Michael Smith Switchgear shortlisted in data centre awards

Michael Smith Switchgear has been shortlisted for Environmental Product of the Year at the Data Centre World Awards 2026.

The annual awards, held during Tech Show London, celebrate innovation and sustainability across the global data centre sector. MSSL’s shortlist comes after over 25 years of working with data centres.

The category highlights products that cut emissions, reduce waste and extend equipment lifecycles - helping operators move towards zero‑carbon data centres.

MSSL’s next-generation LV switchgear for data centres delivers these gains through modular design, easier end‑of‑life recycling and a 25% reduction in copper use, achieved through intensive R&D.

Managing Director Sean Smith said: “We’ve been supporting data centres with critical power for many years, so to see our environmental work recognised nationally and alongside our recent King’s Award for Enterprise - is a proud moment for the whole team.

“It reinforces our belief that robust, reliable switchgear can also play a big part in reducing the sector’s environmental impact.”

Founded in 1985, the Leicester-based manufacturer transformed operations and became a verified carbon-neutral business in 2022 through independent certification from Carbon Neutral Britain.

Operations and Finance Director Emily Smith led a long-term programme of environmental action alongside Sean to achieve this.

“We want to keep leading the way on environmental progress in our sector,” said Emily.

“Our focus now is on helping data centres cut their emissions while we push ahead with new initiatives like rainwater harvesting, smarter manufacturing and cleaner power solutions.”

Carbon initiatives include:

• Investment in rooftop solar, generating more than one‑third of the company’s electricity.​
• Procuring the remaining electricity from renewable providers.​
• Diverting all general waste from landfill since 2021.​

These changes have cut carbon emissions by 60% since 2018, while increasing revenue and headcount.

The company’s leadership in sustainable development was recently recognised through The King’s Award for Enterprise, further underlining its long-term commitment to responsible growth.

MSSL continues to invest in future initiatives, such as exploring rainwater harvesting and further on-site improvements, as highlighted during the recent King’s Award presentation.

Its sustainability focus also underpins partnerships in the data centre sector, including work with EfficiencyIT on modular, energy‑efficient projects.

MSSL is also advancing client-focused digital transformation, supported by Made Smarter funding through Make UK.

Due to the sheer scale of new and existing data centres, sustainable manufacturing must underpin the AI‑powered digital economy - and MSSL is committed to delivering switchgear that meets that responsibility.