BT Group completes multi-million pound revamp of Belfast HQ

• The flagship building will host around 2,000 colleagues as company reaffirms its commitment to Northern Ireland

BT Group today reaffirmed its commitment to Belfast, and Northern Ireland, as it officially reopened its Riverside Tower building at Lanyon Place, in the heart of the city, following a multi-million pound refurbishment.

As a key location in the company’s future plans, the significant refurbishment has created a fantastic, modern workplace, which will now be home to around 2,000 colleagues from BT Group, which includes EE, BT Business and Openreach.

Belfast was named as a significant long-term location for BT Group in 2021 as part of the company’s ‘Better Workplace Programme’ – the largest workplace improvement and consolidation scheme of its type ever undertaken in the UK. The five-year programme, which will be complete next year, is seeing BT rationalise hundreds of its offices across the UK and establish an estate of modern workspaces.

The new building boasts state of the art technology and flexible work and collaboration areas. These shared workplaces are central to the company’s future, providing environments for colleagues to come together to collaborate, learn, develop and share their experiences. BT Group believes that inspiring office environments, combined with a flexible approach to home working, will play a vital role in its future and in the future local economies of its key hub locations.

Commenting on the official opening, The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Rt Hon Chris Heaton-Harris MP, said: "This is great news, with BT Group’s significant investment in its Belfast base showing just what an attractive place for business Northern Ireland is.

"BT's fantastic new office will provide a boost for the local economy, creating jobs and increasing footfall in the city centre, with staff spoilt for choice when it comes to options for lunch."

Brent Mathews, BT Group’s Property & Facilities Services director, added: “We’re really excited for colleagues moving into Riverside Tower following our multi-million pound investment in our Belfast flagship office. We want to bring our people together in an impressive and modern environment, transforming the way our teams work. This refurbishment represents a change in BT Group, one that is better for colleagues, customers and shareholders: easier to work with and for.

“We really want our colleagues to be proud of where they work and to feel part of something brilliant, inspiring them to also continue to do the best that they can for our customers. 

“This investment also marks a significant commitment in Belfast. As a major employer in the city, our presence will support local economic growth and employment opportunities. We recently announced plans to recruit 100 people into digital roles, such as Artificial Intelligence, software engineering and product management, as well as graduates and apprentice roles.” 

The Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Christina Black, added: “It is fantastic to see BT Group complete this multi-million pound refurbishment and that employees can now move into a new modern building in the heart of the city.

“This really is a big vote of confidence that a company the size of BT Group is continuing to invest in Belfast and is supporting its economic growth.”

BT Group plays an important role in Northern Ireland and is responsible for directly generating £1 in every £110 produced here, according to an independent report. BT Group employs approximately 7,300 people both directly and indirectly here.**

The business is making record investments in next generation networks, such as full-fibre broadband via Openreach and 5G via its mobile network EE. This once in a generation upgrade to Northern Ireland's digital infrastructure will support the region's economic growth ambitions and ensure Northern Ireland's businesses and public sector organisations are able to take full advantage of the latest technologies and digital possibilities.

Notes 

BT Group’s new state-of-the-art hub in Belfast is part of the company’s Better Workplace Programme, one of the largest workplace improvement schemes of its type ever undertaken in the UK. The five-year programme will see the company shift from having around 300 locations in the UK to around 30, with a focus on creating new, modern workspaces. The company has already opened new flagship offices in London, Birmingham and Bristol, and a new regional hub is opening soon in Manchester.