Tips & Tricks, UG2 in Action

How UG2 is Combating the Imminent Data Center Facilities Staff Shortage

By Melissa Gonzalez

Best Practices to Consider Now

Data centers are booming—and encountering a stark shortage of qualified people to run them, according to new findings from Uptime Institute. Communities across the country are facing a crisis-level shortage of skilled staff. The situation is even more stark in rural areas and for larger companies and campuses.

UG2 is already ahead of the curve, leveraging our deep expertise to develop the next generation of talent.

Here are five factors enabling us develop leaders in data center facilities management:

The best hires. We are proactive recruiters who travel the country to scout out employees with expertise in mission critical data centers – but relevant experience is only part of the equation. At UG2, we understand that certain talents and abilities translate well to succeeding in the facility services world. That’s why our hiring process emphasizes bringing in skilled problem-solvers and expert communicators who are flexible and adaptable to change in a fast-paced environment.

Advanced and ongoing training, professional development and mentoring. UG2 was built on a foundation of ensuring our people have the best training and technology in the industry. Our technicians are certified and trained on every single piece of equipment they touch, and training at UG2 never ends. From year-round remote and in-person trainings to our apprenticeship program and mentoring through our “Learn with Leaders” program, we develop every team member so that jobs become careers.

Low-to-no turnover. UG2 makes thoughtful, vetted hires and treats everyone we bring on board like family. Those factors, together with our industry leading benefits and compensation packages and unmatched opportunities for advancement have made low turnover a UG2 trademark – and that benefits everyone.

Deep partnerships with customers that allow us to predict need. Whether we are dealing with a longstanding client relationship or a new customer transitioning to UG2 for the first time, we take the time to know our customers inside and out and prioritize communication between our team and yours. That means our team supervisors know as well as anyone how to predict and plan for our customers’ emerging needs.

An emphasis on being nimble, sharing best practices and drawing from lessons learned. UG2 has always emphasized preparedness. Our practice of continuously examining where we are and finding ways to do better helped us deliver for our customers during the covid-19 pandemic. Our teams were equipped with the resources they needed and trained in how to use them. And because we have built-in, routine safety checks and prioritize communication, we were able to adapt to ever-changing protocols, whether dictated by local regulations or by our customers’ specific needs.

In this work, having a trusted partner makes all the difference – and now is the time to build capacity and capabilities. Are you facing an uncertain future when it comes to staffing and managing your facilities? We’d love to talk through your needs and priorities. Contact us today!

Melissa Gonzalez
Director, Talent Acquisition