Schneider & DataCentre UK Deliver £1.4m NHS Modular Upgrade

South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust (SWFT) has announced the upgrade of its digital infrastructure through a £1.4m (US$1.8m) collaboration with Schneider Electric and DataCentre UK, delivering two new modular data centres.

The project supports SWFT’s sustainability goals, enhances resilience and streamlines operations for Innovate Healthcare Services, the Trust’s digital arm.

The installation uses Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure Data Centre solutions, integrating modular cooling systems, high-efficiency racks, power distribution and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS). The result is a high-performing infrastructure that reduces energy usage while enabling scalability across digital health services.

Karlton Gray, Director, Channels, UK & Ireland at Schneider Electric, says: “With data centres underpinning critical healthcare services, it’s essential that infrastructure delivers the highest levels of reliability, scalability and sustainability.

“Our solutions have helped Innovate significantly improve their environmental footprint while maintaining exceptional operational performance and delivered a healthcare environment built for the future.”

Supporting digital growth with scalable infrastructure

Innovate Healthcare Services, formed as a joint venture under SWFT, needed to strengthen its capacity to manage growing digital demands. Its previous infrastructure struggled with efficiency and had limited ability to scale. 

The decision to invest in external modular data centres enables the Trust to meet operational and technological requirements more reliably.

DataCentre UK led the design and delivery of the solution, selecting Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure platform to ensure compatibility with healthcare-grade infrastructure needs. The EcoStruxure suite includes APC NetShelter racks, modular cooling, APC power distribution units and Easy UPS systems. These are engineered to support continuous operation, improve energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact.

Paul Almond, Managing Director at DataCentre UK, says: “As an EcoXpert Partner to Schneider Electric, we have integrated Schneider Electric's EcoStruxure Data Centre Solutions into the design. These solutions are pre-engineered, configurable and scalable encompassing racks, power, cooling and management systems, aimed at maximising resiliency, sustainability and efficiency.

“Innovate and SWFT trusted our design and our selection of products and approved us to proceed with the build-out.”

The modular approach also enables faster deployment, ensuring service continuity and minimal disruption during installation. Both data centres are housed externally, offering operational flexibility and reducing the risk of physical limitations or overheating in existing server rooms.

Lower energy use supports sustainability goals

The new infrastructure directly contributes to SWFT’s Green Plan by dramatically cutting data centre energy use. The project achieves a 60% reduction in electricity usage when measured against the Trust’s previous server room operation. Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) is projected at an annualised rate of 1.2, well below average levels for many legacy facilities.

“It was all built around sustainability,” says Mike Conlon, Associate Director of Technology Services at Innovate Healthcare Services. 

“Conservatively, we are now using 60% less electricity on the same amount of IT load, based on the previous server room implementation and the system has been designed with an expected annualised PUE of 1.2.”

This efficiency is maintained through proactive monitoring and operational oversight, which ensures the system remains optimised year-round. The project is also backed by a 365-day maintenance and service contract delivered by DataCentre UK in partnership with Schneider Electric. This provides critical uptime assurance and supports ongoing performance evaluations.

Future-ready healthcare technology services

By investing in this infrastructure, SWFT reinforces its digital services with a platform that meets both current healthcare delivery needs and future digital innovation. 

The modular data centres are expected to support a wide range of applications, from medical records and imaging to clinical system hosting and remote services.

The deployment underscores the growing reliance on edge and modular data centres within the healthcare sector, where uptime and efficiency directly affect patient outcomes. 

Schneider Electric and DataCentre UK position their solution as a replicable model for NHS Trusts looking to combine sustainability with digital transformation at pace.