Kao Data - Community Impact Strategy 2026 - Flipbook - Page 16
2026 Community Impact Strategy | Our impact journey: 2025-2026
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Our impact journey: 2025-2026
The last twelve months across 2025
have been transformative not only for
Kao Data, but for the communities we
impact. Thanks to the efforts of our
team, stakeholders and partners we
have ensured positive impacts across our
impact pillars. Here are some highlights
from our ongoing community impact story.
continue to reinforce Kao Data’s long-term commitment
Critical Careers by delivering a Season 2 podcast, and 5
to empowering communities, driving sustainability and
events across FLAP-D markets. Develop industry leading
creating opportunities for local people.
thought leadership campaigns, with cross-industry
support, to educate the government on the opportunities
Industry community
that the AI industry could deliver across the UK
Kao community
2025 Highlights: Publication of coffee table book
for Critical Careers: Celebrating Women in digital
infrastructure, and launched at Datacloud Cannes 2025.
2025 Highlights: Launched a comprehensive employee
Launched a Critical Careers podcast season at a live
support scheme including access to: Group Income
Critical Careers event. The 昀椀rst season of the podcast,
Protection, comprehensive medical insurance, Unum’s
2025 Highlights: Launched 2 SEED Funds in Stockport
sponsored by CBRE, has extended the initiative’s global
Help@hand app. Launched the Mental Health First Aider
and Harlow: The Kao SEED Fund sets a new standard for
reach, sharing insights, mentoring advice and inspiring
Network.
corporate-community engagement in the data centre
narratives to a broader audience. In partnership with
sector. In its 昀椀rst year the Stockport fund received 65
education experts and the social impact agency Hark
Next steps for 2026: Continue enhancing our employee
applications, requesting £137,000. Interest in the fund
London, the Kao Academy delivered in-school activity
prompted Kao Data to increase its contribution by 50% to
days, including a Data Superhero competition that ran at
£30,000. 20 projects were funded, from urban greening
key Kao Data locations in Harlow, Slough and Stockport.
initiatives to skills development and local enterprise
Continued enhancing our thought leadership position
support. The Harlow fund was launched in the Autumn of
through outreach and industry partnerships.
2025.
Next steps for 2026: Relaunch the Kao Academy with
Next steps for 2026: Across both the Stockport (Round
support from local MPs. Run a competition for the Kao
2) and Harlow SEED Funds we aim to sponsor over 50
Academy across our three locations (Slough, Harlow and
projects, and launch a third Fund in Slough. The funds will
Stockport). Continue expanding the reach and impact of
Local communities
offering to ensure we embed inclusion and equity in our
operations and culture. Expand the reach of the Mental
Health First Aider Network.
