What has been your journey into digital infrastructure?
Like many others in this industry, I ended up here almost by chance. When I first qualified as a real estate lawyer, my focus was on traditional assets like offices, retail, and industrial spaces. Back then, data centres weren’t really part of the conversation—nobody in real estate was talking about them.
That changed when I joined a law firm with a specialized data centre team. At first, I didn’t fully grasp what data centres were or why they mattered, but I was intrigued. I started working on customer-side agreements for global telecom companies, and that experience became the foundation of my understanding. Over time, I was drawn deeper into the industry, and my work now spans the entire life cycle of data centre assets—from site acquisitions and head leases to customer contracts, financings, and site disposals.
What I love about this industry is how dynamic it is. It’s fast-paced, constantly evolving, and always pushing the boundaries of innovation. The intersection of real estate, infrastructure, technology, and energy keeps me engaged, and there’s always something new to learn. It’s an asset class with an enormous ripple effect, touching nearly every aspect of modern life.
But more than the work, it’s the people that make this industry so special. The collaboration, energy, and shared sense of purpose are incredible. The energy within this field is unmatched, and the individuals I’ve worked with bring a level of excitement and innovation that makes every day rewarding.
If your application is successful, Harlow Council will transfer the grant by BACS. Bank details (account name, number and sort code) will need to be supplied with a summary of accounts.
Funding conditions: If your application is successful, your project must be delivered by 31 December 2026. You will have to return any grant funds if the project is not delivered or the organisation receiving the funding stops operating.
A contract agreement will need to be signed between your organisation and Harlow District Council before any funding is granted.
Monitoring and Evaluation: Grant recipients will be required to provide an end of project report to establish whether the project has met its aims and objectives, as well as to assess the overall impact on participants. Funding for the project is provided on the basis that the Project Evaluation form is returned within the agreed project timescale (no later than 31 January 2027).
Risks and Liabilities: In giving grants the ‘Harlow Council’ will require the supported project organisation or groups to accept all risks and liabilities associated with the activity being supported. This will be a condition of the grant. Copies of relevant documents may need to be provided if the application has been approved.
Data protection statement – how we will use your information
The Council is committed to handling your personal information in line with the data processing principles. The Data Protection Legislation and the General Data Protection Regulation 2016/679 (GDPR) sets the legal framework for how we collect, handle and process personal data and for your rights as a ‘data subject.’
General Data Protection Regulation: Personal data provided by you will be processed in accordance with this protocol. For more details, please see https://www.harlow.gov.uk/privacy-notice
Thank you for taking the time to read these guidance notes. If you have any questions, please get in touch with [email protected].
