British Telecom announces 80 jobs for engineers in the North East
David Cameron is “delighted” at today’s news of a major BT recruitment drive that will create 80 engineering jobs in the North East and play a crucial part in growing the economy.
The Prime Minister welcomed the announcement by the telecoms giant which he said will deliver a “world-class infrastructure” for Britain as well as financial security for families.
BT, which is already rolling out its high-speed fibre broadband faster than anywhere in the world, is out to up its game in a bid to keep up with ever-rising expectations of today’s customers who are so heavily reliant upon the internet.
Its local network business Openreach already has two thirds of the UK covered, including more than 690,000 homes in the North East, but it is keen to improve its customer service and extend high-speed broadband to more communities.
Having more engineers UK-wide will enable it to install new lines and fix faults more quickly.
The plans are for 1,600 new recruits in total, with 80 of them coming from the North East and today’s news is especially good for Durham, Darlington and Stockton, as well as Morpeth and Bedlington, which are all areas the company is said to be keen to recruit from.
David Cameron said: “Supporting business, creating jobs and providing a better future for hardworking people is a crucial part of our long-term economic plan.
“So I am delighted that BT is launching this major recruitment drive across the UK, providing financial security for families and delivering a world class infrastructure for Britain.”
The announcement includes a call-out too for more female engineers and ex-military personnel.
Openreach has a long-standing relationship with the armed forces, having recruited more than 1,600 former servicemen and women over the last three years. Successful new ones will join through its civilian work attachment scheme designed to ease transition from the Forces.
And it has already launched a campaign encouraging women to consider engineering as a career.
Its chief executive Joe Garner said: “We are also keen to recruit women as I’m keen to dispel the myth that being an engineer is an exclusively male vocation.
“We have many successful women engineers and it is my personal belief that recruiting more will also help our customer service agenda.”
He said new-starters will be joining a world-class team which rolls out broadband faster than anywhere else worldwide.
The Prime Minister welcomed the announcement by the telecoms giant which he said will deliver a “world-class infrastructure” for Britain as well as financial security for families.
BT, which is already rolling out its high-speed fibre broadband faster than anywhere in the world, is out to up its game in a bid to keep up with ever-rising expectations of today’s customers who are so heavily reliant upon the internet.
Its local network business Openreach already has two thirds of the UK covered, including more than 690,000 homes in the North East, but it is keen to improve its customer service and extend high-speed broadband to more communities.
Having more engineers UK-wide will enable it to install new lines and fix faults more quickly.
The plans are for 1,600 new recruits in total, with 80 of them coming from the North East and today’s news is especially good for Durham, Darlington and Stockton, as well as Morpeth and Bedlington, which are all areas the company is said to be keen to recruit from.
David Cameron said: “Supporting business, creating jobs and providing a better future for hardworking people is a crucial part of our long-term economic plan.
“So I am delighted that BT is launching this major recruitment drive across the UK, providing financial security for families and delivering a world class infrastructure for Britain.”
The announcement includes a call-out too for more female engineers and ex-military personnel.
Openreach has a long-standing relationship with the armed forces, having recruited more than 1,600 former servicemen and women over the last three years. Successful new ones will join through its civilian work attachment scheme designed to ease transition from the Forces.
And it has already launched a campaign encouraging women to consider engineering as a career.
Its chief executive Joe Garner said: “We are also keen to recruit women as I’m keen to dispel the myth that being an engineer is an exclusively male vocation.
“We have many successful women engineers and it is my personal belief that recruiting more will also help our customer service agenda.”
He said new-starters will be joining a world-class team which rolls out broadband faster than anywhere else worldwide.