BLOG: Danny Cross, on Winvic’s entrance into the data centre sector and his new role

Collaboration, building a fit for purpose workforce, and a client-focussed approach is what Danny Cross is putting at the heart of his new role as Director – Head of Data Centre Delivery.

With Winvic’s recent announcement that it has established data centres as its fourth core sector, sitting alongside Industrial & Logistics, Multi-Room, and Civils & Infrastructure, in 2025, Danny was appointed to lead the sector, having made significant headway in it during his time as Director of Strategic Lead and New Business.

Over the last 18 months, he has been developing Winvic’s data centre strategy by building strong partnerships with MEP contractors and data centre experienced supply chain, upskilling its teams and leveraging expertise from within the business and externally.

In this blog, Danny shares his perspective on entering the sector, his priorities in the role, and why a collaborative mindset will be central to the company’s success in delivering data centres for the future.

Image: Winvic’s 2025 UKREiiF panel titled ‘As data centre demand grows, how can the industrial & logistics sector support expansion?’

Danny, tell us about Winvic’s entrance into the data centre sector?

For 25 years, Winvic has built an enviable record of delivery using disciplined processes and the highest standards of quality. That reliability has made us a trusted Tier-1 partner on the country’s most complex industrial and infrastructure developments. It’s a natural progression for Winvic to apply that same delivery discipline to one of the fastest growing and most demanding sectors.

The timing is right due to an increase in demand for reliable delivery partners who can manage complexity and scale quickly as well as think long-term within the data centre sector.

Winvic will now deliver purpose-built, resilient, and scalable data centre solutions to meet growing market demand, reinforcing its commitment to innovation, operational excellence and supporting the digital economy.

This is an exciting time for the business and for the industry. We’re not just entering a new market, we’re committing to doing things the right way and believe we can help shape the future of data centre delivery, it’s a natural progression.

What does the data centre sector represent to you personally?

It’s one of the most challenging and rewarding sectors in construction today. Data centres are operational ecosystems that must perform flawlessly from day one. What excites me is the combination of technical precision, speed of delivery and the opportunity to genuinely innovate how projects are planned and executed.

How does it feel to be leading Winvic’s delivery in the data centre sector?

I’m excited and ready for the challenge and appreciative of the opportunity.

Winvic is well placed to be a leader in this sector, applying our transferable skills and Doing It Right culture, and collaborative approach, which gives us a strong advantage.

Stepping into the role felt like the natural progression in what has been a truly rewarding career journey. Over the past 30 years, I’ve evolved from a foundation in civil engineering into project and operational management, before spending the last decade focused on business development and strategic leadership. Each stage has equipped me with the experience and perspective needed to lead confidently in this next chapter.

Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to work across a wide spectrum of the construction industry, continually expanding my knowledge and building strong professional relationships. These connections, combined with a commitment to learning and delivering excellence, continue to play a crucial role in achieving successful outcomes for our clients and end users.

I’ve always believed every day is a school day and I’m naturally curious.  I take both personal and professional development very seriously, a value I share with Winvic. Over the past year, I’ve been on a Senior Leadership Executive Programme at Cranfield University, and it has genuinely strengthened my confidence, determination and leadership skills. It’s an outstanding course and one that has prepared me for this next step in my career.

What are your primary focuses in your new role?

My role is about setting the delivery strategy and building the capability to support it. That means ensuring we deliver facilities that are resilient, efficient and future-ready.

My strategy is centred around collaboration – building trusted partnerships between all parties, such as client, contractor and MEP specialists, and building a fit for purpose data centre workforce – upskilling our teams and recruiting new expertise.

I’m working to expand Winvic’s networks in the data centre space and start conversations with potential partners either already operating in the sector, or who are looking to move into it. By building our data centre best practice knowledge over the last year or so, it has given us a solid foundation to grow from and with a number of our industrial and logistics clients moving into the sector at the same time, Winvic has already got collaboration and partnerships at the fore.

You’ve highlighted collaboration as a key priority, why is this so important in data centre delivery?

The complexity of data centre projects demands close alignment across a wide range of stakeholders. Traditional siloed delivery models simply don’t work.

We’re focused on early engagement, integrated planning and open communication. Collaboration allows us to manage risk more effectively, make decisions faster and ultimately deliver better outcomes.

Sustainability is a growing focus in the sector, how is Winvic addressing this?

Sustainability is firmly embedded into our operations and core values. We began measuring our greenhouse gas emissions back in 2012, long before sustainability was as mainstream as it is today.

Last year, Winvic achieved Net Carbon zero certification through the Achilles Climate Impact Programme in line with ISO 14064 Part 3, meaning we are now operating as a Carbon Neutral business. This accreditation gives our clients and partners confidence that we’re working to globally recognised standards, aligned with Science Based Target initiatives (SBTis) and industry best practice for carbon emission measuring and reporting. Reaching carbon neutrality is just the starting point. We’re now focusing on driving deeper Scope 3 emission reductions and continuing to expand our Green Supply Chain Forum to make low‑carbon, high‑value delivery the standard across everything we do.

In the Industrial and Logistics sector, we learned that many stakeholders, from developers to consultants and subcontractors, often lacked clarity on how to achieve Net Zero. Building strong in-house expertise has been central to overcoming that challenge, enabling us to give a full cradle-to-grave offering to our clients. I’m keen to bring the same value and insight to the data centre sector.

Sustainability in data centre delivery, like all construction, needs to be embedded by design. Winvic is working closely with clients and designers to optimise energy efficiency, reduce embodied carbon and consider whole-life performance from the outset.

What does success look like to you in the sector?

Success to me means Winvic being recognised as a trusted data centre delivery partner, chosen by clients as we bring certainty, expertise and a collaborative mindset. If we’re delivering high-performing facilities, building strong partnerships and developing great people, then we’re Doing It Right.