a year of collaboration as we work together to nurture the talented next generation.”
AVK is committed to shaping the future of the data centre industry. Through its apprenticeship and the structured training programmes, including the AVK Academy, AVK proactively addresses the sector’s skills gap by equipping young talent with the expertise needed to excel and put their best foot forward within the industry. Many former apprentices progress into full-time roles within AVK, contributing to their innovative power solutions for data centres.
Marcus McNeill, Mechanical Engineer at AVK commented, “I joined AVK as a Mechanical Engineering Intern, and it has been an invaluable experience so far. I particularly enjoy site visits to data centres which give me a deeper understanding of industry operations. The mentorship and support from the team help me grow in confidence and develop key technical skills, in preparation me for the next steps in my engineering career.”
Looking ahead, AVK plans to scale its AVK Academy, and expand their apprenticeship schemes over the next few years by partnering with more local colleges and educational institutions. This initiative aims to diversify the workforce, provide opportunities for skills advancement, and offer employment opportunities in the sector
Megan O’Connor, Sales Computer Aided Design Engineer at AVK said “Joining AVK has been a great experience and opportunity for me especially early in my career. They promote great work life balance and invest in the continued growth and development of their teams. Allowing me to develop skills while also having an opportunity to go to site to get an insight of our products in real life and benefitting from developing skills faster. I am looking forward to the continued development of my career.”
As AVK and GeN+1 continue to build momentum, their partnership will serve as a catalyst for inspiring young professionals, equipping them with the tools and knowledge to explore rewarding careers in the data centre industry.