BT Creates Over 1,600 New UK Apprenticeship and Graduate Jobs

Telecoms giant BT has today announced that they’re creating more than 1,600 new apprenticeship and graduate jobs across areas such as engineering, customer service, TV production and cyber-security (inc. within EE and Plusnet). The new recruits will join its over 82,800 strong UK workforce during 2019.

Apparently over a fifth of this year’s recruits will be based at the operator’s development and testing labs at Adastral Park, near Ipswich, in Suffolk. The research centre plays a key role in the development of mobile (5G) technologies, artificial intelligence (AI) and ultrafast broadband. Other roles will be spread across a number of locations including London, Glasgow, Belfast, Warrington, Bristol, Cardiff, Doncaster and Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

These figures are in addition to Openreach’s recent drive to hire a further 3,000 engineers to support their on-going FTTC, G.fast and FTTP deployments across the United Kingdom. Overall BT and Openreach are currently delivering a wide range of apprenticeships to over “6,000 learners“.

Alison Wilcox, HR Director of BT Group, said:

“We’re proud to be a leading employer of apprentices and graduates in the UK, investing in training thousands of people to give them the digital skills they’ll need to prosper. Through our apprenticeship and graduate programmes, we are able to attract people from all walks of life, allowing us to bring in new perspectives and develop a highly skilled, committed workforce. I look forward to welcoming the new recruits who are joining BT at such an exciting time.”

Many of the apprentices will achieve foundation and full degrees as part of their work at BT, while graduate recruits will also have the opportunity to secure fully funded qualifications. The scheme is delivered in partnership with local colleges, training partners and universities.

BT’s Work Ready programme was launched in 2014 specifically for NEETS (Not in Education, Employment or Training). To date, more than 6,500 people from around the UK have participated and more than half have gone on to either gain employment or return to education.