BT Plans More Than 90 New Apprenticeships in Exeter
More customer service and engineering apprentices to be recruited in the city this year
Exeter will be one of the locations to benefit most from a major BT recruitment drive of apprentices across the UK, it was announced today.
More than 90 new apprenticeships are expected to be created in the city this year, of which up to 80 will be customer service roles at BT’s customer contact centre in Exbridge House, Commercial Road. The remainder will be mainly engineering jobs in BT’s local network business, Openreach.
The customer service apprentices will be part of a rapidly developing operation dealing with a wide range of customer issues, including enquiries about BT Sport, superfast fibre broadband and mobile communications.
The Exeter jobs boost is part of a recent national BT announcement to create 1,000 new apprenticeships and graduate jobs in the UK. It is expected that more than 110 apprentices and graduates will be recruited across the South West as a whole. Other South West towns and cities to benefit include Bristol, Swindon, Cheltenham and Bournemouth.
The new recruits will join the 82 people already undergoing BT apprenticeships in the South West.
Exbridge House is the base for one of BT’s major customer contact centres in the UK, employing 180 customer service advisers and managers and handling more than 6,500 enquiries a day. Further information about BT apprenticeships and how to make an application is available at: http://www.bt.com/apprentices
Jon Reynolds, BT South West regional director, said: “This latest announcement is great news for Exeter and the South West as a whole and further confirmation of the vital role played by BT as an innovator, investor and creator of jobs in the region. Such recruitment is a major vote of confidence in the quality of the South West workforce and the abilities and commitment of people in our region.
“An apprenticeship with one of the world’s leading telecommunications companies is a great way to start a rewarding career, offering first class personal development opportunities.
“BT has a very strong reputation as a leading employer and with major developments, such as our multi billion pound investments in superfast broadband, mobile communications, TV and sport, the prospects have never looked brighter or more exciting.”
Tim Jones, chairman of the Devon and Cornwall Business Council, described the announcement as “further good economic news for our region.”
He said: “Giving people the chance to develop successful, worthwhile careers through opportunities, such as apprenticeships, is a vital part of the future success and prosperity of the South West. It is vital that we fill the skills gap and particularly make sure that local skills match the needs of local businesses. If we can improve on this, then we will see huge productivity gains in an increasingly competitive world.”
Karime Hassan, chief executive of Exeter City Council, said: “This is another great example of the leading role being played by Exeter in the success of the UK economy. Exeter has become an economic powerhouse, providing great opportunities for its residents and businesses.
“The fact that a leading company such as BT has chosen Exeter as a major location for its latest recruitment plans says a great deal about our city and the people who live and work here. We have a highly skilled workforce which is providing a major boost for the city’s businesses and organisations. Exeter is a great place in which to work and to do business.”
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