Since 2017, companies with an annual wage bill of more than £3 million have been required to pay the apprenticeship levy, using the funds to recruit and train apprentices. They can also choose to transfer up to 50% of their levy to help support other companies.

BT Group has partnered with Babington, one of the UK's largest and longest-established apprenticeship training providers to transfer up to £4 million from its apprenticeship levy funds to help SMEs, charities and the public sector train new apprentices and upskill their existing workforce.

Babington will play a crucial role in matching businesses with appropriate training providers and guiding them through the application process. Successful applicants will be provided with access to funded apprenticeship training within 20 days, subject to meeting funding criteria.

The Fund has the ability to scale up depending on take up and could support up to 550 apprentices, resulting in a £21m positive economic impact¹. The launch comes at a time when more than a third of mid-sized businesses are struggling to recruit apprentices².

Chris Sims, Managing Director for Small and Medium Business at BT said: "SMEs make a significant contribution to our economy, but their uptake of apprenticeships is low.  By sharing up to £4 million from our apprenticeship levy funds, we’re giving these businesses the financial support they need to invest in talent. This not only helps create a more skilled, diverse, and competitive workforce, it also provides SMEs with additional resources to grow and scale their business. The apprenticeship programme at BT has not only shaped our workforce, it has also helped set industry standards.”

Jen Bramley, CEO of Babington, commented: "We are thrilled to partner with BT Group on this transformative project. Our expertise in apprenticeships and training will ensure that SMEs can navigate the process smoothly and connect with high-quality training providers. This collaboration has the potential to make a real difference in addressing skills gaps and supporting business growth across England."

As confidence amongst small business leaders starts to rise³, the Fund forms part of a wider set of measures to help boost their connectivity, security and skills. BT’s mobile payments app, Tap to Pay, helps small businesses accept in-person contactless payments on their iPhone or Android, removing the need for card readers or extra hardware, at a market leading rate for small businesses (1.4%). In addition, four months free broadband for customers on 24 and 36-month contracts and three months free cyber awareness training for their employees will be on offer to help SMEs grow and protect their business. 

A key focus of the Apprenticeship Fund will be on digital skills development, reflecting BT's own emphasis on technology and innovation in its apprenticeship programmes. This approach aims to help SMEs bridge the digital skills gap and adopt new technologies, enhancing their competitiveness in an increasingly digital economy.

The Fund is open to SMEs, charities and public sector organisations across England, including the NHS, focusing on apprentices aged 22 and older. It aims to support local economic growth, reduce the digital divide, and enhance social mobility by providing quick access to apprenticeship funding.

As one of the UK’s largest private sector apprenticeship employers, BT Group has a track record of providing award winning apprenticeship experiences. The company has recruited more than 3,000 apprentices and graduates over the past five years and earlier this year announced plans to hire a further 500 apprentices and graduates for its September 2024 intake, recognising the impact they deliver to the business

Organisations interested in accessing apprenticeship levy funding can register their interest on the BT Group Apprenticeship Fund Portal.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

• In July, BT Group was ranked second in the Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers in the UK  and as part of its Manifesto for responsible, inclusive, and sustainable growth the company has pledged to build a more diverse talent pool.
• Research by CEBR found that for every £1 that is spent on apprenticeships, the national economy gains £21. This is high in comparison to other expenditure/returns on investment in the innovation, research and technology sectors range from around £4 – £7 per £1 spent.
• To find out more about the Apprenticeship Levy visit: Pay Apprenticeship Levy - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• For more information on apprenticeships or graduate jobs at BT Group, please visit: bt.com/earlycareers
• Helping small businesses acquire new digital skills: 1.2m small business owners and their employees have upskilled through BT Group’s Skills for Tomorrow programme covering crucial topics, including how to prevent cyber-attacks and using social media to reach new customers.
• Supporting small businesses through mentoring: BT is supporting businesses via Digital Boost, a free non-profit platform uniting digital experts with leaders of small businesses and charities. Further details can be found here.
• BT Tap to Pay app: BT Tap to Pay | Contactless Payments | BT Business

_{¹ Economic Impact of Apprenticeships - CEBR}

_{² Over a third of mid-sized businesses in the UK are unable to recruit apprentices - BDO}

_{³ FSB | Small Business Index, Quarter 1, 2024}

BT recently announced plans to roll out its new home phone service, Digital Voice, on a region-by-region basis. Having started in the East Midlands in July and Yorkshire and the Humber in August, BT will now move on to Northern Ireland.

An industry-wide shift from analogue to digital landlines will see BT and many other telecoms operators in the UK provide services over a broadband line, similar to work taking place in many other countries around the world.

This once-in-a-generation upgrade to future-proof the UK’s landlines is essential and will replace technology that is fast becoming obsolete. The landline isn’t going away, and for the majority of customers, making the switch simply involves plugging your phone into a broadband router instead of into a wall-mounted phone socket, bringing new benefits such as advanced spam call blocking.

Customers in Northern Ireland will be contacted at least four weeks in advance before making the switch, to ensure they are ready to move to Digital Voice. For almost all customers, Digital Voice will have no impact on how they use their home phone. They’ll still have the same service, and price plan 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.

Vicky Hicks, Senior Engagement Manager at BT, said: “BT customers in Northern Ireland will benefit from a tried and tested service, with around two million BT customers already having made the switch and benefitting from the many advantages of digital home phones from advanced scam call filtering capabilities to crystal-clear call audio.

“For almost everyone, moving to Digital Voice will be a simple and free transition with no home installation work required. If you feel you need additional support with the transition or you think you are vulnerable, please do tell us. We will be with you every step of the way.”

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

BT will take extra time and will provide additional support to customers who are over 70 and are ready to make the switch. 

Engaging with the people of Northern Ireland

BT’s regional approach will be supported by general awareness communications, and advertising campaigns, delivered across local and regional media to explain to customers the simple steps required to make the move to Digital Voice.

Upcoming engagement activities in Northern Ireland include:

Townhalls: BT will be present in townhalls across Northern Ireland in September to address customer questions on the ground. Customers will be able to speak to BT advisors, test Digital Voice products as well as take part in digital skills training. The first two townhalls to be confirmed are as follows:

• 19^th September, 10:00 – 15:00: Girdwood Community Hub, 10 Girdwood Avenue, Belfast, Antrim BT14 6EG
• 26^th September, 10:00 – 15:00: Foyle Arena, 2 Limvady Road, Derry/Londonderry, BT47 6JY

Pop-up events: BT will be hosting pop-up stands in garden centres and libraries so customers can have one-to-one conversations with BT staff. The first locations that have been confirmed are:

• 20^th September:
  • 10:00 – 14:00: Enniskillen Library, Halls Ln, Enniskillen BT74 7DR
  • 10:00 – 14:00: Lisburn City library, 23 Linenhall St, Antrim, Lisburn BT28 1FJ
  • 10:00 – 14:00: Coleraine Library, Queen St, Coleraine BT52 1BE
• 27^th September:
  • 10:00 – 14:00: Ballymena Central library, 5 Pat's Brae, Ballymena, Antrim, BT43 5AX
  • 10:00 – 14:00: Newry City Library, 79 Hill St, Newry BT34 1DG
  • 10:00 – 14:00: Portadown Library, Church St, Portadown BT62 3LQ

Demonstration vehicle: BT will tour nine towns and cities over the course of September to ensure customers across Northern Ireland can speak to BT staff about the switch and try out the new technology for themselves. Confirmed dates and locations:

• 1^st to 4^th September: Belfast, Cityside Retail & Leisure Park, 100-150 York Street, BT15 1WA
• 5^th and 6^th September: Antrim, The Junction Retail Park, 111 Ballymena Road, BT41 4LL
• 7^th and 8^th September: Bangor, Bloomfield Retail Park Bangor, South Circular Road, BT19 7HB
• 9^th and 10^th September: Belfast, Connswater Shopping Centre, Bloomfield Avenue, A20, BT5 5LP
• 11^th and 12^th September: Banbridge, The Boulevard, Cascum Road Outlet Park, BT32 4LF
• 13^th to 16^th September: Lisburn, Sprucefield Retail Park, Hillsborough Road, BT27 5UQ
• 17^th to 19^th September: Omagh, Omagh Town Centre, 1 Omagh Street, Market Square, BT78 7EE
• 20^th to 22^nd September: Londonderry, Lisnagelvin Shopping Centre – Limavady, Lisnagelvin Road, BT47 6DF
• 23^rd and 24^th September: Antrim, Junction Leisure & Retail Park, 111 Ballymena Road, BT41 4LL

Full information of dates and which towns and cities will be hosting BT events will be available on the Digital Voice website: www.bt.com/digital-voice.

ENDS

BT recently announced plans to roll out its new home phone service, Digital Voice, on a region-by-region basis, starting with the East Midlands.

An industry-wide shift from analogue to digital landlines will see BT and many other telecoms operators in the UK provide services over a broadband line, similar to work taking place in many other countries around the world.

This once-in-a-generation upgrade to future-proof the UK’s landlines is essential and will replace technology that is fast becoming obsolete. The landline isn’t going away, and for the most of customers, making the switch simply involves plugging your phone into a broadband router instead of into a wall-mounted phone socket, bringing new benefits such as advanced spam call blocking.

Customers in the East Midlands will be contacted at least four weeks in advance before making the switch, to ensure they are ready to move to Digital Voice. For almost all customers, Digital Voice will have no impact on how they use their home phone. They’ll still have the same service, and price plan 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.

Vicky Hicks, Senior Engagement Manager at BT Group, said: “BT customers in the East Midlands will benefit from a tried and tested service, with around two million BT customers already having made the switch and benefitting from the many advantages of digital home phones from advanced scam call filtering capabilities to crystal-clear call audio.

“For almost everyone, moving to Digital Voice will be a simple and free transition with no home installation work required. If you feel you need additional support with the transition or you think you are vulnerable, please do tell us. We will be with you every step of the way.”

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 are over 70
• Customers who only use landlines
• Customers with no mobile signal
• Customers who have disclosed any additional needs

Engaging with the East Midlands community

BT’s regional approach will be supported by general awareness communications, and advertising campaigns, delivered across local and regional media to explain to customers the simple steps required to make the move to Digital Voice.

Upcoming engagement activities in the East Midlands include:

Townhalls: BT will be present in townhalls across the region in July to address customer questions on the ground. Customers will be able to speak to BT advisors, test Digital Voice products as well as take part in digital skills training. The first two townhalls to be confirmed are as follows:

• 5^th July, 10:00 - 17:00: Bolero Suite, The Motorpoint Arena, Bolero Square, Nottingham, NG1 1LA
• 18^th July, 10:00 – 17:00: Hansom Hall, Leicester Adult Education College, 54 Belvoir Street, Leicester, LE1 6QL

Pop-up events: BT will be hosting pop-up stands in garden centres and libraries so customers can have one-to-one conversations with BT staff. The first locations that have been confirmed are:

• 11^th July: Grantham Library, Newton Street
• 12^th July: Sleaford Library, Market Place
• 19^th July: Burton Library, Burton-on-Trent
• 20^th July: The Grange Garden Centre, Melton Mowbray
• 25^th July: Newark on Trent Library, Beaumond Gardens
• 27^th July: Stamford Library, High Street

Demonstration vehicle: BT will tour 12 towns and cities over the course of July to ensure customers across the East Midlands can speak to BT staff about the switch and try out the new technology for themselves. Confirmed dates and locations:

• 10-11^th July: Dobbies Garden Centre Northampton, Newport Pagnel Road, Wooton
• 12-13^th July: Dobbies Garden Centre Harlestone Heath, Harlestone Road
• 14^th July: Kettering Market, High Street
• 15-16^th July: Willow Place, Corby
• 17-18^th July: Dobbies Garden Centre Stapleton, Ashby Road
• 19-20^th July: Gates Garden Centre, Somerby Road, Cold Overton
• 21^st-22^nd July: Notcutts Wheatcroft, Landmere Lane
• 23^rd July: Dobbies Garden Centre, Derby
• 24^th-25^th July: Market Place, Mansfield
• 26^th-27^th July: Dobbies Garden Centre Chesterfield
• 28^th-29^th July: Louth Garden Centre, Legbourne Road
• 30^th-31^st July: Dobbies Garden Centre Boston

Full information of dates and which towns and cities will be hosting BT events will be available on the Digital Voice website: www.bt.com/digital-voice

ENDS

Home phones are changing. Just as television went from analogue to digital, now it’s the turn of the humble landline. The UK is the latest country to upgrade its home phone network following Japan, Sweden and Germany. By 2025, Openreach, the company that maintains the phone network, will be switching off the 30-year-old analogue copper-based system which is no longer fit for purpose. That means home phone providers like us need to move their customers to the next generations of voice services like BT’s Digital Voice, which runs over the broadband line, rather than a separate analogue line. Virgin Media O2 is also making the same technological shift on its network.

For the vast majority of customers, the upgrade is a simple one which requires no in-home installation work. Put simply, instead of plugging in your home phone to a wall-mounted phone socket, customers can either wirelessly connect their handset to their BT Smart Hub broadband router, or plug it in to a port at the back. Calls then travel over the digital broadband network, rather than the old analogue one. Over 95% of handsets in customers’ homes are compatible with Digital Voice, so there will be no need for most customers to buy new devices. We offer Digital Voice customers the option of either a free handset or an adapter, which allows their existing phone to be used if they need one ahead of their upgrade.

Because this new digital line is capable of carrying so much more, we’re able to make enhancements to this service that have simply not been possible with the older analogue technology.

Better quality calling

Call quality is noticeably clearer than on the older, analogue network. Talking on Digital Voice is like calling in high definition, it’s as if the person is the same room as you.

Better spam call prevention

Our mobile network, EE, recently launched a new spam blocker which uses AI to identify and stop scam messages arriving on our customers’ devices. Since launch, it has stopped over 60 million scam messages. In the coming months we’ll be rolling out similar technology to our Digital Voice customers, which will identify unusual patterns and calling trends and block suspicious calls on the network resulting in a much safer experience for our customers.

Better for the environment

By removing the need for the analogue phone network, we can save large amounts of electrical power that this old network needs to run, helping us to meet our climate targets. In fact, the amount of power used by the old analogue network is one of the reasons, (alongside the fact that it’s fast becoming obsolete) it needs to be switched off.

Fully wireless homes

By upgrading our landlines so that they work over broadband, we’re removing the last remaining barrier to creating 100% wirelessly connected homes for our customers. The only connection required will be to your router. In the future. everything in the home, including computers, TVs (with our latest BT TV set top box) and now landline phones, will be connected over Wi-Fi.

Working collaboratively with Ofcom, government, and the wider industry on our plans, we began our upgrade programme last year and now have one million customers enjoying the benefits of Digital Voice. This is a huge undertaking, and we want to ensure we get it right. That’s why, at the moment, we’re only upgrading customers who already have or will be getting fibre broadband. This has allowed us to test and tweak how and when we contact our customers in line for an upgrade, letting them know about the planned change and what they need to do to prepare for it.

Supporting our customers every step of the way

Most landline handsets today require power to work, this is no different with Digital Voice. We currently advise our customers to have a backup mobile phone somewhere in their home which they can use in the unlikely event of a power outage. Calls from a mobile phone to 999 are made on any available network, not just your providers. With 99% of UK premises covered with at least 2G signal there will be some people who will need further support. For these customers, who live in areas with more frequent power cuts, we will provide a battery back-up unit which can power a Digital Voice service for over an hour.

Across BT, we’re proud of the support we offer to our vulnerable customers. For many of these customers, and others, the landline is a lifeline and the prospect of a technological change can seem scary. We want to reassure all of our customers – from the least technical to the early adopters – that when we’re ready to upgrade them to the new era of home phones, we will be with them every step of the way. We’re putting the following steps in place to ensure our most vulnerable customers are supported:

1. We have no plans to upgrade those customers with only a landline (and no broadband line) to Digital Voice until the latter part of 2023, and will upgrade a small number of customers before this to ensure their journey is seamless
2. We’ve put measures in place to ensure customers flagged as vulnerable customers who do have BT broadband are not upgraded until much later in the programme
3. We’ve been working with alarm and health pendant providers who use the analogue network since 2018 to prepare them for this change. Customers will need to contact their provider ahead of the upgrade. Where we know a customer has one or both of these, we have removed those customers from the upgrade programme for now
4. Any customer with concerns after receiving a letter from us should speak to us and we will discuss their options which can include delaying their upgrade for a year, when other solutions may become available
5. Where needed, we will send out in-home engineers to help those customers who may require a little extra help

You don’t need to be a broadband customer

For some of our landline only customers, an internet connection is either not available or unwanted. And where broadband is unavailable, we’re looking into new solutions which use our 4G mobile network to connect a familiar looking home phone handset. We’ll be sharing more information on this solution later next year. For customers who don’t want broadband, we will simply upgrade their landline to a Digital Voice line (free of charge).

We promise not to leave any customer without a connection. We also promise to ensure that all our customers will have been sent enough information, well ahead of their upgrade to ensure a seamless experience.

So far in our rollout programme we have only been writing to those customers who are preparing for their own upgrade, letting them know weeks before their upgrade day. Later next year, we’ll be rolling out a far-reaching public awareness campaign to make sure all our customers know what to expect between then and 2025.

We’re looking forward to rolling out the next generation of home calling in the coming years, allowing everyone to enjoy the benefits of the digital revolution.

31^st August 2021, London. New research from BT has revealed that almost half all of Brits (41%) say they have cupboards, drawers or bags full of unwanted electrical waste as nearly a third (31%) don’t know how to recycle it. The news comes as BT reveals it has recycled nearly a million pieces of BT equipment since the start of 2020, preventing nearly 170 tonnes of electrical waste from going to landfill, equivalent to the weight of 13 double-decker buses¹.

The research found that the most common items Brits don’t know how to recycle are printers (31%), cables (30%) and hair dryers (29%), all of which can be recycled. Nearly three quarters (74%) admit to having chucked electronics into black bin liners, committing the goods to landfill rather than taking them to be recycled. More than half (55%) engaged in ‘wishful recycling’ – throwing unwanted electronics into the recycling bin in the hope they’ll reach a recycling centre.

When it comes to good intentions, younger people are getting in a tangle over unwanted electronics, with nearly twice as many 16 to 24 year olds (40%) unsure what to do when it comes to recycling e-waste, compared to those over 55 (21%). The vast majority of 16 to 24 year olds (85%) have thrown electronics in regular bins compared to 51% of those 55 and over. Two thirds (68%) of 16 to 24 year olds have also placed electronics amongst other recycling, compared to 32% of those 55 and over.

Matthew Hughes, Director of Broadband at BT, said, “We made some changes in 2019 that make it compulsory to return broadband routers to us after use, which has really boosted our recycling efforts. Thanks to these changes and the commitment of our customers, we’ve prevented the release of 11,430 tonnes of carbon dioxide, the equivalent of 6,000 flights from London to Tokyo¹.”

Andie Stevens, Associate Director at the Carbon Trust Advisory, ICT sector lead said, “BT makes it easy for customers to return unwanted and unneeded equipment, preventing tonnes of electrical waste and plastic from going to landfill. The recycling and refurbishment programme is a great initiative, demonstrating the commitment to circularity and achieving long-term sustainability goals by reducing the carbon intensity of products.”

BT estimates hundreds of thousands of items of unused electronic equipment in customers' homes could be refurbished and recycled. 

​

It's easy for customers to return their equipment to BT: more information is here.

Notes to editors

Research based on nationally representative sample of c.3,600 GB adults – August 2021.

¹ Figures provided by the Carbon Trust

The top 10 old electrical items the nation stores unused at home:

• Cables (44%)

• Remote controls (41%)

• Hair dryers (39%)

• Wired headphones (38%)

• Printers (35%)

• Games consoles (32%)

• Broadband hub (29%)

• TV set-top boxes (27%)

• Smart speakers (26%)

• Wi-Fi extenders (21%)

For general information on how to recycle electrical items; contact your local authority or for details of local Household Waste Recycling Centres where small electrical items can be recycled visit Recycle Now for England

http://www.recycleforscotland.com

https://www.recyclenow.com/ni

https://walesrecycles.org.uk/

BT’s commitment to climate action:

• As part of the transition to a low carbon business model, BT has pledged to become a net zero carbon emissions business by 2045

• Since 2016/17, BT has reduced the carbon emissions intensity of its operations by 57% and has reduced supply chain emissions by 19% over the same timeframe.

• BT is now using 100% renewable electricity worldwide, which means consumers who buy mobile or broadband from EE, BT or Plusnet are supplied by networks that are powered by 100% clean power.

• With the second largest commercial fleet in the UK, the company has also outlined plans to transition the majority of its 33,000 vehicles to electric or zero carbon models by 2030.

• For more information about BT's work on Digital Impact and Sustainability please visit: Digital impact & sustainability | BT Plc

About the Carbon Trust:

Established in 2001, the Carbon Trust works with businesses, governments and institutions around the world, helping them contribute to, and benefit from, a more sustainable future through carbon reduction, resource efficiency strategies, and commercialising low carbon businesses, systems and technologies.

• Majority (56%) of Brits feel more vulnerable compared to the start of the pandemic, with nearly one in three (30%) needing additional financial support

• Over half (55%) of people from lower-income homes¹ say home connectivity is more important than ever to manage finances (79%), learn new skills (69%) and help improve job prospects (29%)

• BT has launched Home Essentials to help 4.6 million low income families with half-price fibre broadband and calls

• BT’s 12,000 customer service colleagues to receive bespoke training to better support customers who need extra help, and a range of support services are also available in new Here for You section of BT.com (www.bt.com/help/here-for-you)

BT’s industry leading social tariff, Home Essentials is now available for customers to buy online at www.bt.com/home-essentials. Exclusive to those on Universal Credit and a range of other means-tested benefits², the package offers fibre broadband and calls for £15 a month, saving customers £240³ a year compared to an equivalent package.

To mark the launch, BT has conducted new research to highlight the importance of connectivity. Over half (55%) of respondents from low income homes say connectivity is more important than ever post pandemic, to manage finances (79%), learn new skills online (69%) and access online health services (50%). Nearly three quarters (74%) of all British adults say they would struggle to improve their financial situation or job prospects without a home connection.

The research reveals that almost three in five (56%) feel more vulnerable compared to the start of the pandemic in at least one of the following areas: mental health (35%), physical health (35%), financial circumstances (30%) and employment prospects (27%).

In response to the growing number of people who have found their life circumstances change over the past 18 months, BT is providing all of its 12,000 customer service colleagues with extra training to better identify those who require assistance and help keep them connected, as part of its Here For You campaign (www.bt.com/help/here-for-you).

Here for You brings together BT’s wide range of products and services for those who need extra help in one easy-to-navigate place, and includes a series of videos that seek to explain the support BT offers. Here For You also includes information about the latest accessibility options and priority services for customers with long-term illnesses or disabilities, advice for dealing with scams and the newly launched Home Essentials social tariff.

Over one in five (22%) respondents – equivalent to over 12 million people – say unexpected life changes during the pandemic means they now need additional support. However, the research also shows that less than half (46%) are comfortable sharing their problems with others, with almost two thirds (63%) citing embarrassment as the main barrier to open discussion.

This mindset could be impacting the support that some customers receive, as nearly half (45%) of all respondents are unlikely to tell their mobile or broadband provider they may be struggling and need help managing their account. However, 4 in 10 (39%) adults did also say they would feel more comfortable asking for help from their supplier if they knew that specific support was in place.

Honey Langcaster-James, Social and Behavioural Psychologist, said, “Clearly, the pandemic has led to millions of people feeling more vulnerable – perhaps as a result of losing a loved one, or more commonly the stress and anxiety of financial insecurity. However, BT’s research also suggests that there is a perceived stigma that stops people from asking for help, which is where specific training for BT’s colleagues can be so valuable.

“People often feel under pressure to try to struggle on by themselves without seeking help. This is usually because of worries about what others might think and a general misconception that people are weak if they ask for support. Connectivity has become so essential, it’s important that service providers do more to acknowledge the specific needs of all their customers. The steps BT is taking are really important in order to encourage more people to ask for the support they really need.

Marc Allera, CEO of BT’s Consumer Division, said, "BT's purpose of Connecting for Good is at the heart of all we do, and a huge part of that is going above and beyond to support people who need it most. That's why we're launching BT Home Essentials, our low-cost fibre package that will now include all customers on Universal Credit, to provide a potential 4.6 million families across the UK with half-price fibre broadband and calls.

"BT Home Essentials will be available at half the price of our standard fibre package because fast, reliable connectivity to access vital online services – and keep in touch with loved ones – is more important than ever. It is a big step towards creating the connected, digitally inclusive UK we all want to see.

"We're also working hard to train all 12,000 of our contact centre colleagues so they can better support customers who might need a little more help. With one in five people telling us the pandemic has left them needing more support, our role is more important than ever. Through our 31 contact centres and nearly 600 stores up and down the country, we aim to provide the UK’s most personal, local service.”

Digital Infrastructure Minister Matt Warman said: "In today's digital world, everyone should be able to access fast, reliable and affordable internet, so I'm thrilled that BT is the latest provider to launch new deals for low income households.

"We have been working with internet providers to offer affordable broadband tariffs for those struggling with bills to help the UK build back fairer from the pandemic. I hope to see others taking similar action soon."

For more information visit www.bt.com/help/here-for-you.

-Ends-

Notes to Editors:

Research based on nationally representative sample of c.2,000 GB adults – April 2021.

₁ Based on a separate online survey among mobile and broadband owners whose household receive a benefit or tax credit. Research conducted in March 2021 among 904 respondents

² BT Home Essentials is only for eligible customers which includes those on Universal Credit and people receiving the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, and Employment and Support Allowance.

³ Based on standard pricing for BT’s equivalent broadband (Fibre Essential) and call plan packages on offer on 30 June 2021 for £27.99, with £7 for calls versus £15 for BT Home Essentials

About BT Here For You Online Hub

Here For You features detailed information on BT services designed to support customers who may need extra help with: financial hardship, mental health conditions, critical illness, hearing and communication needs, and visual and physical impairments. Customers will also find details information on third party account management options and Power of Attorney.

The help and tips section features everything from guides to dealing with scams, along with more information on Home Essentials. There are also links to BT Skills for Tomorrow, including free courses to help people feel more confident and develop their digital skills, support groups and charities such as Step Change Debt Charity and Good Things Foundation.

For more information visit www.bt.com/help/here-for-you.

About Home Essentials

BT Home Essentials is an industry leading social tariff for eligible customers with average download speeds of 36 Mbps and 700 mins of calls for £15 a month – saving customers £240 a year compared to an equivalent package. Alternatively, eligible customers can also opt for average speeds of 67 Mbps and unlimited calls for £20 per month.

Available exclusively to those on Universal Credit and a range of other means-tested benefits, BT Home Essentials meets the demands of the modern home and provides futureproof fibre connectivity at a time when online resources have never been more important.

Customers can sign up to BT Home Essentials and find out more information (www.bt.com/home-essentials).

The latest statement can be found at: https://newsroom.bt.com/bt-statement-on-competition-appeal-tribunal-procedural-hearing-on-certification/

• BT intends to vigorously defend itself against the claim of overcharging pre-existing customers

• Ofcom considered the subject three years ago – there was no finding of excessive pricing or breach of competition law more generally

• BT’s social tariff, pandemic response and leadership in Customer Fairness demonstrate BT’s commitment to Connect for Good

BT will defend itself vigorously against a class action claim being brought by law firm Mishcon de Reya, which accuses BT of anti-competitive behaviour towards its pre-existing landline customers.

BT regrets being drawn into litigation on a topic which Ofcom considered more than three years ago. At that time, Ofcom’s final statement made no finding of excessive pricing or breach of competition law more generally. The claim seeks to hold against BT the fact that it implemented a voluntary commitment to reduce prices for customers that have a BT landline only and not to increase those prices beyond inflation (CPI).

BT takes its responsibilities to customers very seriously, launching BT Home Essentials this month, a market leading social tariff connecting those on low income with affordable fibre connectivity and calls. It builds on BT’s initial social tariff, launched in 2008, to provide futureproof fibre connectivity at a time when online resources have never been more important.

BT offers free text, data and minutes to those who need it most and staff are fully trained to work with vulnerable customers, offering priority fault repair. BT’s pandemic response (NHS data, Digital Skills, and Lockdown Learning Support), and a major focus on leading in Customer Fairness, clearly demonstrate that BT wants to live up to its purpose and Connect for Good.

A BT Spokesperson said: “We strongly disagree with the claim being brought against us.

“We take our responsibilities to customers very seriously and will defend ourselves against any claim that suggests otherwise.

“We take pride in our work on the Customer Fairness agenda. For many years we’ve offered a discounted social tariff in what is a competitive market with competing options available, and this month we are extending that to help a potential four million households on low incomes, save on bills and stay connected to vital online services.

“We assure our customers that we will not let this claim disrupt the relationship BT has with them. We will continue to support our customers through the pandemic and beyond.”

• Following a hugely successful pilot during lockdown, with over 140 volunteers and 1,600 calls made, BT is expanding Care Home Companions to over 300 care homes nationwide

• 140 BT, EE and Plusnet colleagues from across the UK have now volunteered, with ambition to make 15,000 weekly calls over the next year

BT is announcing the national rollout of its employee led initiative, Care Home Companions to over 300 care homes across the UK. Since 2020, BT, EE and Plusnet contact centre colleagues have been volunteering to regularly chat with care home residents to keep their spirits up during the pandemic. Following a successful launch in the North East, BT is expanding Care Home Companions to over 300 care homes nationwide with their partner HC-One, with the ambition to have 1,600 volunteers making 15,000 calls to care home residents over the next year.

BT colleagues are using their personable and local communication skills they’ve learnt as customer service advisors to chat with residents who might not have anyone else to talk to on a regular basis. During lockdown, the Office for National Statistics found that those who are "always or often" lonely reached 8 per cent* of UK adults. Care Home Companions is helping to tackle the loneliness epidemic by giving volunteers from nearby UK based BT, EE and Plusnet contact centres the opportunity to give back to their local communities. Call centres taking part in this initiative include Darlington, Sheffield, Leeds and Doxford Park, and will be expanding to a total of 30 centres, with additions including Accrington, Blackburn, Lancaster, Liverpool and Warrington throughout the year.

In line with BT’s mission to Connect for Good, the original idea for Care Home Companions was born out of an existing project set-up by a group of BT employees in 2020 to help tackle loneliness in the UK. The scheme was hugely successful, with around 140 volunteers making over 1600 calls to care homes in the North East during 2020. The series of lockdown restrictions and social distancing measures has had a devastating impact for residents in care homes, and now in 2021, BT volunteers together with HC-One are taking the project one step further to help even more residents across the country to combat loneliness for this vulnerable part of society.

Nick Lane, MD of service, BT’s Consumer division said: “Giving back to local communities is so important, so when we heard there was a group of people who’d appreciate a chat, our volunteers jumped at the chance to help. I couldn’t be prouder of them. Being local and personal is such a big part of who we are now, meaning that we’re uniquely placed to be making these calls to those in our communities who need it most. The feedback from the residents, carers and care homes has just been overwhelmingly positive and our people love it too.”

Colleagues who volunteer to take part are given full training on top of their professional customer service skills on how to help their care home companions feel more connected. Matching companions in the same area means volunteers can bring in their own personal and local experience to build friendships and help residents feel comfortable and supported.

Robi Roccella, Head of Quality of Life at HC-One on how the weekly calls help as part of their overall activities: “Our wellbeing programme aims to enhance the quality of life of the People we care for, by providing a range of meaningful activities that can stimulate their physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. During the coronavirus pandemic we've had to adapt the way we do things, and for the People we care for, their relationships with the outside world and community links have become even more important. We are grateful to be working with BT and EE, for not only the time their volunteers have given to help the People we care for to stay connected, but also helping them through their weekly calls to lead active and fulfilling lives. This programme is also promoting the use technology which is also key to enable People to be stimulated and engaged.”

Jay Routledge, a volunteer from North Tyneside said: “Speaking to one or two individuals on a weekly basis means I leave that call with a buzz, knowing I’ve made somebody’s day. It’s knowing I’ve had that lovely conversation with somebody for half an hour and I’ve been able to get to know them a little bit and they’ve got to know me as well.”

Georgie Pouton, Wellbeing Coordinator from HC-One’s Redesdale Court care home in North Shields said: “It wasn’t real at first when COVID-19 hit. We got a phone call asking if we would take part in a pilot [of Care Home Companions]. At first we were like ‘ooh how’s this going to work?’ but I’d say the first few days after we got the calls we were starting to see signs of positivity in the residents.”

Bev Wilson from BT’s Gosforth contact centre, who initially helped to set up the scheme, and has spent her time speaking with George, a resident at Kirkwood Court care home, Kenton, Newcastle said: “Speaking to George is like speaking to family. Whenever I’m feeling a little bit down, I think about my calls to lift my spirits up. We now share a picture and a bit about our interests to residents before we start our calls as a friendly introduction. I shared a picture of me cycling and stories about my pet dogs, which really helped our relationship flourish as it brought back memories of George cycling into Newcastle each day, and his own lovely dog. He loves the calls that we have together, and he says that it is a release speaking to someone new. George’s wife is also in the same home and he doesn’t have any other family. Some residents don’t have any visitors, and so in some cases we offer multiple calls a week.

“Even though lockdown restrictions are lifting, it’s still important to keep in touch with those who may be feeling lonely, sometimes doing this can help and inspire you too. Another resident that I speak to is a poet, whose work has been read out on the radio and published in newspapers. I’m lucky enough to have been able to hear her work over the phone, as she speaks about her local area, including mining and politics. I’ve been incredibly inspired as she recalls all her poems from memory as she is blind. It fills her with pride to be able to continue sharing her beautiful poems.”

Lauren Proctor, Wellbeing Coordinator from HC-One’s Kirkwood Court care home in Newcastle said: “We cannot thank the BT volunteers enough and everyone who has used their free time to chat. Our residents look forward to the calls and enjoy telling stories about their past. They love getting to know the volunteers’ and learning more about the people they’re talking to - one resident said, “It’s lovely to match a face to the voice”. 

“Our ambition is to help combat loneliness and this initiative is definitely helping. From the numerous calls we’ve had, one little chat makes a resident’s day. For example, George, looks forward to his call every week and enjoys talking about his life, his family and especially history. BT sent George The Magnificent 7 DVD and sweets as a birthday present, as he mentioned when his birthday was on a call once – it made his year.”

“BT’s Care Home Companion’s has been brilliant for both residents and our colleagues. For ‘National Carers Week’ all the Care Home Companion’s sent personal cards colleagues at Kirkwood Court to say thank you and to keep up the good work. We were overwhelmed with their kindness, it made them feel appreciated. I’d recommend this programme to everyone.”

Notes to Editors

To celebrate the news, BT and HC-One came together to showcase the positive impact the pilot has had in a moving short film released today by BT to mark National Loneliness Awareness Week.

• Shot at HC-One’s Redesdale Court care home in North Shields and with BT volunteers from the North Tyneside contact centre, it shows how the pandemic left many residents feeling lonely and isolated as most social activities and outside visits stopped. The video brings to life the changes the care home made to create activities to help with wellbeing, and the positive impact a weekly call from volunteers can have on residents. Growing bonds have been formed over common interests with residents, who in some instances may not have any regular contact with those outside the home.

*Statistic sourced from the Office for National Statistics – Opinions and Lifestyle Survey

• Adults aged 16 and over across Great Britain were asked how often they felt lonely, where the options were "often/always" / "some of the time" / "occasionally" / "hardly ever" / "never". Those reporting feeling lonely often / always is used as the indicator.

About HC-One

• HC-One is ‘The Kind Care Company’
• The locations of all HC-One homes can be viewed online at: https://www.hc-one.co.uk/Carehomes.aspx
• HC-One was founded in 2011 and has continued to grow and flourish since its inception.
• Our aim is to be the first choice care home in each of our communities for Residents, Relatives, Colleagues and Commissioners.
• HC-One’s c.22,000 Colleagues provide kind care to c.14,000 Residents across 327 care homes in the UK.
• HC-One stands for ‘Health’ and ‘Care’ and symbolises the focus on the “one” – you, the Resident, are the one that matters; you, the staff member, are the one that can make a difference. We are one team, working with Colleagues, Residents and Relatives as we strive to provide the kindest care.

BT has announced it will launch BT Home Essentials in June, a market leading social tariff connecting those on low income with affordable fibre broadband and calls. The new low cost tariff comes as BT research reveals that since the pandemic, almost three quarters (74%) of Brits would not find it easy to improve their financial situation without connectivity¹, and the majority (79%) of financially vulnerable people rely on broadband connectivity to manage household finances².

Available exclusively to those on Universal Credit and a range of other means-tested benefits*, BT Home Essentials meets the demands of the modern home and provides futureproof fibre connectivity at a time when online resources have never been more important. BT research has found that three times as many people say they could not go without broadband (67%) versus public transport (20%)¹.

BT Home Essentials is a separate and improved social tariff compared to BT’s initial version, BT Basic, launched in 2008. Home Essentials provides an average of 36 Mbps download speeds and 700 minutes of calls for £15 a month, around half the price of a standard fibre and calls package. Alternatively, eligible customers can also opt for average speeds of 67 Mbps and unlimited calls for £20 per month. The lowest price equivalent standard BT broadband package costs £32.99 a month, with an additional £15 for our unlimited calls plan – this means BT Home Essentials customers choosing the £20 option can save over £330 a year.4

Marc Allera, CEO, BT’s Consumer division, said, “Fast, reliable connectivity has never been as important as it is today, with millions of people relying upon our networks to get back on their feet after the pandemic.

“We want to help as many people as we can, which is why at the end of June we’ll be launching BT Home Essentials, increasing the eligibility of our social tariff to include all customers on Universal Credit. BT Home Essentials will be available at half the price of our standard fibre package, helping a potential four million households on low income save on bills and stay connected to vital online services.”

Digital Infrastructure Minister, Matt Warman, said: “In today's digital world, everyone should be able to access fast, reliable and affordable internet, so I'm thrilled that BT is the latest provider to launch new deals for low income households.

“We have been working with internet providers to offer affordable broadband tariffs for those struggling with bills to help the UK build back fairer from the pandemic. I hope to see others taking similar action soon.”

BT also continues to work closely with Government to support families. BT’s ‘Lockdown Learning’ has provided connectivity to over 175,000 families, to help children to continue learning from home. BT Home Essentials will provide an affordable option for families to receive fast broadband for the whole household.

-Ends-

Notes to editors:

*BT Home Essentials is only for eligible customers which includes those on Universal Credit and people receiving the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, and Employment and Support Allowance.

¹ Based on a survey interviewing a nationally representative sample of c.2,000 GB adults – April 2021

² Based on an online survey among mobile and broadband owners whose household receive a benefit or tax credit. Research conducted in March 2021 among 904 respondents

³ Based on standard pricing for BT’s equivalent broadband (Fibre Essential) and call plan packages on offer on 29 April 2021 for £27.99, with £7 for calls versus £15 for BT Home Essentials

⁴ Based on standard pricing for BT’s equivalent broadband (Fibre 2) and call plan packages on offer on 29 April 2021 for £32.99, with £15 for unlimited calls versus £20 for BT Home Essentials

Average speeds are based on speed available to at least 50% of customers at peak time (8-10pm). Actual speed will be dependent on location, phone line, home wiring, wi-fi connection and time of day. Customers can check their estimated speeds at BT.com/speed.

Launched in 2008, BT’s social tariff (BT Basic) is only available to those on the means tested benefits mentioned above, plus those on Universal Credit who receive zero income. The extended eligibility of BT Home Essentials means people on Universal Credit who also earn money can also take advantage.

Alternative industry social tariff available UK-wide:

The below details are available online and are accurate as of 29 April 2020

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 has announced it will increase support for families learning from home by adding zero rating of Oak National Academy content to its ‘Lockdown Learning’ support scheme by the end of January. The content will be free for all EE, BT Mobile, and Plusnet Mobile customers, while face to face teaching is paused.

The partnership follows hot on the heels of BT’s announcement last week that it will zero rate BBC Bitesize content. By the end of the month customers of EE, BT Mobile and Plusnet Mobile accessing online lessons in Oak National Academy’s virtual classroom or on BBC Bitesize, can watch as many online lessons as they need, even if they have run out of data.

Marc Allera, CEO BT Group’s Consumer division said: “We’re rapidly boosting our ‘Lockdown Learning’ support scheme by zero rating access to BBC Bitesize and now Oak National Academy for all our mobile customers.

“Our inclusive support package means families that need it most can get help to keep learning, with unlimited data, free access to our 5 million WiFi hotspots and now free access to the two most popular educational resources.

And to make sure that we are keeping children across the whole of the UK connected, we’re also asking Ministers in Wales, Scotland and NI to work with us on offering Unlimited data for eligible customers, as well as potential zero rating of other regionalised educational resources.”

BT is doing all it can to help support the nation during lockdown. Last week it unveiled its ‘Lockdown Learning’ support scheme, working with the Department for Education to ensure school children can continue to learn online while face to face learning is paused. BT will be giving those children who need it most unlimited mobile data as well as handing out thousands of free WiFi vouchers to schools and charity partners to distribute to families without an internet connection. The vouchers give access to the internet via BT’s five million WiFi Hotspots across the UK.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Zero Rating of Oak National Academy :

Available to all contract and pay as you go customers of EE, BT Mobile and Plusnet in the UK, and commencing end of January (to allow thorough testing of the product), BT will remove all data charges for access to Oak National Academy website while all schools are closed across the nation. There is no registration required.

The scheme will end as schools reopen across the UK.

BT’s ‘Lockdown Learning’ support scheme includes:

• Zero Rating of Oak National Academy and BBC Bitesize : BT has also invited the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish administrations to each suggest one online resource for school children which we will also seek to zero rate, to support their curriculums which differ from English schools.

• Unlimited Data:   Starting at the end of January and available until the end of this academic year (July 2021), the free unlimited data for EE and BT Mobile customers is accessed through children’s schools and allows eligible families to access whichever educational resources are needed whilst face to face teaching is paused. The DfE’s programme is only currently available for families in England.

• Free WiFi Vouchers:   BT was the first telecoms operator to have an offer for families who needed help with home learning, offering BT WiFi vouchers for free access available since June. BT will shortly be offering these directly to schools and our charity partners and increasing the vouchers available. Our estimates suggest around 20 - 30% of homes across the UK are in range of a BT WiFi hotspot, coverage varies. BT distributed some vouchers direct in the summer and had an active user rate of around 10% of vouchers distributed.

• BT also offers a social tariff for low income families - BT Basic, a £10 per month fixed broadband and phone line service. With priority connection, this long term solution offers low income families a sustainable option that meets their data needs. More information here:   https://www.bt.com/help/landline/getting-set-up/help-people-with-impairments-or-with-particular-needs/how-do-i-find-out-more-about-bt-basic-

• Following the successful launch of free home learning resources last year, BT and Computing at School (CAS) have continued to update its Barefoot computing resources to accommodate the shift to home schooling and adapted dozens of activities to support families with their children’s digital skills.   https://www.barefootcomputing.org/homelearning

We’ve created it to ensure the people who need it most can access connectivity support across both our fixed and mobile networks. We're extending our partnership with the Department for Education so that eligible BT and EE customers will benefit from unlimited mobile data. Plus we’re giving thousands of free WiFi vouchers to schools and our charity partners to distribute so anyone can access the widest range of online educational resources via one of our five million WiFi Hotspots across the UK.

We’re also aiming to zero-rate some of the most popular dedicated online learning portals to ensure critical learning can continue even when data access runs out. We’ll confirm more on this in the coming week, but we know this will make a difference for those trying to connect to these sites with limited mobile data.

Eligible families without fixed connectivity at home can apply for their unlimited free data via their school or local authority, as part of BT’s partnership with the Department for Education. It will cover them for the rest of the academic year, running until July 2021. We’ve been working closely with the DfE since the start of the pandemic to help get kids connected, and we’re now stepping up our partnership to offer unlimited data, as well as working harder on getting free WiFi passes into the hands of those families and kids who need them. You can read more about our partnership with the DfE here. 

Here’s a summary of what BT’s Lockdown Learning Support Scheme will provide:

• Unlimited mobile data for EE and BT Mobile customers without a fixed connection in partnership with DfE

• Free WiFi vouchers for schools and charity partners to distribute to those who need it most, so that disadvantaged kids and those without a network connection can access home learning resources

• Zero-rating two of the most popular educational websites

It's a continuation of the work we have been doing since the first lockdown was introduced in March last year. We were the first telecoms operator to support families who needed help with connecting for home learning, making BT WiFi vouchers available to those who needed them in June. BT will now distribute WiFi vouchers directly to schools and charity partners, enabling those families and carers with little or no connection to access the five million BT WiFi Hotspots available across the UK. While it might not reach everyone, we feel even getting one more kid able to home school is worth the effort.

BT also offers a social tariff for low income families - BT Basic, a £10 per month fixed broadband and phone line service. With priority connection, this long-term solution offers low income families a sustainable option that meets their data needs.

Talking long-term, we want to give school children the digital skills they need for a brighter future with our Skills for Tomorrow programme. To that end, through our Barefoot Computing programme in partnership with Computing at School, BT has made a series of educational and fun activities available to support home learning. Designed with teachers and aligned to the national curriculum, these interactive learning games and simple offline activities introduce children aged 4-11 years to key computing concepts and problem-solving skills that will help them thrive in a digital world. To access the free resources visit www.barefootcomputing.org/homelearning

We don't want anyone to be left behind as digital connectivity becomes more and more important. Our Skills for Tomorrow portal is full of free courses to help anyone, any age, feel more confident and develop their digital skills. You can find out more here.

Marc Allera, CEO, BT’s Consumer brands

Follow me on Twitter and Instagram @MarcAllera

BT, the UK’s leading telecommunications provider, is increasing its effort to enable school kids to better connect with teachers and online learning, while schools remain closed, with the launch of its ‘Lockdown Learning’ support scheme.

Unlimited free mobile data will be made available to those EE and BT Mobile customers eligible for the Department for Education’s Get Help with Technology programme, rather than the 20GB previously announced. BT is also offering free BT WiFi vouchers to schools and charity partners to pass on to parents and carers of children lacking the connectivity they need to access home schooling digital resources.

Marc Allera, CEO of BT Group’s Consumer division said: “As a national champion, we want to ensure no one is left behind while face-to-face teaching is on hold.

“That's why we’re launching our ‘Lockdown Learning’ support scheme, which offers a number of different ways for disadvantaged school children to get connectivity support, across both our fixed and mobile networks.

“We’ve been working closely with the DfE since the start of the pandemic, to help get kids connected, and we’re now stepping up our partnership to offer unlimited data, as well as working harder on getting free WiFi passes into the hands of those families and kids that need them.

“We’re also aiming to zero rate some of the most popular learning portals this month, to ensure critical learning can continue even when data access runs out. We’ll reveal more on this in the coming week.”

‘Lockdown Learning’ support scheme

1. Unlimited data: To help ensure no one is left behind while face-to-face teaching is on hold, BT’s ‘Lockdown Learning’ package extends BT and EE’s partnership with the Department for Education’s Get Help with Technology programme to provide unlimited mobile data for EE and BT customers who need it to support a child’s education. The data can be accessed by applying through their school, and will enable children access to any online educational resources they need. For more details and teacher application portal, here: https://get-help-with-tech.education.gov.uk/

2. Free WiFi vouchers: BT has also pledged to distribute WiFi vouchers directly to schools, and our charity partners, allowing those families and carers with little or no connection to access the 5 million BT WiFi Hotspots available across the UK. For further information click here: https://www.businessdirect.bt.com/learning-in-lockdown

3. Zero rating educational websites: We will also aim to remove all mobile data charges, for some of the most popular educational websites before the end of this month, while schools remain closed. More details to follow in the coming week.

4. Keeping kids safe, learning and entertained online: Launched in 2019, BT Skills for Tomorrow provides free support, information and advice on key digital skills for 10 million school children, families, jobseekers and businesses across the UK. These include a series of educational and fun activities to support home learning for children aged 4-11 years. https://www.bt.com/skillsfortomorrow/families

ENDS

Notes to Editors

BT’s ‘Lockdown Learning’ support scheme will help customers across BT and EE brands:

• Unlimited Data: Starting at the end of January and available until the end of this academic year (July 2021), the free unlimited data for EE and BT Mobile customers is accessed through children’s schools and allows eligible families to access whichever educational resources are needed whilst face to face teaching is paused. The DfE’s programme is only currently available for families in England. We are working with DfE to explore whether this can be extended to schools in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

• Free WiFi Vouchers: BT was the first telecoms operator to have an offer for families who needed help with home learning, offering BT WiFi vouchers for free access available since June. BT will shortly be offering these directly to schools and our charity partners and increasing the vouchers available. Our estimates suggest around 20 - 30% of homes across the UK are in range of a BT WiFi hotspot, coverage varies. BT distributed some vouchers direct in the summer and had an active user rate of around 10% of vouchers distributed.

• BT also offers a social tariff for low income families - BT Basic, a £10 per month fixed broadband and phone line service. With priority connection, this long term solution offers low income families a sustainable option that meets their data needs. More information here: https://www.bt.com/help/landline/getting-set-up/help-people-with-impairments-or-with-particular-needs/how-do-i-find-out-more-about-bt-basic-

• Following the successful launch of free home learning resources last year, BT and Computing at School (CAS) have continued to update its Barefoot computing resources to accommodate the shift to home schooling and adapted dozens of activities to support parents with their children’s digital skills. https://www.barefootcomputing.org/homelearning 

As the UK reaches 100 days of lockdown, BT reveals how the nation has embraced technology to overcome the changes to daily life. Over half of Brits are now using technology more than ever to work from home, beat boredom, stay fit and keep connected with friends and family. As lockdown begins to lift and the nation looks to the future, research and data from BT tells the story of Britain in lockdown and finds the majority of the UK believe that some new habits are here to stay.

Marc Allera, CEO of BT’s Consumer division: “The past 100 days have completely changed how we live and interact with each other. We’ve all had to adapt how we go about our daily lives, from the ways we learn, work, shop, keep active to how we connect with each other. Technology has been key to navigating this new world and as a nation we’ve been embracing its potential with over a third of us developing new skills.

It’s clear that the service we provide has never been more important to our customers. From keeping connected to staying educated and entertained, I’m proud that we’ve served the nation. Across our brands we have introduced over 20 new initiatives to help the country adapt during these tough times and continue to help as we return to a new normality.”

March - Keeping connected as lockdown begins

When the UK entered lockdown on 23rd March, the nation embraced new, and old ways to keep connected. Zoom users on EE’s network increased fivefold during lockdown compared to earlier in the year. But most of the nation reached for the phone to keep in touch with loved ones, with over half of Brits dialing to stay connected. BT’s data shows that they had a lot to talk about, with a huge 90% increase in calls lasting over 5 minutes compared to February. Those not dialing were typing, with text messaging the second preferred communication method followed by video–calling.

Lockdown meant we couldn’t see our family and friends, but for those directly affected by coronavirus being connected was more important than ever - BT supported the new Nightingale field hospitals to get connected quickly. The ExCeL Nightingale hospital was installed with 1,000 digital phones and handsets as well as high-speed Wi-Fi connectivity in just 48 hours. Over 260,000 NHS staff received the EE & BT unlimited mobile data offer launched in April, and EE donated 8,000 rechargeable power banks to the NHS.

April - Upskilling the UK through tech

With more time spent at home, the country found new ways to put their time to good use. Four in five Brits claimed they managed to stay productive and one in six found new ways to learn online. To help upskill the nation, BT launched Top Tips on Tech with ITV – a two week long daily series of how-to-guides during prime-time TV demonstrating digital skills like WhatsApp calls and booking online GP appointments. It wasn’t just individuals who suddenly needed to adapt their skills during lockdown, BT reached over 40,000 business owners and employees with digital skills training too.

With children at home and many parents becoming teachers overnight, BT’s Barefoot platform supported parents and teachers with home-schooling. Since it went live in 2014, the programme has reached over 2.8 million pupils across UK primary schools, with the ‘Learn at Home’ page seeing a 1,100% spike in traffic during lockdown.

May – Discovering a Work / Life balance

All bets were off in May as the suspension of live sports and events meant many found new ways to feel a sense of community through live fitness sessions, online gaming, and online concerts. In a show of support to the nation crisis, BT Sport customers donated a total of £1m to the NHS through paused subscription payments.

For singletons and couples living apart, dating also went virtual. 16 - 24-year olds were the most willing to try their hand at virtual dating, with one in ten using video calls for dating in lockdown. EE’s network usage reveals dating apps including Tinder, Bumble, Match, Hinge and Grindr saw over 70% more users compared to the beginning of lockdown.

As working from home became the norm, BT undertook one of the UK’s biggest office to home working migration, with nearly 10,000 Consumer call centre staff from BT, EE and Plusnet becoming virtual contact centres. Commutes drastically reduced and became a matter of travelling downstairs, BT data showed workdays start later, with the spike in Wi-Fi calls shifting from 8am to 9am, whilst 11am remaining the peak call time.

With the home now also becoming an office and a school, the nation adapted to achieve a work-life balance. Half of those surveyed claim they’ve improved their habits in the past 100 days, and this includes being more active. One fifth of adults explored their local area by exercising outside during lockdown and seven in ten said they used fitness technology, including virtual workout programmes, at home during lockdown.

June - Looking to the future

Half of Brits claimed they changed their habits for the better during lockdown and looking to the future, BT research shows the nation is assessing the changes they will keep in place. Four out of 10 agree that they have discovered new digital skills they plan to keep using after lockdown including booking virtual appointments, mobile banking, and online GP services.

With the majority of schools not set to re-open until September, BT will provide in-need families with six months free access to the UK’s largest Wi-Fi network which extends to 5.5 million Wi-Fi hotspots around the country to help keep children learning.

Almost a third of Brits will continue to shop online for non-essentials, yet over a quarter admitted they can’t wait to get back to the high street. An overwhelming 89% of survey respondents said they’re in favour of shops having virtual booking systems rather than physical queues.

BT today announced it’s become the first European distribution partner for Stadia, Google’s new cloud gaming platform. The partnership will see BT and Google deliver cloud gaming via this new-generation platform to more UK consumers as well as see the two companies work together on initiatives designed to build awareness, access and availability of it in the UK.

Changing the way that gamers access, play and enjoy their favourite games, Stadia is a cloud-based platform that enables consumers to play the world’s best video games across virtually any type of screen instantly - whether it’s a TV, laptop, desktop, tablet or mobile phone. The partnership between BT and Google will take full advantage of BT’s Superfast Broadband 2 service available in over 80% of the UK with speeds 6x faster than the average speed of standard UK broadband. When combined with Stadia’s infrastructure, it will help deliver the best cloud gaming experience.

BT is launching a unique Google Stadia offer to celebrate the partnership. Customers taking out either BT’s Superfast Fibre 2, Ultrafast Fibre 100 or Ultrafast Fibre 250, with prices starting from just £39.99 per month, can choose to receive a free Google Stadia Premiere Edition. The Stadia Premiere Edition includes a Stadia controller, Chromecast Ultra and three months access to Stadia Pro, which offers the ability to play in up to 4K/60FPS with HDR and 5.1 surround sound, as well as claim games, and discounts on a la carte purchases.

The offer is available from today until 30th January. Then from the 7^th February, BT will offer a range of Superfast Stadia gaming plans with Superfast fibre 2, Ultrafast Fibre 100 or Ultrafast Fibre 250 which will come with a free Stadia Premiere Edition when they sign-up. BT will be running an advertising campaign across print, TV and digital to highlight the new plans.

Marc Allera, CEO of BT’s Consumer Division, said: “We continually look to provide our customers with the most exciting products and experiences, and by partnering with Google on Stadia, we’re able to help them push the limits of gaming. We’re also investing in the UK’s fastest 4G, 5G and fibre networks, so our superfast home broadband service is the perfect accompaniment for those wanting to make the most from this innovative streaming gaming platform”.

Michiel van Eldik, General Manager & VP, Devices & Services, EMEA, said: “We’re excited to continue our cross-product partnership with BT in the UK to further drive the cloud gaming industry forward. BT has an established track record of leading the industry in delivering next-generation services and products to their customers. Through today’s announcement, we are able to make the best gaming content even more accessible, and to continue to change the way people access, play and enjoy their favourite games”.

The move follows BT’s announcement last week that it had signed a new multi-year contract with major esports team Excel Esports, to become their exclusive lead partner and will see BT branding prominent on all kit worn by Excel’s League of Legends European Championship (LEC) and UK League Championship (UKLC) teams. BT will also provide world class connectivity to Excel to help them train and perform at the highest levels.

For more information on the new plans, and full terms and conditions, customers should visit www.bt.com