JLL plans to offer free educational and training opportunities for the next generation of data center operators.

The company has teamed up with non-profit organization Nomad Futurist Foundation to create a 16-hour curriculum called the Technical Development Program (TDP), based on its existing courses.

The company’s existing curriculum, designed to train its staff, amounts to more than 80 courses across energy management, critical environment procedures, maintenance operations, and health and safety.

Curated by Byron Price, senior director of technical training and professional development at JLL, the TDP is primarily designed for high school students and those without significant resources. It will also be made free, both online and in-person, for Nomad Futurist participants who meet certain criteria.

The TDP has been divided into four streams based on the following positions: operator, chief engineer, facilities manager, and senior facilities manager. JLL says that, following course completion, participants will be well-equipped to start entry-level jobs as data operators or maintenance technicians.

The company identified demand for AI, data center growth, and an aging workforce as contributors to the lack of available talent facing the data center industry.

Matt Landek, managing director of data center and telecom at JLL, said: “There are nearly 39GW of data center space under construction globally today, and the ability- especially from investor clients- to recruit and retain qualified talent to have the processes to deliver on day one is becoming more and more of a challenge.”

Mark Gusakov, advisory board member and governance chairman for Nomad Futurist, added: “As we build and develop a robust platform, we not only demystify the shared knowledge platform for emerging talent in our industry but also provide programs, scholarship, internship, and apprenticeship opportunities to make the content readily available and easily accessible for everyone.”