Welcome to part three of our blog series highlighting our sustainable best practices here at  Start Campus. As one of Europe’s largest data center developments, it’s imperative that the design and construction of the campus create and foster a truly sustainable and completely renewable energy campus. We aim to embed all aspects of environmental protection and social inclusivity, and increase local economic development, in every department within the company. To read the previous articles of this series, access “For the Planet” or “For the Community”

Company Culture

Established in 2020, Start Campus is an innovative global technology and green energy company on the frontlines of creating sustainable data centers. It is important to us that our employees understand how valued they are, and that they are an integral part of what makes Start Campus great.

At Start Campus, we firmly believe that our employees are the backbone of our success. Skilled staff who are passionate about improving and disrupting the data center industry are our greatest asset for supporting Start Campus’s green initiative. We understand that a company is only as strong as its workforce. In this article, we want to express our appreciation for their contributions, highlight the reasons behind our employee-centric approach, and showcase the positive impact it has on our organization.

Employee-Centric Culture

We at Start Campus believe that our employees are not only family but a team working together to change the data center industry and the world. Their efforts are the reason we have made such strides since our inception in 2020. Our philosophy at Start Campus is built around making our employees feel recognized for the important work they do.

At the heart of our employee-centric philosophy is the creation of a supportive and inclusive environment[4]. We strive to foster a workplace culture that promotes open communication, collaboration, and respect. By providing a safe and welcoming space, we empower our employees to bring their whole selves to work and contribute their unique perspectives and talents.

Start Campus enjoys recognizing and celebrating the achievements of our employees. Whether it’s hitting sales targets, implementing innovative ideas, or going the extra mile to deliver exceptional customer service, we make it a point to acknowledge and appreciate their efforts. From regular employee recognition programs to team celebrations and awards, we want our employees to feel valued and know that their hard work does not go unnoticed.

Professional Growth[5] 

Professional growth and development[6]  are essential for both individual employees and the overall growth of Start Campus. We encourage our staff to expand their skill sets, educate themselves on green initiatives, and stay on the cutting edge of industry standards. By investing in their growth, we are not only enhancing their capabilities but also cultivating a highly skilled and motivated workforce.

At Start Campus, we believe that every employee has a unique perspective and their own valuable insights to contribute. We foster a culture that encourages and values employee feedback. We provide platforms for open dialogue, actively seek employee input on decision-making processes, and empower them to take ownership of their work. By listening to and incorporating their ideas, we create a sense of ownership and pride, fostering a stronger sense of belonging. We firmly believe that diverse ideas lead to innovation, so we actively seek to diversify our workforce through inclusivity and open hiring practices. 

Start Campus’s employees are the driving force behind our achievements. By prioritizing their well-being, recognizing their contributions, and investing in their growth, we create an environment where they can thrive. This in turn inspires them to go out and advocate for the improvement of the industry and the planet.

For more information about Start Campus, discover what we do. To join the Start Campus team, access our current job opportunities.

Welcome to part two of four in our blog series highlighting our sustainable best practices. If you missed the first one “For the Planet,” you can read the overview of our sustainability blog[1]  series here. This blog focuses on the company’s initiatives for sustainable community development.

Sustainable Communities

Start Campus supports the community by creating sustainable industries[4]  and investing in local, pivotal projects that support the regional shift toward a circular economy. These efforts include promoting sustainable economic growth[5]  through local employment and community involvement. Some of the initiatives we are developing in Start Campus are:

Local Community

We believe that community is the heart of the region and all that it surrounds. At the start of our SINES Project, we went to the community to present our concept and get feedback to understand how we could positively influence the region.

From that exercise, the GAMMA Community Platform was born — an annual initiative that invests in community-driven projects. This proactive engagement funds and supports several community projects each year that target and benefit the municipalities surrounding Start Campus’ projects. The goal is to leave a positive impact in the region by promoting economic growth and prosperity through collaboration with local entrepreneurs, residents, and other stakeholders, helping to support their vision for the future.

The GAMMA Platform exists to empower community members to be leaders in regional development by supporting local initiatives that reflect four investment pillars:

We’re committed to local communities and are constantly active in forums to continue to learn and grow with our community.

Education

Start Campus aims to increase regional economic development by creating positive spillovers from the promotion of sustainable entrepreneurship[1]  initiatives, and the re-skilling of local populations. By doing this, we improve employability, as well as the focus on training and developing skills in relevant areas of expertise.

We work with local technical schools to offer data center-related disciplines/courses, resulting in new talent joining the industry. This aids in building human capital to address the market’s skilled workforce shortage.

As a company, we’ve collaborated with an IPS — Setúbal Polytechnical Institution — to develop a new data science course[2]  specifically designed for data centers. Engineers will be trained to support renewable energy[3]  and cooling operations at green facilities.

Employment

Our SINES Project promotes new employment opportunities with up to 1,200 direct jobs and up to 8,000 jobs in total for the local region.

Start Campus aims to use these guidelines to address sustainability for the community, and to support them through their various initiatives. By instituting these programs, we — and the industry as a whole — can foster an environment where workers and the community at large can and will thrive.

For more information about Start Campus Community engagement policy, visit Sustainability for the Community.

For more information about Start Campus, visit our website.

Business Focus Magazine

The rapid pace of digital transformation is driving an everincreasing amount of data creation, storage and use. This has resulted in increased demand for data centre capacity, a trend that is set to continue, driven specifically by ‘hyperscalers’, i.e. companies that dominate the public cloud and hybrid cloud services industries, such as Google, Facebook, and Amazon. This trend, together with the ever-increasing focus on sustainability, were the two factors behind the birth of Start Campus, established in 2020. The company is now completing the first stage of SINES project, its groundbreaking project constructed on the Portuguese coast, an investment worth up to €3.5 billion. Set in a premium strategic location, the perfect gateway to Europe and the world, SINES, a Hyperscaler Data Centre campus with a capacity of up to 495MW, will not only be one of Europe’s largest data centre campuses but one with a minimal environmental footprint. It will have created upto 1,200 highly skilled direct jobs and 8,000 indirect jobs when it is completed in 2028.

Full article here.