The scenic village of Clocaenog in Denbighshire had been without reliable mobile phone coverage for decades until a partnership between BT, Denbighshire County Council, Clocaenog Community Council and the Welsh Government was launched to plug the gap by bringing EE’s award-winning network to the area. The project is also supported by additional funding from the Brenig Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund.

Residents and businesses in Clocaenog can now benefit from high-speed EE mobile connectivity, with the UK’s best and most reliable mobile network¹ available across the village, helping people to stay connected whether they're working remotely, accessing services online, exploring the local area, or keeping in touch with family and friends.

Installed on an existing lamppost in the centre of the village, the technology provides an innovative way of extending mobile coverage into rural communities, helping tackle long-standing ‘not-spots’ in areas where traditional infrastructure can be more challenging to deploy.

Kris Longworth, a resident of Clocaenog for over four years, said: “The new EE coverage has made a huge difference to everyday life here. Before, getting a mobile signal meant travelling outside the village, whereas now I can make calls around my home and stay connected while out walking locally. As someone who works from home, that flexibility makes a real difference, allowing me to keep on top of messages and calls when I'm away from my desk. It's also reassuring to know that if our broadband goes down, or if family members need to get in touch while they're out and about, we now have a reliable way to stay connected. For a rural community like ours, it's been a real game-changer."

Susi Marston, Head of Public Sector Wales at BT Business, said: “Bringing mobile connectivity to Clocaenog gives residents and local businesses opportunities they have never been able to access before. This partnership has been entirely focussed on working together to provide the community here with better connections to services, stronger links between people and more confidence to grow and plan for the future. Using ‘mini masts’ means we are able to deliver the network services people need in a way which respects the unique character of the area.”

Adam Price, Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy, said: "Digital not-spots that cut communities off from modern life and economic opportunity have no place in our vision for Wales. As the new Welsh Government, we are committed to driving investment, innovation and higher productivity across Wales, and innovative projects like this will play an important part in delivering the stronger connectivity needed for the future Wales we want to foster.”

The project in Clocaenog is the latest example of how BT, local authorities and government are working together to help tackle mobile not-spots in rural communities across Wales.  It follows BT’s announcement earlier this year that EE had become the first UK operator to deliver reliable mobile connectivity the Welsh village of Penmachno in the Machno Valley, a few miles south of Betws-y-Coed. It also builds on BT’s ongoing commitment to advancing digital infrastructure throughout Wales, having invested more than £500 million in fixed and mobile connectivity across the country since 2020.

¹Claims based on the RootMetrics® UK RootScore® Report: H2 2025. Tested at locations across the UK with the best commercially available smartphones on 4 national mobile networks across all available network types. Your experiences may vary. The RootMetrics award is not an endorsement of EE. Visit ee.co.uk/claims for more details.

Photo credit: Natural Resources Wales

The Business Park Full Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) Project is a major step forward in bringing gigabit-capable broadband to business parks across Ceredigion and Powys. The project will deliver fast, reliable and future-proof full-fibre broadband to business parks that currently lack access to gigabit-capable connectivity. This investment will help local businesses grow, improve productivity and remain competitive in an increasingly digital economy.

The project forms part of the Growing Mid Wales Digital Programme and the wider Mid Wales Growth Deal – a £110m investment from the UK and Welsh Governments – to support economic growth across the region.

Crucially, the project focuses on business park properties that are not included in existing commercial broadband rollouts or other publicly funded programmes. This ensures the investment delivers clear added value by focusing on sites that would otherwise miss out on high-quality broadband. Full-fibre connectivity will be delivered to key employment sites across Ceredigion and Powys.

Beyond the identified business parks, the network build will also enable additional nearby homes and businesses to upgrade to full fibre as the network is extended through the area. This will further expand access to gigabit-capable broadband and maximise the wider benefits of the investment across the region.

Under the contract, BT will design and build a full-fibre network capable of supporting download speeds of up to 1 Gbps, with the flexibility to meet future demand. The network will be open access, meaning businesses will not be tied to a single provider and can choose broadband services of their choice from a range of Internet Service Providers, helping to promote choice, competition and value for money.

Councillor Bryan Davies, Leader of Ceredigion County Council, and Councillor Jake Berriman, Leader of Powys County Council, Co-Chairs of the Growing Mid Wales Board, said: “This project demonstrates the momentum already building across the Mid Wales Growth Deal, with investment translating into delivery on the ground. It is a major step forward for Mid Wales. Ensuring our business parks have access to gigabit-capable full fibre will strengthen the foundations for regional growth, improve competitiveness, and support businesses to adopt modern digital tools and services. Importantly, this project targets premises that were not in the scope of existing commercial or publicly funded programmes, ensuring the benefits of full fibre reach more of our communities and employment sites."

The Business Park FTTP Project forms part of the wider Growing Mid Wales vision to address connectivity challenges and unlock the economic benefits of digital infrastructure investment, supporting inclusive growth and long-term resilience across Mid Wales.

Susi Marston, Head of Public Sector Wales at BT, said: “Reliable, high-quality broadband makes a real difference to how people run their businesses every day, giving them the connectivity they need to innovate and grow. This programme means more people and places can benefit from fast, dependable digital access, helping them thrive in an increasingly digital future. Wales is a key location for BT and plays a vital role in powering the UK’s economy, so investing in the digital infrastructure which will power its businesses for years to come really matters to us.”

As part of the contract, BT will also deliver digital skills support for small and medium-sized businesses across Mid Wales. This will include a virtual programme led by industry experts, offering practical workshops, tools and tailored guidance to help businesses build digital capability and improve productivity. Targeted promotional activity will ensure businesses across the region are aware of and able to take part in the programme.

Network rollout has commenced, with businesses encouraged to sign up to the Growing Mid Wales newsletter for further updates as the project progresses: https://www.growingmid.wales/Newsletters

Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy, Adam Price, said: “We welcome the rollout of full-fibre broadband to business parks across Mid Wales. Gigabit-capable connectivity will help local firms grow, innovate and compete on a level playing field. Support of £55m has been made available from the previous Welsh Government to the Mid Wales Growth Deal. As a newly elected government, we will work with partners to drive long term prosperity for the region and beyond by building stronger Welsh businesses, creating sustainable high-quality jobs, and connecting people and opportunities.”

Wales Office Minister Anna McMorrin said: "The UK Government’s investment in the Mid Wales Growth Deal is bringing about real change for businesses and people across the region, driving forward our commitment to growing the Welsh economy and creating jobs in every part of Wales. The rollout of superfast broadband will enable businesses in Ceredigion and Powys to work more efficiently and reach more customers, while also boosting connectivity for local people."

The announcement builds on BT’s strong presence across Wales, with the company employing more than 4,500 people across the nation and providing a £680 million boost to the Welsh economy.

Notes to Editors

The Mid Wales Growth Deal, set within the broader vision for Growing Mid Wales, is a long-term investment providing capital funding to support regionally significant economic infrastructure that drives private sector investment and stimulates growth. Supported by a combined commitment of £110m from UK and Welsh Governments to leverage further public and private investment, the Growth Deal aims to create long term jobs and increase productivity, playing a key role in catalysing economic opportunities and growth across the region. 

BT Group has opened its new hub and Welsh HQ in Cardiff for 1,000 colleagues.

The move represents a multi-million pound investment by BT Group in the city, and secures a new, significant presence for the company in the Welsh capital. 

The new workspace and contact centre – located in the Capital Quarter development of the city centre – will become a hub for colleagues from across BT Group, including EE, BT Business and Openreach. 

Teams have been moving into the new workspace from other BT Group buildings in the city and wider region. 

The new Cardiff HQ is part of BT Group’s major programme* to modernise the company’s workspaces and reduce its number of locations in the UK from more than 300, to around 30. 

The workspace has been fitted with the latest smart building technology, flexible workspaces and collaboration areas. It also features a 6th floor roof terrace, café, underground cycle parking and shower and changing facilities. 

Brent Mathews, BT Group’s director of property, said: “We're really pleased to open our exciting new workspace in the centre of Cardiff. Despite the economic challenges, and changes to working patterns caused by the pandemic, we think this is an important investment and it secures our presence in the capital of Wales and the wider region. 

“It will bring our people together in an impressive and modern environment that will help us work better together, and attract and retain the best people. Our new workspaces have a real focus on colleague wellbeing.  

“We still see an important role for the office, where colleagues can come together to connect, learn and develop their skills. This is particularly important for younger people and those at the start of their careers.” 

BT Group remains one of Wales's leading private sector employers – employing around 4,000 people – and has a considerable impact on the Welsh economy. According to an independent study, the Group's activities in Wales contribute around £700 million a year to the Welsh economy and support more than 8,000 jobs across the nation. 

BT Group is also investing heavily in new ultrafast full-fibre broadband and mobile networks across Wales. Openreach revealed recently that half of all Welsh properties (more than 800,000) can now access ultrafast broadband thanks to the investment in a new, full fibre digital network. 

In terms of mobile networks, EE has continued to upgrade its 4G and 5G networks across Wales. EE’s 4G network now covers more than 85% of Wales’s geography, more than any other provider. It has continued to expand 4G in rural Wales, with 200 rural locations in Wales being upgraded by June 2024 as part of the Shared Rural Network. 

ENDS 

Canolfan newydd BT Group ar gyfer 1,000 o bobl yn agor yng Nghaerdydd 

Mae BT Group wedi agor swyddfa a phencadlys newydd yng Nghaerdydd ar gyfer 1,000 o weithwyr. 

Mae’r gweithle newydd yn cynrychioli buddsoddiad gwerth miliynau o bunnoedd gan BT Group yn y ddinas, ac yn sicrhau presenoldeb newydd, arwyddocaol i’r cwmni ym mhrifddinas Cymru. 

Bydd y swyddfa a’r ganolfan gyswllt newydd – a leolir yn natblygiad Capital Quarter yng nghanol y ddinas – yn dod yn ganolbwynt i weithwyr o bob rhan o BT Group, gan gynnwys EE, BT Business ac Openreach. 

Mae timau wedi bod yn symud i'r gweithle newydd o adeiladau eraill BT Group yn y ddinas a'r rhanbarth ehangach. 

Mae’r pencadlys newydd yng Nghaerdydd yn rhan o raglen sylweddol gan BT Group i foderneiddio gweithleoedd y cwmni a lleihau nifer ei leoliadau yn y DU o fwy na 300, i tua 30. 

Mae'r gweithle yn cynnwys y dechnoleg clyfar diweddaraf, mannau gwaith hyblyg a mannau cydweithio. Mae hefyd yn cynnwys teras ar y 6ed llawr, caffi, maes parcio beiciau tanddaearol a chawodydd a chyfleusterau newid. 

Dywedodd Brent Mathews, cyfarwyddwr eiddo BT Group: “Rydym yn falch iawn i agor ein gweithle newydd a chyffrous yng nghanol Caerdydd. Er gwaethaf yr heriau economaidd, a’r newidiadau i batrymau gwaith a achoswyd gan y pandemig, rydym yn credu fod hwn yn fuddsoddiad pwysig ac mae’n sicrhau ein presenoldeb ym mhrifddinas Cymru a’r rhanbarth ehangach. 

“Bydd yn dod â’n pobl ynghyd mewn amgylchedd trawiadol a modern a fydd yn ein helpu i gydweithio’n well, a denu a chadw’r bobl orau. Mae ein gweithleoedd newydd yn canolbwyntio ar lesiant cydweithwyr. 

“Rydym yn dal i weld rôl bwysig i’r swyddfa, lle gall cydweithwyr ddod at ei gilydd i gysylltu, dysgu a datblygu eu sgiliau. Mae hyn yn arbennig o bwysig i bobl iau a’r rhai sydd ar ddechrau eu gyrfaoedd.” 

Mae BT Group yn parhau i fod yn un o brif gyflogwyr sector preifat Cymru – yn cyflogi tua 4,000 o bobl – ac yn cael effaith sylweddol ar economi Cymru. Yn ôl astudiaeth annibynnol, mae gweithgareddau’r grŵp yng Nghymru yn cyfrannu tua £700 miliwn y flwyddyn i economi Cymru ac yn cefnogi mwy nag 8,000 o swyddi ar draws y wlad. 

Mae BT Group hefyd yn buddsoddi’n sylweddol mewn band eang ffeibr llawn newydd a rhwydweithiau symudol ledled Cymru. Datgelodd Openreach yn ddiweddar y gall hanner yr holl gartrefi a busnesau yng Nghymru (mwy na 800,000) bellach gael mynediad at fand eang gwibgyswllt diolch i fuddsoddiad newydd yn y rhwydwaith digidol ffeibr llawn. 

O ran rhwydweithiau symudol, mae EE wedi parhau i uwchraddio ei rwydweithiau 4G a 5G ledled Cymru. Mae rhwydwaith 4G EE bellach yn cwmpasu mwy nag 85% o ddaearyddiaeth Cymru, yn fwy nag unrhyw ddarparwr arall. Mae EE wedi parhau i ehangu 4G yng nghefn gwlad Cymru, gyda 200 o leoliadau gwledig yng Nghymru yn cael eu huwchraddio erbyn mis Mehefin 2024 fel rhan o’r Rhwydwaith Gwledig a Rennir (Shared Rural Network).  

DIWEDD 

Notes 

BT Group’s Better Workplace Programme is one of the largest workplace improvement and consolidation scheme of its type ever undertaken in the UK. The five-year programme, which will be completed this year, 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, refurbished offices in Glasgow and Belfast, and a new regional hub is opening later this year in Manchester. 

BT has confirmed that it will continue to sponsor the four professional rugby union sides in Wales until the end of the 2023-24 season, marking ten consecutive years as sponsor.

The company has sponsored all four Welsh professional teams – Ospreys, Cardiff Rugby, Scarlets and Dragons – since 2014, making it one of the longest sponsorship deals in the history of Welsh regional rugby.

When the first sponsorship agreement was signed in 2014, the ground-breaking deal used the BT Sport name and promoted support for grassroots, youth and community rugby.

BT said that it, and Welsh rugby, had experienced a lot of change over the last ten years, but that it was pleased to provide “continuity” in its support for professional and community rugby in Wales.

Scarlets Executive Chairman Simon Muderack said: “Speaking on behalf of the four Welsh professional sides, we’d like to express our heartfelt thanks to BT for their ongoing support of the domestic game.

“For the last decade, BT have been there through the highs and lows of Welsh rugby. To have such a well-respected business leader backing the game has meant a lot and all four of us look forward to collaborating on various initiatives and projects to promote Welsh rugby in the years to come.”

During the course of the sponsorship, the BT brand has appeared on player kits, at the clubs’ grounds and the agreement has involved community engagement with the teams.

Community initiatives have included the ‘Mini Judgement Day’ rugby festival, sponsored by BT, which has seen more than 1,000 young players (aged 7+8) from community clubs in all four regions come together for a mini ‘tag’ rugby tournament at the iconic Cardiff Arms Park stadium.

Other initiatives have included an education and mentoring programme with the clubs called ‘Tackle’, to help inspire young people in disadvantaged areas of Wales. There has also been joint charity work including BT and EE volunteers supporting various initiatives including food banks, Christmas charity food parcel drops and painting community clubhouses.

Matt Stevenston, head of sponsorship at BT Group, said: “We’re really pleased to be able to celebrate ten years of our sponsorship and relationship with the four Welsh teams. We believe this is the longest sponsorship in the history of the four Welsh clubs, so it's great to mark this milestone. BT and Welsh rugby have seen a lot of change in this ten-year period, but we’re proud to have been able to provide continuity in our support over this time.

“We hope our joint charity work and support for events like the BT Community Rugby festivals has made a difference and helped inspire a new generation of players and supporters.”

BT Group has a significant presence in Wales, both as a major employer and a leading provider of broadband and mobile connectivity. It currently employs around 4,000 people across Wales and is about to open a brand-new office and regional hub in the centre of Cardiff.

EE, part of BT Group, is also the lead sponsor of Wales’s national football teams.

BT has today announced the next phase in the rollout of its new home phone service, Digital Voice, to UK customers on a region-by-region basis.

Following successful pilots in Salisbury (Wiltshire) and Mildenhall (Suffolk), BT announced plans earlier this year to start contacting customers on a phased region-by-region basis across the country. Starting with the East Midlands in July, Yorkshire and the Humber in August and Northern Ireland in September, customers are contacted at least four weeks in advance before making the switch, to ensure that they are ready to move to Digital Voice.

Today, BT has announced the remaining regions and nations set to make the switch over the next year: 

Autumn 2023

• North West
• London

Spring 2024

• West Midlands
• South East
• Wales
• East Anglia

Summer 2024

• North East
• Scotland
• South West

Throughout the programme, BT will also be contacting some broadband customers in England, inviting them to switch their landline to Digital Voice in advance of local and regional campaigning in their area.

The landline is here to stay

The move comes as part of an industry-wide shift from analogue to digital landlines, where calls are made over a broadband line, and will see BT and nearly all other landline operators in the UK, including Virgin Media O2, supporting their customers in making the switch by the end of 2025.

The landline isn’t going away but is being upgraded to replace the decades old analogue technology that is increasingly unreliable and is no longer supported by suppliers and manufacturers. Customers risk facing increased service outages if this urgent infrastructure upgrade isn’t carried out now by BT and other operators. This new future-proof, digital landline technology is also a major step towards preparing the country for a Full Fibre future, in support of the UK Government’s gigabit connectivity ambitions.

Digital Voice will have no impact on how BT customers use their home phone and will not cost any more than customers pay today. They’ll still have the same service, and price plans and bills will stay the same. In addition, more than 99% of phone handsets work with Digital Voice and for those that won’t, BT has a range of handsets that customers can order.

In support of its regional approach and building on the successful starts in the East Midlands and Yorkshire and Humberside, BT is explaining to customers the simple steps required to make the move to Digital Voice through local and regional media and advertising campaigns. BT will also have a high street presence and hold local ‘town hall’ drop-ins to answer customer questions in person.

Initially, BT won’t be proactively switching anyone who falls under the below criteria, where it has this information available:

• Customers with a healthcare pendant
• Customers who only use landlines
• Customers with no mobile signal
• Customers who have disclosed any additional needs.

Customers who fall into any of these categories should contact BT to ensure their data is up to date.

Customers over the age of 70 are not being proactively switched to Digital Voice. However, since July 2023, BT has been trialling switching customers between 70-74 who live in urban areas and are ready to make the switch, i.e. they have the latest broadband hub and are not frequent landline users. These trials have gone well to date, with 98% of customers choosing to make the switch, and pending further consultation with the Digital Voice Advisory Group, BT will look to extend this trial nationally.

Lucy Baker MBE, All-IP Director, BT Consumer, said: “Through the work with our Digital Voice Advisory Group and our regional engagement, we’ve held 40 events, placed local radio and newspaper ads and met over 4,000 customers in person.

“We understand that any change can be unsettling, and we’re here to support our customers every step of the way. First-hand experience shows that once people have the facts and have spoken to one of our advisors, they feel confident to make the switch.

“If we’ve not been in touch or visited your area yet, don’t worry. We’ll be in touch when it’s time to switch. For anyone who has any issues, questions or concerns, then I’d encourage them to get in touch and let us know.”

Sarah Brain, Free Services Manager at AbilityNet, said: “Here at AbilityNet our staff and volunteers have been supporting BT to raise awareness of Digital Voice around the UK, and in particular to help those more nervous about the switch to give them the reassurance they need to make the move. 

“As a charity we support older and disabled people with technology at home every day, so we know that the world of tech can seem daunting.  The roadshows have been a great opportunity for us to work alongside BT to support those customers, and the ‘in person’ aspect is so important to answer any questions and concerns individual to them.”

Supporting customers every step of the way

BT has established and continued to work closely with its Digital Voice Advisory Group* – an association made up of charities and representative groups – who have been advising on the needs of customers most affected by the switch. Feedback from this group and its members has helped to shape the approach the company is taking.

BT and the industry, with the support of industry body, Tech UK, have been engaging with healthcare pendant and burglar alarm providers who will also need to upgrade their customers’ equipment to ensure that the most vulnerable customers continue to get the service they need.

A host of additional support and services will also be available including:

• The ability for customers to nominate a family member, friend or carer who will receive all the information about switching on their behalf.
• When vulnerable customers start to make the switch, they'll automatically receive equipment and an engineer appointment. Their switch won't go ahead until they have spoken to an advisor and booked an appointment.

For peace of mind in the event of a temporary power cut, BT will provide additional resilience to those who need it most, including:

• Free battery back-up units for Digital Voice customers with additional needs, who identify as vulnerable and/or live in an area without mobile signal. Customers without additional needs can also choose to purchase a battery back-up unit. 
• A hybrid phone that can switch to a mobile network and has an in-built battery for Digital Voice customers without a mobile phone.

In readiness for the December 2025 deadline, Openreach have taken steps to end the sale of new analogue services across the UK. That means when customers who have access to broadband sign up for a new contract – or when they switch, upgrade or re-grade their service via their provider – they’ll be moved onto a new digital landline rather than an analogue one.

Customers without broadband will not be switched to a digital landline until they are able to. BT will install new equipment in the local telephone exchange that will allow customers to use their phone in the same way as they do today. This temporary solution will keep customers connected until they are able to make the switch to Digital Voice and will help BT to retire its analogue service by the end of 2025.   

Together with Government, Ofcom, telecoms providers, charity partners and key industry groups, BT is working hard to ensure that everyone knows about the change, how they will be impacted and what they need to do as a result.  Further information about the industry wide change can be found here: UK transition from analogue to digital landlines - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

To find out more about BT’s new home phone service, Digital Voice, please visit: www.bt.com/digital-voice

ENDS

Notes to Editors

*Members of the Digital Voice Advisory Group include Age UK, Department of Health and Social Care, Independent Age, Rural Services Network, and Which? amongst others. This group of stakeholders have been incredibly important in helping to shape our plans for how we approach the move to digital home phones.

Useful links:

• UK Government website: UK transition from analogue to digital landlines - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• Ofcom: Moving landline phones to digital technology: what you need to know - Ofcom
• Which?: Digital Voice and the landline phone switch-off: what it means for you - Which?
• Age UK: Changes to landline telephones | Age UK
• Local Government Association: Digital switchover hub | Local Government Association

Case study: Marlene’s story

Marlene came to our town hall event in Leeds after receiving her invitation to find out about Digital Voice. She has her landline and broadband with BT, but only uses broadband for on demand TV programmes, so her telephone is her only means of keeping in touch with her loved ones. Here’s what she had to say to Alexander Clark and Macauley Green from our Customer Service team:

“It was so helpful to have it explained to me personally and I could ask questions. I’m not great with technology – I can’t even send a text message! My daughter had broadband connected for me so I can keep up with all my programmes, but I wouldn’t know where to begin surfing the web!

“Now I understand what’s happening with the telephone lines it’s a lot like when the television went digital and I didn't need my portable aerial anymore.

“At first, when I heard about Digital Voice I was worried I would lose my landline but Alexander and Macauley put my mind at rest that I’ll still be able to use my home phone and keep in touch with my family and friends - it will just be even better.”

Any of our customers who have been contacted about making the switch (regardless of their age) has the ability to call us with any questions or concerns and can defer their migration for the time being.

The activities of BT Group added £740 million to the wider economy of Wales last year and supported nearly 8,500 jobs, according to a new report published today.

The report from consultancy firm Hatch looked at the spend of employees and suppliers of BT Group – which includes EE, BT, Plusnet and Openreach – and the estimated knock-on impact that has on economies across the country.

The report found that BT Group, the UK’s largest telecommunications company which employs nearly 5,000 people in Wales, made a direct contribution to the economy of Wales estimated at £490 million in the last financial year (2021/22). Through the company’s employees and its supply chain, and their subsequent spending, Hatch estimates the resulting boost to the economy of Wales came to a total of £740 million.

The company’s spending with suppliers based in Wales came to a total of £110 million. According to the study, BT Group’s combined activities supported a knock-on total of 8,490 jobs across Wales.

The report highlights BT Group’s presence across Wales and its current major investment in the rollout of full-fibre broadband and 5G across the country. It also profiles the range of activities by BT Group colleagues across the country, from the volunteers helping care home residents avoid isolation and loneliness, to the innovative trials taking place in Wales to use 5G technology to help improve learning and skills for pupils and students living in rural areas.

BT Group is also transforming its offices and contact centres across the UK. The company is due to open a brand-new office and regional hub in the centre of Cardiff later in 2023. The company's contact centre is Bangor has received a major refurbishment as part of the programme and the EE Merthyr Tydfil centre will undergo a similar refurbishment in the coming year.

It 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.

Philip Jansen, Chief Executive of BT Group, said: “BT Group plays a vital role at the heart of the Welsh economy. We're one of only a handful of companies that serves customers in every corner of the country.

“We've continued our major investment in building next generation full fibre and mobile connectivity rapidly across the UK. We've already reached 9.6 million premises with full fibre, and our 5G mobile network now reaches 60% of the UK population. The benefits to families and businesses are huge: new jobs, economic growth and innovation, across every nation and region.

“We’re also transforming BT Group so that we’re fit to power the Welsh economy of the future. Our new state-of-the-art offices, spread across the UK, are a central part of that, bringing colleagues together in brilliant spaces that will enable collaboration and help us to better serve our customers.”

The Group, via its digital network business Openreach, is already delivering ultrafast full-fibre broadband across Wales, while its mobile business EE is a leader on mobile coverage. Its 5G network has now expanded to cities and towns across Wales and its 4G network has now reached 85% of Wales’s geography, putting it ahead of the other mobile networks.

Notes

The Economic Impact Report 2023 has been prepared independently by Hatch Urban Solutions, drawing upon data for BT Group plc activities in the UK during the last financial year 2021/22.

9 February 2023, London: EE today announces new details of its nationwide investment to connect the UK to 5G, with the technology reaching hundreds of rural communities across the UK for the first time. A series of new innovations that will boost the range, resilience and energy efficiency of mobile connectivity in the years ahead have also been unveiled.

5G rollout windfall for rural communities

EE’s 5G network, which already reaches nearly every major UK town and city as well as over 60% of the population, is now expanding into more rural populations. Nearly 500 smaller communities, including Church Stretton and Birkenshaw in England, Llandeilo and Pen-y-banc (Carmarthenshire) in Wales and Tayport and Ratho in Scotland, now have their first 5G signal from EE, bringing the total number of UK cities, towns and villages where customers can access EE 5G to over 1,000.

As part of the rollout, EE’s 5G is also reaching National Parks and popular rural tourist destinations. Among seasonal hotspots seeing a 5G boost are Berwick-upon-Tweed and Windermere in England, Brecon (Aberhonddu), Dolgellau (Gwynedd) and Narberth (Pembrokeshire) in Wales, and Fort William in Scotland. The Brecon Beacons, Pembrokeshire Coast and The Broads are also named as the first National Parks to be getting the technology, which will deliver better performance and connectivity for residents, businesses and visitors. The investment in rural coverage is part of a commitment to deliver an EE 5G solution anywhere in the UK by 2028.

Technological innovation drives network improvements

BT Group has announced it is testing a range of innovative technologies to boost the range, reliability and energy efficiency of its networks. These include:

• UK’s first 4G sent over low earth orbit satellite: BT Group has partnered with OneWeb to achieve the first transmission of 4G data using a low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite link to connect an EE mast to the mobile core network, instead of a traditional line of sight microwave or fibre connection. This paves the way for connecting small ultra-remote communities, emergency responders and disaster recovery units and other temporary deployments like festivals, events or construction sites.
• Mobile coverage in harder to reach areas: In collaboration with Stratospheric Platforms Ltd (SPL), BT Group is running a trial that aims to deliver mobile coverage from the air using a ‘High Altitude Platform’ (HAPS) system being tested at BT’s Global innovation centre (Adastral Park). This has the potential to unlock connectivity for the most remote areas.
• Self-powering sites: EE is weeks away from launching its first self-powering mast using sustainable energy, in Wales’ Elan Valley. Initial assessments demonstrate that local sourced renewable energy (wind and solar) can contribute up to 90% of the site’s requirements.
• Biofuels phase-in: Trials are commencing to test the use of biofuels like Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), Biogas and Hydrogen in network generators to support wider resilience. EE will initially implement the solutions as a trial across 20 physical sites.

Underlying 4G leadership the key to a quicker rollout

EE has also revealed that its 4G network is on track to pass 90% of the UK’s geographic landmass by the mid-2020s thanks in part to the huge investment made in network infrastructure in line with its commitment to the Shared Rural Network (SRN). EE’s founding 4G network stretches more than 2,500 square miles further than the nearest challenger, with new 4G coverage added to nearly 50 locations every single month over the past three years. The network expects its landmark 1,500^th upgrade under the SRN as early as next month.

Wi-Fi coverage boost to mobile signal

EE’s Wi-Fi coverage boost, which launched last year, offers customers access to more than 150,000 Wi-Fi hotspots, all based in rural or indoor locations. Customers have already downloaded more than 350TB of accumulative data using the new feature – equivalent to streaming HD television continuously for 13 years - in areas where it wasn’t previously achievable.

Howard Watson, Chief Security and Networks officer, BT Group, said: “The network rollout progress announced today is a critical step toward meeting our goal of enabling a 5G connection anywhere in the UK by 2028. The strength of our underlying 4G network, thanks in part to improvements made under the Shared Rural Network, has put us in the best position to make widespread 5G coverage improvements outside of big cities. Speaking as a technologist, I’m proud of the way BT Group is applying new innovations to reduce the digital divide.”

About EE

EE runs the UK's biggest and fastest mobile network, offering superfast connections in more places than any other operator. EE brought the first 4G network to the UK in October 2012 and launched the UK’s first 5G network in May 2019.

EE has received extensive independent recognition, including being named the UK’s no.1 5G network and the UK's best network every year since 2014 by RootMetrics®. In 2022 EE was named best network at the Mobile Industry Awards.

As well as offering mobile services to consumers and small and medium businesses, EE also provides home and business broadband using both 4G and fixed line connections.

EE is committed to being number one for service in the industry and has nearly 600 shops across the UK. EE remains the only mobile provider to answer 100% of customer calls in the UK and Ireland and was recognised as the UK’s Best Large Contact Centre by the UK Customer Experience Awards 2018 and Welsh Contact Centre Awards 2019. EE was awarded The Sunday Times’ Best 100 Companies to Work for in 2018 and 2019, as well as being named Best Employer 2018 by the European Contact Centre & Customer Service awards.

EE is part of BT’s Consumer business unit which provides products and services to all of BT’s consumer customers in the UK. Follow us on:

Facebook at: www.facebook.com/ee
Twitter at: www.twitter.com/ee
YouTube at: www.youtube.com/ee
LinkedIn at: www.linkedin.com/company/ee-uk

BT Group has announced plans to invest in a new state-of-the-art office in the centre of Cardiff which will become a hub for up to 900 employees in the city and wider region.

The move represents a multi-million pound investment by BT in the city, and secures a new, significant presence for the company in the Welsh capital.

The office will be in the new Capital Quarter development in the centre of the city, with BT Group employees due to move in before the end of 2022.

Cardiff was named as a key location for BT in 2019 as part of its 'Better Workplace Programme'. The new workspace and contact centre – to be located at No3 Capital Quarter – will be one of around 30 new modern BT locations in the UK, as part of the company’s five-year workplace transformation programme.

BT believes that inspiring office environments, combined with a flexible approach to home working, will play a vital role in its future.

Brent Mathews, BT’s director of property and facilities services, said: “We're really pleased to have agreed this exciting new office space in the centre of Cardiff. Despite the economic challenges and changes to working patterns caused by the pandemic, we think this is an important investment and it secures our presence in the capital of Wales and the wider region.

“This will bring our people together in an impressive and modern environment in Cardiff’s developing Capital Quarter. Our new offices reflect a move to more hybrid and flexible ways of working, with colleagues able to come together, using the latest technologies, to collaborate in inspiring workspaces. It will help us attract and retain brilliant people and we look forward to welcoming colleagues into this great new workspace when it’s ready later this year.”

BT teams based in Cardiff include those providing customer service support and the new office will also act as a regional hub for colleagues working in other parts of the business.

The new workspace, close to Cardiff Central station, will include smart building technology, flexible workspaces and collaboration areas. It also features a 6th floor roof terrace, underground cycle parking and shower and changing facilities.

Huw Thomas, leader of Cardiff City Council, said: “Today's announcement by BT is a big vote of confidence in the city and in our plans for the future.

 “I’m pleased that BT sees Cardiff as a good place to invest and to continue recruiting its present and future workforce. This is good for skilled jobs, for the city and the wider region. The Central Cardiff Enterprise Zone was developed for this reason, to attract new investment, create new high quality workspaces and attract good, sustainable jobs.”

BT Group remains one of Wales's leading employers and has a considerable impact on the Welsh economy. According to an independent study, the Group's activities in Wales contribute almost £1bn (£971 million) to the Welsh economy (GVA) and support more than 12,000 jobs across the nation.

BT Group is also investing heavily in new ultrafast full-fibre broadband and mobile networks across Wales and the rest of the UK. As part of BT Group’s plans to invest around £15bn for Openreach to extend its ultrafast, full-fibre broadband network to 25 million UK homes and businesses by 2026, almost 500,000 premises in Wales can already order full-fibre, with hundreds of thousands more to come.

In terms of mobile networks, EE, part of BT Group, has continued to upgrade its 4G and 5G networks across Wales. EE’s 4G network now has 84% geographical coverage in Wales, more than any other provider. By 2024, EE is planning further upgrades to 4G connectivity in 123 rural locations across Wales and continued expansion of its 5G network.

Notes

Images

Images include artist impression images of how the BT office interior may look, as well as exterior images of the building provided by J R Smart, developers of Capital Quarter No3 and the Capital Quarter Development.

BT Group will occupy 65,000 sq ft of office space at No3 Capital Quarter.

BT Better Workplace Programme

BT’s Better Workplace Programme is the largest workplace improvement programme and consolidation scheme of its type ever undertaken in the UK. The programme, which will complete in 2024, will see BT rationalise hundreds of its offices across the UK, moving to around 30 new, modern workspaces. BT has already opened major new hubs at Three Snowhill in Birmingham and at One Braham in London, with Bristol Assembly due to open in September.

BT Group i agor swyddfa a hwb rhanbarthol newydd yng Nghaerdydd

Mae BT Group wedi cyhoeddi cynlluniau i fuddsoddi mewn swyddfa fodern newydd yng nghanol Caerdydd a fydd yn dod yn ganolbwynt ar gyfer hyd at 900 o weithwyr yn y ddinas a’r rhanbarth ehangach.

Mae’n fuddsoddiad gwerth miliynau o bunnoedd gan BT yn y ddinas, ac yn sicrhau presenoldeb newydd, arwyddocaol i’r cwmni ym mhrifddinas Cymru.

Mi fydd y swyddfa yn ardal newydd Capital Quarter yng nghanol y ddinas a bydd gweithwyr o BT Group yn symud i mewn cyn diwedd 2022.

Cafodd Caerdydd ei henwi fel lleoliad allweddol i BT yn 2019 fel rhan o’i rhaglen ‘Better Workplace’. Bydd y man gwaith a’r ganolfan gyswllt newydd – sydd i’w lleoli yn Rhif 3 Capital Quarter – yn un o tua 30 o leoliadau modern newydd i BT ar draws y DU, fel rhan o raglen trawsnewid gweithle pum mlynedd y cwmni.

Mae BT yn credu y bydd gweithleoedd ysbrydoledig, ynghyd ag agwedd hyblyg at weithio gartref, yn chwarae rhan hanfodol yn ei ddyfodol.

Dywedodd Brent Mathews, cyfarwyddwr gwasanaethau eiddo a chyfleusterau BT: “Rydym yn falch iawn ein bod wedi cytuno ar y swyddfa newydd cyffrous yma yng nghanol Caerdydd. Er gwaethaf yr heriau economaidd a’r newidiadau i batrymau gwaith oherwydd y pandemig, rydym yn credu fod hwn yn fuddsoddiad pwysig ac mae’n sicrhau ein presenoldeb ym mhrifddinas Cymru a’r rhanbarth yn ehangach.

“Bydd hyn yn dod â’n pobl at ei gilydd mewn adeilad trawiadol a modern mewn rhan gyffrous o Gaerdydd sy’n datblygu. Mae ein swyddfeydd newydd yn adlewyrchu’r symudiad tuag at ffyrdd mwy hybrid a hyblyg o weithio, gyda chydweithwyr yn gallu dod at ei gilydd, gan ddefnyddio'r technolegau diweddaraf, i gydweithio mewn mannau gwaith ysbrydoledig. Bydd yn ein helpu i ddenu a chadw pobl wych ac rydym yn edrych ymlaen at groesawu cydweithwyr i’r gweithle newydd arbennig hwn pan fydd yn barod yn ddiweddarach eleni.”

Mae timau BT sydd wedi’u lleoli yng Nghaerdydd yn cynnwys y rhai sy’n darparu cymorth gwasanaeth cwsmeriaid a bydd y swyddfa newydd hefyd yn gweithredu fel canolbwynt rhanbarthol i gydweithwyr sy’n gweithio mewn rhannau eraill o’r busnes.

Bydd y swyddfa newydd, sy’n agos at orsaf Caerdydd Canolog, yn cynnwys technoleg gweithio clyfar, mannau gweithio hyblyg a mannau i gydweithio. Mae hefyd yn cynnwys teras to ar y 6ed llawr, maes parcio beiciau tanddaearol a chyfleusterau cawod a newid.

Dywedodd Huw Thomas, arweinydd Cyngor Dinas Caerdydd: “Mae’r cyhoeddiad heddiw gan BT yn bleidlais fawr o hyder yn y ddinas ac yn ein cynlluniau ar gyfer y dyfodol.

“Rwy’n falch bod BT yn gweld Caerdydd fel lle da i fuddsoddi ynddo ac i barhau i recriwtio ei weithlu presennol, ac ar gyfer y dyfodol. Mae hyn yn newyddion da o ran swyddi safonol, ac i'r ddinas a'r rhanbarth yn ehangach. Datblygwyd Ardal Fenter Canol Caerdydd yn union am y rheswm hwn, i ddenu buddsoddiad newydd, creu mannau gwaith newydd o ansawdd uchel a denu swyddi da, cynaliadwy.”

Mae BT Group yn parhau i fod yn un o gyflogwyr mwyaf blaenllaw Cymru ac yn cael effaith sylweddol ar economi Cymru. Yn ôl astudiaeth annibynnol, mae gweithgareddau’r Grŵp yng Nghymru yn cyfrannu bron i £1bn (£971 miliwn) i economi Cymru (GVA) ac yn cynnal mwy na 12,000 o swyddi ar draws y wlad.

Mae BT Group hefyd yn buddsoddi’n sylweddol mewn band eang ffeibr llawn, a rhwydweithiau ffonau symudol newydd, ledled Cymru a gweddill y DU. Fel rhan o gynlluniau BT Group i fuddsoddi tua £15bn er mwyn i Openreach ymestyn ei rwydwaith band eang ffeibr llawn i 25 miliwn o gartrefi a busnesau yn y DU erbyn 2026, gall bron i 500,000 o adeiladau yng Nghymru eisoes archebu ffeibr llawn, gyda channoedd o filoedd yn fwy i ddod.

O ran rhwydweithiau ffonau symudol, mae EE, sy’n rhan o BT BT, wedi parhau i uwchraddio ei rwydweithiau 4G a 5G ledled Cymru. Mae gan rwydwaith 4G EE bellach 84% o wasanaeth daearyddol yng Nghymru, mwy nag unrhyw ddarparwr arall. Erbyn 2024, mae EE yn bwriadu uwchraddio cysylltedd 4G ymhellach mewn 123 o leoliadau gwledig ledled Cymru a pharhau i ehangu ei rwydwaith 5G.

DIWEDD

5G Wales Unlocked is the innovation project behind the new immersive 360-degree classroom in Ebbw Vale, just one of several trials demonstrating how ultrafast technology like 5G could transform rural communities, from powering tech innovations in agriculture, to improving rural transport and education and bolstering the tourism industry. 

Using a localised 5G network provided by BT as one of the project partners, the classroom uses the high-speed connectivity to project inspiring and educational video content onto all four walls in a 360-degree format, providing an immersive experience.

Lessons can be delivered across a variety of curriculum-related themes, taking children and young people on a journey of the senses as they ‘dive’ into the detail of a plant cell or explore the surface of a planet.

Thanks to the ultrafast 5G connection, live link-ups have also been established, allowing learners to discover the fascinating history of heritage sites such as Raglan Castle, with a live virtual tour from a Cadw custodian located at the site.

The live link-ups can also be used to connect classrooms across the country, meaning pupils can work collaboratively with other learners, and educators can enhance their own lessons in partnership with other schools.

Welsh Government Minister for Education and Welsh Language Jeremy Miles MS said: “It’s fantastic to see learners in Ebbw Vale benefitting from next-generation technology, thanks to this innovative project.

“It’s our ambition to see Wales leading the way in using digital technology to deliver high-quality education, and to raise attainment and skills of all learners, regardless of background. This trial will help learners in rural areas engage with the curriculum in an exciting, immersive environment.”

Nick Speed, BT Group Director in Wales, said: “We’re excited to be part of this pioneering project looking at the potential of 5G in rural areas.

“The immersive classroom is a brilliant example of how 5G’s greater bandwidth can help deliver rich, high quality content to inspire school pupils about the world, wherever they’re located. It has the potential to reduce the education gap between areas and make sure that all pupils have access to this kind of innovative learning material.”

Notes

5G Wales Unlocked has been made possible by funding from the Welsh Government’s Tech Valleys Programme and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

About 5G Wales Unlocked

5G Wales Unlocked is an innovation project demonstrating the commercial value of improved connectivity in rural Wales to accelerate the deployment of 5G and digital services across the region.

The project is led by the Welsh Government and involving a consortium of partners comprised of BT, Cisco, Cardiff University, Jam Creative Studios, Monmouthshire CC, Blaenau Gwent CBC, UtterBerry and AppyWay.  The project has received grant funding from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

 For more information, please visit 5gwalesunlocked.co.uk or follow 5G Wales Unlocked on Twitter and LinkedIn. 

The technology and telecoms firm is also using its own assets, including phone boxes and its Street Hub 2.0 digital units, so its mobile arm EE can house hundreds of small cells to boost capacity in high demand areas. Small cells are mobile radio cells that help to provide better coverage for customers at street level, where it’s often impractical to install larger mobile masts or where an offloading capability is required.

The programme will allow EE customers to experience uninterrupted data speeds of up to 300Mbps in areas including Croydon, Leeds, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Nottingham. The infrastructure will be delivered over the next 18 months and can also support 5G network coverage in the future. In addition to enabling small cell deployment by EE, BT is also working with other UK mobile network operators to deploy small cells around the UK to help extend and densify their high-speed mobile network coverage.

Brian More O’Ferrall, Director, Mobile Operators in BT’s Enterprise business, said: “Around 200 of the small cells are already live and are helping to boost 4G coverage for EE customers in towns and cities across the UK.

“We have worked closely with our local authority partners to utilise their street furniture, as well as our own assets, to improve connectivity in these areas.

“Ensuring good digital infrastructure is a priority for many councils, especially with the rise in mobile device ownership and growth in demand for data and connectivity, and they have seen the benefits that such partnerships can provide.

“Not only does it mean that average download speeds can often double in some areas, but it’s also more efficient and means there is a reduced need for new cell masts in the localities.

“We’re pleased to be working with EE and other mobile network operators to deliver this coverage boost.”

The small cells will be deployed across the UK including the following areas:

• Birmingham
• Croydon
• Edinburgh
• Glasgow
• Leeds
• Greater London (including numerous London boroughs)
• Greater Manchester
• Newcastle
• Nottingham
• Leicester
• Cardiff

Councillor Muhammad Ali, Croydon Council’s cabinet member for sustainable Croydon, said: “Demands for digital connectivity are set to grow even more over the next few years and this partnership with BT means we are able to ensure better mobile coverage for our residents, visitors and businesses.

“With 12 EE small cells already installed and an additional 20 to follow over the next 18 months, it’s fantastic that our existing street furniture, together with BT assets, can provide a simple and efficient solution to fast-track mobile network infrastructure in our borough.”

BT is using its new Street Hub 2.0 units to site small cells and further boost connectivity, which comes after a recent survey by the company found that two thirds of small firms agree that mobile connectivity could be improved in their area. The new units have already been rolled out in Glasgow, Nottingham and London. Subject to local planning processes, BT is aiming to roll out around 300 Street Hub 2.0 units across the UK this year, working closely with local councils and communities.

Today’s announcement also comes after the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport recently launched its new Digital Connectivity Infrastructure Accelerator (DCIA) scheme to enable telecoms firms to get easier access to public buildings and street lights, bus shelters and traffic lights to mount small cell equipment for 4G and 5G networks.

Through the pilots managed by DCIA, BT will be working closely with DCMS and local authority partners to further accelerate small cell deployment across the UK.

BT has connected 70 grassroots football clubs across the UK with broadband (Wi-Fi) and digital skills training, as clubs and their communities look to recover from the COVID-19 crisis.

The work is part of BT’s role as lead partner with each of the four home nation football associations – The FA, Scottish FA, Irish FA and FA of Wales.

Working with the FAs, BT identified the key areas of the game that needed the most support and developed the transformational 4-3-3 football strategy:

• 4 – to support the 4 home nations in partnership with each football association

• 3 – supporting the 3 football communities most in need of support – disability and para, grassroots, and women’s football

• 3 – 3 goals for BT: to develop new innovation and technology in football; new opportunities to promote digital and skills initiatives; and a new generation of girls and women to participate in football

The partnership includes a commitment to provide grassroots clubs across the four nations with a package of free products and services, including broadband and Wi-Fi connectivity. The aim is to support grassroots clubs in their role as hubs for their local community.

The connectivity will help the football clubs set up things like free guest Wi-Fi for supporters, taking wireless card payments and video streaming of matches and training sessions.

BT will also work with the connected clubs to help make them hubs for digital and employability skills support in the local community, through BT’s Skills for Tomorrow programme, which aims to help 10 million people make the most of life in the digital world.

Despite the coronavirus restrictions, BT has been able to connect 70 grassroots clubs across the UK, with the aim of reaching 100 by the end of the summer.

One of the ‘Connected Clubs’ already connected by BT is Horsforth St Margaret’s FC in Leeds.

Ange Emery, Club Secretary of Horsforth St Margaret’s FC, said: “I’m really pleased that Horsforth St Margaret’s FC is part of this initiative. Grassroots football is so important to the children, their families and our community.

“Now that we are a BT Connected Club, we will be looking at reaching out to more of the community to see how we can help with their digital skills, whether that be homework clubs, help writing CVs, searching for jobs or teaching the elderly new digital skills.”

Another connected club is Deveronvale FC in Banff, Scotland, who have already taken advantage of BT’s connectivity. In December 2020, the club live streamed their Scottish Cup game against Camelon Juniors FC, so fans could watch their team while restrictions didn’t allow them to attend, paying £5, and generating crucial matchday revenue for the club.

Kevin Stewart, Chairman of Deveronvale FC, said: “We are delighted to be partnering through the BT Connected Clubs initiative. It not only reduces costs to the club, but also opens offerings like the guest Wi-Fi, which we didn't have before, and the introduction of our contactless payment system and booking system.

“The connectivity has already allowed us to do things like live stream our Scottish Cup match so fans could watch at home. This went down very well with fans who weren’t able to attend the match in person. It’s also enabled our personal trainers to live stream fitness classes to our members, which we’re going to continue to do, as the club moves forward.

“As a community hub, we’ll also be using the technology and skills to support local families with things like improving health and wellbeing and tackling unemployment.”

James Kendall, Director of Football Development at The FA said: “It's great that our partnership with BT is helping us combine football and technology, making sure that grassroots clubs remain hubs for communities up and down the country.

“This past year has been some of the most challenging times not just for football, but across society, so this kind of support is hugely welcome as we look to get grassroots football back on its feet. We know that grassroots football has the power to change people’s lives for the better and these clubs will have a big role to play in bringing people back together and making a difference.”

Pete Jeavons, Marketing Communications Director at BT, said: “Supporting grassroots football is an integral part of our 4-3-3 football strategy. We know how important grassroots football clubs are across the country, so by linking them to the latest technology, connectivity and digital skills, we can help build their role as community hubs.

“People up and down the country are desperate to return to their local clubs, so we hope this will give these first connected clubs and their communities a small lift.”

BT created a one-off special TV show to celebrate the importance of grassroots football, as clubs begin to re-open. The hour-long ‘Grassroots Football Show’ has been aired on BT Sport and is also available to watch via BT Sport’s YouTube channel.

In partnership with the four home nation football associations, the programme was hosted at Horsforth St Margaret’s FC and presented by BT Sport duo Jules Breach & Robbie Savage. It featured elite players from each of the home nations’ senior men’s teams, including England’s Mason Mount, Northern Ireland brothers Jonny & Corry Evans, Wales’ 100-cap hero Chris Gunter and Scotland duo Craig Gordon and Stephen O’Donnell.

Notes

Connecting grassroots football

As part of BT's 4-3-3 strategy – as lead partner of the UK's four home nations football associations – 200 grassroots football clubs across the home nations are to be given a package of BT services and become part of the rollout of the digital skills programme BT Skills for Tomorrow to turn football clubhouses into hubs for their community.

The goal is to break down barriers to improve digital, education and footballing skills in communities across the UK, creating a network of hundreds of grassroots football clubs across the home nations.

About BT Skills for Tomorrow:

BT Skills for Tomorrow is helping 10 million people in the UK make the most of life in the digital world. It is completely free and designed to help everyone - from school children and teachers, parents and families, businesses and jobseekers, to older and more vulnerable people. Working in partnership with leading digital skills, enterprise and community organisations, we have created and collated some of the best advice, information and support in one easy-to-navigate place. Visit www.bt.com/skillsfortomorrow

• From life-saving defibrillators to a mini museum, the opportunities for local phone boxes are endless

BT today revealed that almost 4,000 of its iconic red phone boxes across the UK are up for grabs – as it urges local communities to take advantage of a scheme to help transform them for the 21^st Century.

Since 2008, over 6,600 phone boxes have been taken on by communities for just £1 each through BT’s Adopt a Kiosk programme. Redundant phone boxes, once a lifeline of communication before the arrival of mobile phone networks, have been transformed into everything from defibrillator units and mini history museums to art galleries and book exchanges.

BT will also consider adoption requests to house defibrillators in modern glass phone boxes, a potentially life-saving conversion.

James Browne, Head of Street at BT, said: “With most people now using mobile phones, it’s led to a huge drop in the number of calls made from payphones. At the same time, mobile coverage has improved significantly in recent years due to investment in masts, particularly in rural areas.

“We’re currently rationalising our payphone estate to make it fit for the future, and the ‘Adopt a Kiosk’ scheme makes it possible for local communities across the UK to retain their local phone box, with a refreshed purpose for the community.

“Thousands of communities have already come up with a fantastic array of ideas to re-use their beloved local phone box. Applying is quick and easy and we’re always happy to speak to communities about adopting our phone boxes.”

From Aberdeen to Plymouth, the Community Heartbeat Trust charity is working with BT and local communities to install lifesaving defibrillators in local kiosks. Martin Fagan, National Secretary for the Community Heartbeat Trust charity, said: “BT’s phone box kiosks are iconic British structures, and repurposing for this life saving use has given them a new lease of life. To date, we have converted about 800 ourselves, with another 200 in the pipeline.

“Placing the equipment in the heart of a community is important to save on time. Kiosks are historically at the centre of the community, and thus great locations for defibrillators.”

As part of plans to modernise its payphone estate, over 400 payphones across towns and cities have also been upgraded by BT to digital units, called Street Hubs, offering free ultrafast public Wi-Fi, free UK phone calls, USB device charging, environmental monitoring and more. BT’s Street Hubs also play a vital role in sharing public information, for example during the Covid-19 pandemic, Street Hub units across the country have displayed key advice from Public Health England and local councils. Street Hubs form part of BT’s plan to transform the UK’s high streets with a digital communications service designed for the 21^st Century.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Adopt a Kiosk Case studies

Patrick Brompton Parish Council – Defibrillator, Richmondshire

A traditional red BT phone box in the North Yorkshire village of Patrick Brompton has been turned into a defibrillator unit, a conversion which could help save lives.

The former payphone, situated centrally in the village, was adopted for just £1 by the parish council through BT’s Adopt a Kiosk scheme. It now houses a defibrillator which can be used in emergency situations.

Brian Whitehead, vice chairman of Patrick Brompton Parish Council, said: “As a council we were really keen to adopt our red phone box and we didn’t want to see it go.

“It’s a fact that no-one really uses payphones anymore, but they look quite iconic, especially in rural areas like ours, so we wanted to retain it from a heritage perspective.

“The defibrillator we did have in the village was behind the 18^th Century school room, so we’ve moved it to the phone box and think it’s a much better place for it. Thankfully, it’s never had to be used but it’s reassuring to know it’s there in case we ever need it in an emergency.”

Book Exchange - Church Lawford Parish Council, Warwickshire 

A book exchange has been created inside a former BT red phone box in a small Warwickshire village.  

The traditional kiosk opposite The Old Smithy pub in Church Lawford, near Rugby, was taken on by the parish council for £1 through BT’s Adopt a Kiosk scheme. It is now a thriving book exchange which is used by residents young and old alike. People donate books and take away others to read before returning them.  

Jeremy James, chairman of Church Lawford Parish Council, said they had taken inspiration from a nearby village - Stretton under Fosse – where the community adopted their local phone box and turned it into an information booth with details on local history, as well as local walks and footpaths.  

Jeremy added: “We wanted to add the book exchange element as the mobile library only visits briefly once a month, and this aspect has really taken over.  

“I have been pleased by the level of support it gets. Those people that use it appreciate it, and the only real maintenance needed is periodic tidying up of the book supply.  

“At Christmas we installed lights on the green for the first time, powered from the phone box, and we also installed a sound system with carols and songs written about the village during the Covid-lockdown.  

“If another village were considering adopting their phone box, I would say it is very worthwhile.” 

Defibrillator – Orkney Islands, Scotland

A red phone kiosk in the rural Orkney Islands has been transformed into a defibrillator for the local community.

Over the past year, the trust has installed five new community defibrillators across Westray, the locations being the Westray Airfield, Gill Pier Ferry Terminal Waiting Rooms, Westray Parish Kirk, Peter Miller’s Shop and the Rapness Ferry Terminal Waiting Rooms.

The sixth and final defibrillator was installed in the Midbea red telephone kiosk, in Westray’s west side.

The push for the installations came after a series of community first aid training sessions highlighted that there was limited access to defibrillators on the island.

Isobel Thompson, Operations Manager at Westray Development Trust, said: "The red telephone box on the Westside of Westray was an ideal location to install a public access defibrillator as the telephone box was both memorable and already strategically placed. Thanks to BT's 'Adopt a Kiosk' scheme we were able to expand our defibrillator network and improve access to life-saving equipment in an emergency for our isolated island community." 

About Adopt a Kiosk

Communities can adopt a kiosk if they are a recognised public body, such as a parish council, community council or town council. Boxes can also be adopted by registered charities or by individuals who have a payphone on their own land. BT will continue to provide electricity (if already in place) to power the light for adopted phone boxes, free of charge.

For further details on how to apply to Adopt a Kiosk, simply go to www.bt.com/adopt where application forms and information can be found.

• BT partners with National Poet of Wales to create 'Sgyrsiau', a poem to celebrate the importance of 'conversations' and connectivity

• The poem is to mark the completion of major redevelopment of Bangor's BT service centre, home of BT’s Welsh language customer helpline, and other teams

• Contact centre adviser says many callers are dealing with loneliness and isolation: “It could be the only chat they have that day or week”

• The poem has been brought to life with a striking video which can be seen here

The National Poet of Wales Ifor ap Glyn has written a new poem called ‘Sgyrsiau’ (Conversations), celebrating the important role connectivity and customer call handlers play in keeping people and the country connected.

The poem – written in Welsh and in the form of an ‘englyn’, a traditional Welsh short poem – was commissioned by BT to mark the completion of the redevelopment of its customer service centre in Bangor.

The centre provides a number of services for the company, including housing BT’s Welsh language customer service helpline. In 1994, BT became one of the first large private companies in the UK to adopt a voluntary bilingual policy in relation to the Welsh language, supporting the more than half a million Welsh speakers in Wales currently.

The poem reflects on the importance of staying connected and the value of hearing a ‘friendly voice’ down the line.

Frontline customer service agents, including BT’s Welsh language customer service team in Bangor, were designated key workers by government at the start of the pandemic and have continued to work throughout the outbreak, with Covid-19 safety measures in place.

BT’s customer service teams have seen a significant increase in the number calls during the period, with many customers calling to ask for increased connectivity to stay in touch with friends and family, and to support home learning and working. Call handlers also deal with customers facing difficult financial situations, as well as vulnerable customers and those dealing with loneliness.

Keith Jones, a member of BT’s Welsh language customer helpline team in Bangor, said: “It’s clearly been a difficult time for many customers, so if we can have that initial chat and hear about challenges they may be facing like health problems or work issues, we then know their circumstances and can better help them stay connected.

“COVID-19 has also fuelled loneliness and isolation. Being alone means many customers are not seeing anyone. This makes the phone call they make to us even more important. It could be the only chat they have that day or week.

“Being local and personal is such a big part of what we do, so we’re really proud to be able to provide support, including to those in our communities who need it most.”

It’s been one year since BT completed its commitment to answer 100% of its consumer customer service calls in the UK and Ireland, with the aim of providing a more personal and local service to its customers.

The Bangor team say that many of the people who call know that BT’s Welsh language helpline is based in the city and that this leads to natural discussions about where they’re from and shared experiences.

Keith Jones added: “By having those conversations at the start of the call about where they’re from and maybe how the rugby or football team is doing, that local touch can really put the customer at ease. It means you can then just get on and resolve their issue more effectively.

“Many of the customers who call us also value and appreciate the fact that they can deal with their issues in Welsh and many comment on this at the beginning of the call. It’s the first-language of many households and there are a lot of people who are more relaxed and confident discussing their issues in Welsh.”

BT announced last summer that its centre in Bangor – located in the heart of the city – was to undergo a full refurbishment to modernise it and create an improved workspace for the 150 or so staff based currently at the location. The redevelopment is part of the company’s ‘Better Workplace’ programme. It will see BT consolidate the number of office locations from more than 300 to around 30 across the UK, including Bangor and Cardiff which have so far been announced. Colleagues will benefit from new and refurbished workspaces as the company modernises.

The refit of the Bangor office has now been completed. The entire office has been modernised, with the introduction of new meeting rooms, relaxation areas and the latest conferencing technology.

Nick Speed, BT Group’s Director in Wales, said: “It’s great to have this wonderful piece of work from Wales’ National Poet to bring home the importance of connectivity and conversations. And to celebrate the completion of the new-look office in Bangor.

“I’m really proud of the role my colleagues have played, including here in Bangor, keeping our customers, including vulnerable people, connected.

“I’m also proud of our Welsh language support. Customers feel they’re getting a local and more personal service. Supporting the use of Welsh is good for the language, and for us as a business. I’d encourage more Welsh-speaking customers to use the services on offer.”

Poem by National Poet of Wales, Ifor ap Glyn:

Sgyrsiau

Rhwydd iawn deialu rhyddhâd

o'n hiraeth, drwy gyd-siarad,

rhannu hwyl, rhannu eiliad...

A ffonio ein gorffennol

a ddaw â'r hen alaw 'nôl

i swyno ein presennol...

Onid gwych yw clywed gwên

y lles clws sydd mewn llais clên,

fel gwefr yng ngofal gwifren?

Poet’s translation to English:

Conversations

Hiraeth is easily repaired

by dialling someone, who's shared

a moment of joy; who's cared...

And phoning friends from the past

recalls old tunes, like a blast,

healing our present at last.

How sweet thus to hear a smile,

the friendly voices that beguile,

sparkling down each cabled mile...

Notes

Photo credit: Photos by Deian Owen, part of BT's Voice Services team in Bangor

BT's Welsh language service

BT provides Welsh language customer service helplines (0800 800 288), including directory enquires, and produces bills in Welsh for those who request it. BT’s Welsh language policy was introduced to meet customer expectations and make sure that a reliable bilingual service was available to those who wanted to receive services in Welsh.

The policy has received praise from organisations across Wales, including from the Welsh Language Commissioner who joined BT in Bangor in 2019 to celebrate 25 years since the company’s policy was introduced.

BT Better Workplace programme

BT’s Better Workplace programme, first announced in 2018, is the largest workplace improvement and consolidation scheme of its type ever undertaken in the UK. It will consolidate BT Group’s UK footprint of more than 300 locations to around 30. The company has already announced several other locations including Bristol, Cardiff, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Belfast. It also plans to move from its current headquarters in London at St Paul’s to a new 320,000 square foot, 18-storey building near Aldgate East Station next year.

Bardd cenedlaethol Cymru yn dathlu cysylltedd a rôl hanfodol canolfannau cyswllt yn cadw pawb mewn cysylltiad

• BT yn partneru gyda Bardd Cenedlaethol Cymru i greu ‘Sgyrsiau’, cerdd i ddathlu pwysigrwydd sgyrsiau a chysylltedd

• Y gerdd yn nodi cwblhau gwaith i ailddatblygu canolfan wasanaeth BT Bangor, cartref llinell gymorth cwsmeriaid Cymraeg BT, a thimau eraill

• Un o dîm y ganolfan yn dweud fod nifer o alwyr yn delio ag unigrwydd: “Gallai fod yr unig sgwrs maen nhw'n ei chael y diwrnod neu'r wythnos honno”

• Mae fideo newydd trawiadol wedi'i greu i gyflwyno'r gerdd, sydd i'w weld yma

Mae Bardd Cenedlaethol Cymru Ifor ap Glyn wedi ysgrifennu cerdd newydd o’r enw ‘Sgyrsiau’, sy’n dathlu rôl bwysig cysylltedd a gweithwyr canolfannau cyswllt yn cadw pawb mewn cysylltiad.

Comisiynwyd y gerdd – a ysgrifennwyd ar ffurf englyn milwr – gan BT i nodi cwblhau ailddatblygiad eu canolfan gwasanaeth cwsmeriaid ym Mangor.

Mae'r ganolfan yn darparu nifer o wasanaethau i'r cwmni, gan gynnwys llinell gymorth gwasanaeth cwsmeriaid Cymraeg BT.

Ym 1994, BT oedd yn un o'r cwmnïau mawr preifat cyntaf yn y DU i gyflwyno polisi dwyieithog gwirfoddol, sy’n cefnogi'r mwy na hanner miliwn o siaradwyr Cymraeg yng Nghymru ar hyn o bryd.

Mae’r gerdd yn trafod pwysigrwydd cadw mewn cysylltiad a gwerth clywed ‘llais clên’ lawr ‘wifren’ ffôn.

Cafodd timau gwasanaeth cwsmeriaid rheng-flaen BT, gan gynnwys tîm gwasanaeth cwsmeriaid Cymraeg BT ym Mangor, eu dynodi’n weithwyr allweddol gan y llywodraeth ar ddechrau'r pandemig, ac maent wedi parhau i weithio trwy gydol y cyfnod, gyda mesurau diogelwch Covid-19 mewn lle.

Mae timau gwasanaeth cwsmeriaid BT wedi gweld cynnydd sylweddol yn nifer y galwadau yn ystod y cyfnod, gyda llawer o gwsmeriaid yn galw i ofyn am fwy o gysylltedd i gadw mewn cysylltiad â ffrindiau a theulu, ac i alluogi dysgu a gweithio o gartref. Mae’r timau yma hefyd yn delio â chwsmeriaid sy'n wynebu sefyllfaoedd ariannol anodd, yn ogystal â chwsmeriaid bregus a'r rhai sy'n delio ag unigrwydd.

Dywedodd Keith Jones, aelod o dîm llinell gymorth cwsmeriaid Cymraeg BT ym Mangor: “Mae'n amlwg ei bod wedi bod yn gyfnod anodd i lawer o gwsmeriaid, felly os allwn ni gael y sgwrs gychwynnol yna a chlywed am unrhyw heriau ma nhw’n eu hwynebu, fel problemau iechyd neu faterion gwaith, rydym wedyn yn gwybod eu hamgylchiadau a gallwn eu helpu yn haws o ran eu cysylltedd.

“Mae COVID-19 hefyd wedi arwain at fwy o unigrwydd. Mae bod ar eu pennau eu hunain yn golygu nad yw llawer o gwsmeriaid yn gweld unrhyw un. Mae hyn yn gwneud yr alwad ffôn maen nhw'n ei gwneud i ni hyd yn oed yn bwysicach. Gallai fod yr unig sgwrs maen nhw'n ei chael y diwrnod neu'r wythnos honno.

“Mae bod yn lleol a phersonol yn rhan mor bwysig o'r hyn rydyn ni'n ei wneud, felly rydyn ni'n wirioneddol falch ein bod ni'n gallu rhoi cymorth i bobol, yn enwedig y rhai yn ein cymunedau sydd ei angen fwyaf.”

Mae hi'n flwyddyn ers i BT gwblhau eu hymrwymiad i ateb 100% o’u galwadau gwasanaeth cwsmeriaid i alwyr yn y DU ac Iwerddon, gyda’r nod o ddarparu gwasanaeth fwy personol a lleol i’w cwsmeriaid.

Dywedodd y tîm ym Mangor fod nifer o bobl sy’n galw yn gwybod bod llinell gymorth Cymraeg BT wedi’i lleoli yn y ddinas a bod hyn yn arwain at drafodaethau naturiol ynghylch ble maen nhw’n byw a chysylltiadau lleol.

Ychwanegodd Keith Jones: “Trwy gael y sgyrsiau hynny ar ddechrau’r alwad o ran ble maen nhw’n byw ac efallai sut mae’r tîm rygbi neu bêl-droed yn gwneud, ma’r elfen leol yna’n gwneud gwahaniaeth ac yn gwneud i’r cwsmer deimlo’n gartrefol. Mae'n golygu y gallwch chi wedyn fwrw ymlaen yn haws a delio’r â’r rheswm dros eu galwad.

“Mae llawer o’r cwsmeriaid sy’n ffonio’r linell hefyd yn gwerthfawrogi’r ffaith eu bod yn gallu delio â’u materion yn Gymraeg, ac mae llawer yn nodi hyn ar ddechrau’r alwad. Dyma iaith gyntaf llawer o aelwydydd ac mae yna lawer o bobl yn hapusach ac yn fwy hyderus yn trafod eu materion yn Gymraeg.”

Cyhoeddodd BT y llynedd y byddai eu canolfan ym Mangor – sydd yng nghanol y ddinas – yn cael ei ailddatblygu’n sylweddol er mwyn moderneiddio’r safle ar gyfer y 150 o staff sydd wedi'u lleoli yno ar hyn o bryd. Mae’r ailddatblygiad yn rhan o raglen ‘Better Workplace’ y cwmni. Bydd yn gweld BT yn lleihau nifer y lleoliadau swyddfa o fwy na 300 i oddeutu 30 ledled y DU, gan gynnwys Bangor a Chaerdydd sydd wedi'u cyhoeddi hyd yn hyn. Bydd cydweithwyr yn elwa o weithleoedd newydd ac wedi'u hadnewyddu wrth i'r cwmni foderneiddio.

Mae gwaith adnewyddu swyddfa Bangor bellach wedi'i gwblhau. Mae'r swyddfa gyfan wedi'i foderneiddio, gyda ystafelloedd cyfarfod newydd, ardaloedd ymlacio a'r dechnoleg gynadledda ddiweddaraf.

Dywedodd Nick Speed, Cyfarwyddwr BT Group yng Nghymru: “Mae'n wych cael y gwaith yma gan Fardd Cenedlaethol Cymru sy’n cyfleu yn berffaith pwysigrwydd cysylltedd a sgyrsiau. Ac i ddathlu cwblhau'r swyddfa ar ei newydd wedd ym Mangor.

“Dw i’n wirioneddol falch o’r rôl y mae fy nghydweithwyr wedi’i chwarae, yn cynnwys y tîm yma ym Mangor, yn cadw pawb mewn cysylltiad, yn enwedig cwsmeriaid a allai fod yn fregus.

“Dw i’n falch hefyd o’r gwasanaethau rydyn ni'n eu cynnig yn Gymraeg. Mae cwsmeriaid yn teimlo eu bod yn cael gwasanaeth lleol a mwy personol. Mae hybu defnydd o'r Gymraeg yn dda i'r iaith, ac i ni fel busnes. Dw i’n annog mwy o gwsmeriaid sy'n siarad Cymraeg i ddefnyddio'r gwasanaethau hyn sydd ar gael.”

• BT Group supports 12,200 total jobs in Wales through direct and indirect effects

• It supports 1 in every 70 employees working in the private sector in Wales

• BT Group directly employs a total of 4,560 people in Wales

BT Group’s activities in Wales support more than 12,000 jobs across the country, according to an independent report published today.

According to the report by consultancy firm Hatch, the communications and technology company supported 1 in every 70 employees working in the private sector in Wales during the last financial year.

BT Group directly employs nearly 5,000 (4,560) people in Wales, making it one of the nation’s biggest private sector employers. The report estimates that those directly employed by BT Group in Wales earned £146 million in wages and salaries.

The Group also spent £340 million with suppliers based in Wales in financial year 2019/20, which also resulted in significant benefits for the Welsh economy.

The combined impact of BT Group’s activities in Wales contributes almost £1bn (£971 million) to the Welsh economy, according to the analysis.

The report includes the contribution of all parts of BT Group, including Openreach and mobile network provider EE.

According to the report, BT Group employed people across all parts of Wales in 2019/20:

The company is currently modernising its business, including investing in the UK’s largest workplace consolidation and modernisation programme, as it moves from 300 locations to around 30 as part of its Better Workplace programme. 

A report commissioned by BT last year – focussed on agriculture and tourism in rural Wales – highlighted how connected smart technology could help rural sectors and communities thrive.

Nick Speed, BT Group’s director in Wales, said: “I’m really proud of the contribution our colleagues make in supporting the Welsh economy. At an important time for the economy and jobs, our spending on people, networks and suppliers, provides a vital economic boost across Wales. The wider impact of that spending helps to sustain communities and small businesses in all parts of Wales.

“The challenges posed by Covid-19 have highlighted the vital role BT Group plays in supporting families, businesses and communities across Wales. From the engineers who keep our broadband and mobile networks connected, to the vital contact centre staff helping people when they need it most. I’m proud also of the role our people are playing in supporting the NHS in Wales during the crisis.”

BT’s Consumer contact centres now handle 100% of customer calls in the UK, at centres from Swansea to Merthyr Tudful. Since customer service for BT, EE and Plusnet customers was brought back to the UK and Ireland last year, more than 34 million calls have been handled.

Ian Price, CBI Wales Director, said: “Covid-19 has undoubtedly changed the way we live and work over the past twelve months, and companies like BT have been at the forefront of keeping us in touch with friends, colleagues and loved ones during an extremely challenging period. This year, perhaps more than at any other time, we have come to understand the true value of connectivity.

“Even amid these trying circumstances, it’s great to see just how significantly BT has invested in Wales and its communities. The scale of that investment is enormous and its value and impact can be felt in high quality local jobs, economic growth and across supply chains the length and breadth of Wales.”

Tim Fanning, Director at Hatch, said: “Our analysis underlines how vast BT Group’s contribution is to the UK economy as a whole as well as to individual communities in the nations and regions. Its presence across the country generates significant further activity and investment, supporting many thousands of jobs.”

Across Wales in 2019/20:

• 5,060 BT Group employees live in the nation (FTE)
• 4,600 BT Group employees work in the nation (FTE)
• £146 million total income of BT Group employees working in the nation
• £340 million spend with suppliers based in the nation
• £971 million total GVA impact (including indirect and induced effects)
• BT Group employed 1 in every 170 employees working in the private sector, and 1 in every 4 employees working in the IT and communications sectors
• £1 in every £130 of GVA is generated directly by BT Group
• BT Group supported 1 in every 70 employees working in the private sector and £1 in every £60 of GVA as a result of BT Group’s full economic impact

Notes: 

*Gross Value Added (GVA) measures the value of all goods and services produced in an economy. GVA combines wages and operating profits from companies and other organisations. Growing GVA can reflect improvements in workforce skills, productivity, R&D and innovation. The figures for BT

Grŵp BT yn cynnal 12,200 o swyddi yng Nghymru ac yn ychwanegu bron i £1bn at economi’r wlad

• Mae Grŵp BT yn cynnal cyfanswm o 12,200 o swyddi yng Nghymru trwy effeithiau uniongyrchol ac anuniongyrchol
• Y cwmni yn cynnal 1 o bob 70 o weithwyr sy'n gweithio yn y sector preifat yng Nghymru
• Mae Grŵp BT yn cyflogi yn uniongyrchol cyfanswm o 4,560 o bobl yng Nghymru

Mae gweithgareddau Grŵp BT yng Nghymru yn cynnal mwy na 12,000 o swyddi ledled y wlad, yn ôl adroddiad annibynnol a gyhoeddwyd heddiw.

Yn ôl adroddiad gan y cwmni ymgynghori Hatch, roedd y cwmni cyfathrebu a thechnoleg yn cynnal 1 o bob 70 o weithwyr a oedd yn gweithio yn y sector preifat yng Nghymru yn ystod y flwyddyn ariannol ddiwethaf.

Mae BT Group yn cyflogi yn uniongyrchol bron i 5,000 (4,560) o bobl yng Nghymru, sy'n golygu ei fod yn un o gyflogwyr sector preifat mwyaf y wlad. Mae'r adroddiad yn amcangyfrif bod y rhai a gyflogir yn uniongyrchol gan BT Group yng Nghymru yn ennill cyfanswm cyflog o £146 miliwn.

Gwariodd y Grŵp hefyd £340 miliwn gyda chyflenwyr yng Nghymru ym mlwyddyn ariannol 2019/20, a arweiniodd at fuddion sylweddol i economi Cymru.

Mae effaith gyffredinol gweithgareddau BT Group yng Nghymru yn cyfrannu bron i £1bn (£971 miliwn) i economi Cymru, yn ôl yr adroddiad.

Mae'r adroddiad yn cynnwys cyfraniad pob rhan o Grŵp BT, gan gynnwys Openreach a’r darparwr rhwydwaith ffonau symudol EE.

Yn ôl yr adroddiad, yn 2019/20, cyflogodd Grŵp BT bobl ar draws pob rhan o Gymru:

Ar hyn o bryd, mae Grwp BT yn moderneiddio’r cwmni, sy’n cynnwys un o’r rhagleni cydgrynhoi a moderneiddio gweithle mwyaf yn y DU, wrth iddo symud o 300 o leoliadau i oddeutu 30 fel rhan o'i raglen ‘Better Workplace’.

Cyhoeddodd BT adroddiad y llynedd yn edrych ar amaethyddiaeth a thwristiaeth yng nghefn gwlad Cymru - a sut y gallai technoleg clyfar gysylltiedig helpu sectorau a chymunedau gwledig i ffynnu.

Dywedodd Nick Speed, cyfarwyddwr BT Group yng Nghymru: “Rwy’n falch iawn o’r cyfraniad y mae ein cydweithwyr yn ei wneud wrth gefnogi economi Cymru. Ar adeg bwysig i'r economi a swyddi, mae ein gwariant ar bobl, rhwydweithiau a chyflenwyr, yn rhoi hwb economaidd hanfodol ledled Cymru. Mae effaith ehangach y gwariant hwnnw yn helpu i gynnal cymunedau a busnesau bach ym mhob rhan o Gymru.

“Mae’r heriau yn dilyn Covid-19 wedi tynnu sylw at y rôl hanfodol y mae BT Group yn ei chwarae wrth gefnogi teuluoedd, busnesau a chymunedau ledled Cymru. O'r peirianwyr sy'n cadw ein rhwydweithiau band eang a symudol mewn cysylltiad, i staff hanfodol ein canolfanau cyswllt sy'n helpu pobl pan fydd ei angen arnynt fwyaf. Rwy'n falch hefyd o'r rôl y mae ein pobl yn ei chwarae wrth gefnogi'r gwasanaeth iechyd yng Nghymru yn ystod yr argyfwng.”

Mae canolfannau cyswllt BT bellach yn delio â 100% o alwadau cwsmeriaid yn y DU, yn cynnwys mewn canolfannau yn Abertawe a Merthyr Tudful. Ers i wasanaeth BT, EE a Plusnet ddychwelyd ôl i’r DU ac Iwerddon y llynedd, mae mwy na 34 miliwn o alwadau wedi’u hateb.

Dywedodd Ian Price, Cyfarwyddwr CBI Cymru: “Heb os, mae Covid-19 wedi newid ein ffordd o fyw a gweithio dros y deuddeg mis diwethaf, ac mae cwmnïau fel BT wedi bod ar flaen y gad o ran ein cadw mewn cysylltiad â ffrindiau, cydweithwyr ac anwyliaid yn ystod cyfnod hynod heriol. Eleni, efallai yn fwy nag ar unrhyw adeg arall, rydym wedi dod i ddeall gwir werth cysylltedd.

“Hyd yn oed ynghanol yr amgylchiadau anodd hyn, mae’n wych gweld pa mor sylweddol y mae BT wedi buddsoddi yng Nghymru a chymunedau ledled y wlad. Mae maint y buddsoddiad hwnnw’n enfawr a canlyniad hynny yw swyddi lleol o ansawdd uchel, twf economaidd ac hwb i gadwyni cyflenwi ar hyd a lled Cymru. ”

Dywedodd Tim Fanning, Cyfarwyddwr Hatch: “Mae ein dadansoddiad yn tanlinellu pa mor helaeth yw cyfraniad BT Group i economi’r DU gyfan yn ogystal ag i gymunedau unigol yn y cenhedloedd a’r rhanbarthau. Mae ei bresenoldeb ledled y wlad yn creu gwaith a buddsoddiad pellach sylweddol, gan gefnogi miloedd o swyddi.”

Ledled Cymru yn 2019/20:

• Mae 5,060 o weithwyr BT Group yn byw yn y wlad
• Mae 4,600 o weithwyr BT Group yn gweithio yn y wlad
• Cyfanswm incwm £146 miliwn o weithwyr BT Group sy'n gweithio yn y wlad
• Gwariant o £340 miliwn gyda chyflenwyr yn y wlad
• Cyfanswm effaith GVA o £971 miliwn (gan gynnwys effeithiau anuniongyrchol ac ysgogedig)
• Roedd BT Group yn cyflogi 1 o bob 170 o weithwyr sy'n gweithio yn y sector preifat, ac 1 ym mhob 4 gweithiwr sy'n gweithio yn y sectorau TG a chyfathrebu
• Mae £ 1 ym mhob £ 130 o GVA yn cael ei gynhyrchu'n uniongyrchol gan BT Group
• Cefnogodd BT Group 1 o bob 70 o weithwyr sy'n gweithio yn y sector preifat ac £ 1 ym mhob £ 60 o GVA o ganlyniad i effaith economaidd lawn BT Group

Providing our BT, EE and Plusnet customers with the best service has never been so important in what has been an extraordinary 12 months. With 100% of our frontline people based across many sites in the UK and Ireland, we have been able to maintain resilience in the face of the Coronavirus crisis where others have not. And that has helped us keep our customers connected when they need it most to employment, education, entertainment – all of which drove a surge in demand for connectivity triggered by the first lockdown last March – and, most importantly, to each other.

So, what has that enabled us to do over the past year? 

From Dundee to Plymouth, Sheffield to Glasgow, and Merthyr to Enniskillen we employ more than 11,000 customer service advisors. Between them, they have answered 34 million calls in the past 12 months alone. That’s down from 38 million the previous year because we are better placed to help our customers when they first call, reducing the number of times they need to pick up the phone to get in touch.

And they haven’t stopped there. Colleagues up and down the country have taken the opportunity to get involved their local communities to make a difference and support those who have been worst hit by effects of the pandemic. Our Care Home Companion initiative was born out of our contact centre in Darlington, with my colleagues using their professional communication skills and volunteering time to have regular conversations care home residents isolated by the pandemic feel less lonely. 

We are now rolling Care Home Companion out across the country, with calls happening in Gosforth, Darlington, North Tyneside, Sheffield and Leeds. Our people have already made 2,000 calls – each one an important social lifeline to a member of their community. And new partnerships are underway in Middlesbrough, South Shields and Enniskillen, with 600 colleagues volunteering to get involved. 

We have also made huge improvements in the way we handle issues when things go wrong*. We have reduced the number of Ofcom complaints so that we are consistently below industry average. And all while customer usage has doubled on our fixed network. A great example of that is the average household using more than 50% more data YoY to 15GB across Christmas and Boxing Day in 2020 – enough to stream 5,000 films on Netflix. They are there when you need them most. On Christmas Day last year, for example, my BT and EE call centre colleagues helped nearly 9,000 customers.

We have come a long way in a short time. We know our customers value speaking to someone who understands their issue down to the regional differences that make us so great as a country, whether that’s expert help with tech or chat about the local football team. Now our customers can be called ‘Duck’ in Sheffield, ‘La’ in Liverpool and ‘Pet’ in Newcastle.

This level of personal and local support is important for every customer but no more so than the many vulnerable customers and their carers that we serve. And that brings me back to what a lifeline our people have been for our customers during the pandemic.

Coronavirus continuity

When the world changed for us all last spring, we were able to meet the enormous technical, logistical, and regulatory challenges that arise in giving such a large number of our people the option of home working. We could only do that because 100% of our frontline people are based across many sites in the UK and Ireland, not only keeping our people safe, but also enabling us to maintain our customer service continuity.Our people showed amazing resilience and we completed a massive logistical challenge to equip every colleague who wanted to work from home with the technology, security and equipment to do so. I couldn’t be prouder of how my colleagues rose to this challenge, keeping our customers connected with the help they need so they don’t have to leave their homes.They are all walking, talking examples of BT’s ambition to connect for good. 

Marc Allera, CEO, BT’s Consumer brands

Follow me on Twitter and Instagram at @marcallera

*Complaint handling complaints have reduced from 1,168 per 100k to 922 per 100k

BT will recruit talent into the company across areas as diverse as engineering, customer service, applied research, and cyber-security to support the UK’s fast-growing digital sectors. The new recruits will also support the company’s plans to build and extend the latest 5G networks around the UK.

BT has recruited more than 1,600 apprentices and graduates over the past 24 months.

The new roles are spread across a number of locations including; Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Dundee, Edinburgh, Ipswich, London and Manchester^[2].

Today’s figures are in addition to Openreach’s recent plans to create more than 2,500 full-time jobs in its service and network build divisions, as well as an estimated 2,800 positions in its UK supply chain. Together, BT and Openreach are currently delivering a wide range of apprenticeships, with over 4,000 colleagues working towards their qualifications.

Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson said: "It is brilliant that BT are continuing to champion apprenticeships and offering more than 400 people the opportunity to start a great career in the digital industry.

“Apprenticeships form a key part of our new Skills for Jobs White Paper which will transform post-16 education and training, helping to deliver the skills individuals, businesses and the economy need to thrive after coronavirus.

“I hope more employers will follow BT’s lead so more people can get on the path to a great job.”

Alison Wilcox, Group HR Director, BT Group said: “BT is at the heart of the UK’s digital economy and as a leading employer of apprentices and graduates we offer unparalleled development opportunities. Despite the uncertainty caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, we’ve continued to recruit and attract brilliant people from all walks of life into our business, and we value the diverse perspectives they bring. We look forward to welcoming the 2021 newcomers.”

BT Group, including Openreach, is one of the UK’s largest private sector apprenticeships employers and in October 2020 ranked fourth in the Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers in the UK.

Alongside its apprenticeship and graduate scheme opportunities, BT is also investing in several initiatives to support young jobseekers. These include BT’s Work Ready training scheme which has already helped thousands of young people kickstart their careers, providing opportunities for young people who aren't in employment, education or training and preparing them for the world of work.

Work Ready is just one part of BT’s Skills for Tomorrow ambition which aims to help 10m people in the UK develop the skills they need to make the most of life in the digital world.

For more information on how to apply for a BT apprenticeship of graduate placement, please visit: https://www.bt.com/careers/early-careers

ENDS

Notes to Editors

• BT Group, including Openreach, is one of the UK’s largest private sector apprenticeships employers. In 2021 the company will hire 2,729 apprentices.
• BT Group is a partner of the FastFutures programme which helps provide equal opportunities to 18-22-year who are looking to shape their future career. Over the course of 12-weeks, participants learn business-focused skills that are most valued by the employers of today, such as: marketing, data, finance, teamwork and problem solving.
• For more information about our Work Ready programme and BT’s Skills for Tomorrow, with free courses to develop your digital skills, please visit: https://www.bt.com/skillsfortomorrow

[1] 428 jobs: 199 graduate and 229 apprentice roles.

[2] Field based roles are located in communities across the country.

BT announced today it will continue its support and investment into club rugby after agreeing a new three-year sponsorship deal with the four Welsh regions – Cardiff Blues, Scarlets, Dragons and Ospreys.

BT signed a ground-breaking three-year sponsorship deal with the Welsh regions in 2014. The sponsorship was extended in 2017. The new deal will run until 2023, at the end of which BT will have sponsored the four regions for nine consecutive seasons.

BT also announced last year that it had signed an agreement with FA Wales to become the exclusive lead partner of Welsh national football until 2024.

The new rugby agreement will see the BT brand featuring in all the Welsh regions’ home grounds, in community activity and in regional rugby marketing materials.

The agreement will also see community work continue between BT and the Welsh rugby regions, focusing in particular on highlighting the importance of technology, innovation and digital skills within communities across Wales.

Richard Holland, Chief Executive of Cardiff Blues, said: “On behalf of Cardiff Blues, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets, we are all delighted to continue our long-standing partnership with BT, who have already been such an enormous supporter of Welsh rugby.

“This is the only joint sponsorship across all four professional regions in Wales. It has already proved a great success and demonstrates what can be achieved by working collaboratively.

“We are all very grateful to retain such a high-profile and commercially successful partner, particularly at such a challenging time for all businesses navigating through this pandemic and the financial implications.

“There are some exciting new elements and community initiatives included in this agreement and we are looking forward to building upon an already robust relationship.”

Nick Speed, BT Group’s director in Wales, said: “BT is a long-standing supporter of Welsh rugby, so we’re pleased to be able to continue our sponsorship and relationship with the four Welsh regions.

“This new agreement will help us carry on working on community projects with all four regions, highlighting in particular how technology, innovation and improving digital skills can help people’s work prospects and lives across the country.

“2020 has been an incredibly difficult year for many sectors and sports, and Welsh rugby is no exception. We hope this new partnership will go some way towards making sure that our regional sides, and the communities in which they’re based, can emerge from the crisis stronger than before.”

Notes

BT sponsorship agreement

The new three-year agreement between BT and the four regions will run from 2020 until 2023 (season 2022/23). As well as BT branding and joint community work, the sponsorship will also involve hospitality and tickets for matches and events.

BT Skills for Tomorrow

BT Skills for Tomorrow is helping 10 million people in the UK make the most of life in the digital world. It is completely free and designed to help everyone - from school children and teachers, parents and families, businesses and jobseekers, to older and more vulnerable people. Working in partnership with leading digital skills, enterprise and community organisations, we have created and collated some of the best advice, information and support in one easy-to-navigate place. Visit www.bt.com/skillsfortomorrow

ENDS

BT a rhanbarthau rygbi Cymru yn arwyddo cytundeb noddi newydd

Cyhoeddodd BT heddiw eu bod am barhau i gefnogi rygbi yng Nghymru ar ôl cytuno ar gytundeb noddi newydd dros dair blynedd gyda phedwar rhanbarth rygbi Cymru – Gleision Caerdydd, Y Sgarlets, Dreigiau a’r Gweilch.

Yn 2014, cytunodd BT ar gytundeb tair-blynedd newydd, arloesol gyda'r rhanbarthau. Cytunwyd i ymestyn y nawdd yn 2017. Bydd y cytundeb newydd yn rhedeg tan 2023 ac, ar ddiwedd y bartneriaeth newydd hon, mi fydd BT wedi noddi'r pedwar rhanbarth am naw tymor yn olynol.

Cyhoeddodd BT y llynedd hefyd eu bod wedi dod i gytundeb â Chymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru i ddod yn brif noddwr timau cenedlaethol pêl-droed Cymru tan 2024.

Fel rhan o’r cytundeb rygbi newydd, bydd brand BT yn ymddangos yn stadiymau cartref y pedwar rhanbarth, yn y gweithgareddau cymunedol ar y cyd, ac yn eu deunyddiau marchnata.

Mae BT a’r rhanbarthau rygbi wedi cytuno hefyd i barhau i wneud mwy o waith cymunedol ar y cyd, gan ganolbwyntio'n benodol ar hyrwyddo pwysigrwydd technoleg, arloesi a sgiliau digidol mewn cymunedau ledled Cymru.

Dywedodd Richard Holland, Prif Weithredwr Gleision Caerdydd: “Ar ran Gleision Caerdydd, Dreigiau, Y Gweilch a’r Sgarlets, rydym i gyd yn falch iawn o barhau â’n partneriaeth hirsefydlog gyda BT. Maent eisoes wedi bod yn hynod gefnogol i rygbi yng Nghymru.

“Dyma’r unig nawdd ar y cyd sy’n cwmpasu pob un o’r pedwar rhanbarth proffesiynol yng Nghymru. Mae’r cytundeb eisoes wedi profi'n llwyddiant mawr ac mae'n dangos yr hyn y gellir ei gyflawni trwy weithio ar y cyd.

“Rydym i gyd yn ddiolchgar iawn i gadw partner sydd mor adnabyddus a llwyddiannus yn fasnachol, yn enwedig ar adeg mor heriol i bob busnes sy'n ceisio ymdopi â’r pandemig a'r goblygiadau ariannol.

“Mae'r cytundeb yn cynnwys elfenau a mentrau cymunedol newydd cyffrous, ac rydym yn edrych ymlaen at adeiladu ar berthynas sydd eisoes yn gadarn.”

Dywedodd Nick Speed, cyfarwyddwr BT Group yng Nghymru: “Mae BT yn gefnogwr hirsefydlog i rygbi yng Nghymru, felly rydym yn falch o allu parhau â'n nawdd a'n perthynas â’r pedwar rhanbarth.

“Bydd y cytundeb newydd hwn yn ein helpu i barhau i weithio ar brosiectau cymunedol gyda’r pedwar rhanbarth, gan dynnu sylw yn benodol at sut y gall technoleg, arloesi a gwella sgiliau digidol helpu rhagolygon gwaith a bywydau pobl ledled y wlad.

“Mae 2020 wedi bod yn flwyddyn anodd tu hwnt i lawer o sectorau a chwaraeon, a tydi rygbi ddim yn eithriad i hyn. Rydym yn gobeithio y bydd y bartneriaeth newydd hon yn helpu i sicrhau y bydd y timau rhanbarthol, a'r cymunedau y maen nhw’n eu gwasanaethu, yn dod allan o'r argyfwng hwn yn gryfach nag erioed.”