AIMES gets £1.2m for new data centre
CLOUD computing firm AIMES Grid Services is planning to build a next-generation data centre at Liverpool Innovation Park after raising £1.2m of new funds.
The company will take an extra 35,000 sq ft of space at the former Marconi building on the park after raising the money, which includes £150,000 from MSIF’s Merseyside Loan & Equity Fund and £200,000 from NatWest. The rest of the money will be provided by private investors.
It will build a 1.5 megawatt centre, which it said would use an innovative colling system that will save 3,000 tonnes of co2 a year when compared with a conventional system.
AIMES was set up in 2005 by Professor Dennis Kehoe in 2005 as a spin-out from the University of Liverpool. It began trading in 2008 and has grown quickly by providing cloud services for a range of clients including Novartis, Park Group Financial Services and Perkins Engines, among others.
Prof Kehoe said: “This investment will enable us to create cutting-edge cloud computing facilities. The improved infrastructure will give significant advantages to customers including improved levels of energy efficiency, cost savings and increased resilience”.
“Work on the facility will start soon and we expect it to take around 16 weeks to complete.”
MSIF investment director Paul Humphray said: “AIMES is a leader in its field and plays an important role in making new technologies accessible to businesses especially local SMEs which may otherwise get left behind.
“It is also ensuring that Liverpool is recognised across the UK as a centre of excellence for digital provision. We are very pleased to be supporting this exciting new project”.
AIMES is predicting a turnover of £1m for its current financial year, which it expects to treble within the next two years. It employs 15 staff.
