Databricks announces UK expansion and investment in data and AI operations

Databricks, a data and AI company, has announced plans to invest more than £700 million in the United Kingdom over the next three years, expanding its presence and supporting the country’s AI capabilities.

A key part of this plan includes a new 137,000-square-foot London headquarters, which will serve as its EMEA hub and support collaboration with customers, including over half of the FTSE 100 Index.

The expansion comes as AI investment across companies is expected to increase by an average of 40% over the next two years. Databricks also plans to support this growth through its operations and customer base in the region.

The new London office, located in Fitzrovia, will support:

• A growing UK and Ireland workforce expected to exceed 1,000 employees
• Dedicated spaces for training, learning events, and customer engagement
• Expanded local R&D activity alongside other EMEA engineering hubs in Amsterdam, Berlin and Belgrade
• Strengthened partnerships with organisations including Unilever, Rolls Royce, Nationwide, Virgin Atlantic, the Department for Education, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, Octopus Energy and Flo Health

Databricks also plans to train 100,000 people across the UK and Ireland in data and AI skills by 2028. This includes partnerships with institutions such as the London School of Economics and participation in its University Alliance Program. The company is also investing $10 million in the UK and Europe to provide students, hobbyists, and aspiring professionals with free access to its platform.

The investment is intended to support Databricks’ continued expansion in the region and strengthen its role in the UK’s data and AI ecosystem.