The company 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 its 5G network around the UK.

The new roles are spread across a number of locations including Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Ipswich, Leeds, London and Manchester².

Many of these state-of-the-art offices form part of BT Group’s Better Workplace Programme - the largest workplace improvement programme and consolidation scheme of its type ever undertaken in the UK. The programme, which will complete in 2024, will establish an estate of future fit, high tech workspaces where colleagues can collaborate, innovate and deliver the best service for BT Group’s customers and for the business.

BT Group is one of the UK’s largest private sector apprenticeship employers and has recruited more than 2,600 apprentices and graduates over the past four years. The company has around 4,000 colleagues working towards their qualifications at any given time.

Athalie Williams, Chief Human Resources Officer, BT Group said: “As one of the largest private sector employers of apprentices and graduates in the UK, we continue to recruit and attract brilliant people into our business and we offer unparalleled development opportunities to those who join us.

“Despite the current economic backdrop, we’re building a future pipeline of talent to help drive growth across our business, deliver great outcomes for all of our customers and to underpin economic growth in the UK.”

In 2022, BT Group was ranked third 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.

Alongside its apprenticeship and graduate scheme opportunities, BT Group is investing in several initiatives to support young people and jobseekers. These include Work Ready and Fast Futures which have already helped thousands of young people kickstart their careers, providing opportunities for young people looking to launch their careers and preparing them for the world of work.

Work Ready and FastFutures form part of BT Group’s ambition to help 25m people in the UK develop the skills they need to make the most of life in the digital world by 2026 and to build a diverse digital talent pipeline for the business and the UK.  

For more information on how to apply for an apprenticeship or graduate job at BT Group, please visit: https://www.bt.com/earlycareers

ENDS

Notes to Editors

• Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers: Top apprenticeship employers for 2022 announced - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• BT Group wants its workforce to have a 50% gender split, with 25% from an ethnic minority group, and 17% with a disability by 2030. For more information about the BT Group Manifesto, visit https://www.bt.com/btmanifesto
• BT Group is a partner of the Fast Futures  programme which helps provide equal opportunities to 18-22-year olds 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 our digital skills programme please visit: https://www.bt.com/skillsfortomorrow

For further information please contact Adam Emberson on 07740 008408

¹ 422 jobs: 187 graduate and 235 apprentice roles.

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

The past few years have created new ways of working and doing business. A time of significant change has caused many to think about whether their current career path is right for them long-term.

According to research we conducted, 69% of people would reskill and work in a different field if given the opportunity. The number of workers looking to switch careers in the “great resignation” is an unprecedented opportunity to tackle the cyber skills gap.

What’s clear from our research, though, is the cyber security industry itself is still facing an uphill battle around perceptions and awareness. Before being told more about the sector, only 4% of UK adults would consider cyber as an alternative industry if they were to retrain. This reduced to as little as 1% in females.

We recently launched a first-of-a-kind 16-week reskilling programme, in collaboration with CAPSLOCK, to tackle the shortfall of people with cyber security skills and continue our commitment to investing in our people. The initiative will see people across various areas of the BT business retrained and placed into crucial cyber security roles, all while keeping their pay cheque.

The scheme is all about opening doors for those who might not have seen an obvious way into a security career, while also challenging many of the perceptions and barriers that are preventing people from considering careers in cyber security.

Perceived barriers to entry in cyber security

So, what’s the extent of the problem? Well, the cyber security industry is still perceived as opaque and inaccessible to many. When asked why they didn’t see cyber security as a viable career path, over two thirds (38%) of people said they didn’t know enough about the sector, while 32% said cyber sounded too technical for them, and a quarter (25%) cited age as a potential barrier. When asked to imagine a cyber security professional, 39% of people imagined someone with a bachelor’s degree or above.

The reality is that our industry requires a broad array of skills and there are a wealth of different roles in the industry, many of which rely on transferable skills that many people already possess. Those with the right attitude and determination can thrive in the cyber security industry, irrespective of their experience, education or age.

Insurmountable barriers to reskilling

The sector clearly has a way to go in addressing misconceptions, but there are also more general concerns about switching careers. Almost half (42%) of the UK’s workforce feel unable to leave their current career path.

Amongst those who feel barriers to switching careers are too great, over a third (31%) believe they are too old to learn new skills, 28% say the uncertainty of getting a foot in the door of a new industry is their biggest worry and 24% said they said they can’t afford to take time off to get the necessary accreditations for their dream role.

While addressing misperceptions of the cyber security industry is the right step in encouraging more people to consider the profession, we must also offer pragmatic routes into the industry. Reskilling programmes are a key part of how organisations can retain and grow talent, by identifying individuals with relevant interests, potential, and transferable skills and supporting them to reach their full potential.

Our recently announced reskilling opportunity is just one example of how we’re committed to the development of our own people’s careers. Outside of BT, we’re also proud to support the public through our Skills for Tomorrow programme. Since the start of the pandemic, our Work Ready webinars have boosted digital and employability skills, covering topics such as CVs and job interviews.

For more information on our reskilling programme in collaboration with CAPSLOCK 

For more information on careers at BT Security, visit our careers page

A celebration event was held yesterday (25 September) at BT Sport Production Hub in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, to mark the graduation of 45 people who took part in an 11-day BT Work Ready Programme.

Labour peer, Lord Tony Young attended to present certificates to the graduates. The participants, all aged between 18 and 24, have received training and work experience with the telecoms firm to help them in their future careers.

BT’s Work Ready programme, in partnership with charity Movement to Work (MtW), is helping thousands of young people not in education, employment or training across the UK. The programme equips them with vital skills and work experience for a career in an increasingly digital world.

Fabian Douglas, 21, from Bromley, said he had struggled to find a job since 2017 but was feeling more optimistic after taking part in the programme.

“The BT Work Ready programme has been great and I already feel so much more confident. I’ve gained tips on how to create a great CV, learned how to cope with the pressure of a job interview and developed lots of new skills which I’ve now updated on my LinkedIN profile. Being unemployed over the past couple years has been difficult, but this opportunity at BT has given me a clearer understanding of what I want to do.

“The work experience placement was brilliant and I’m really grateful to the BT staff who helped me get a taste of what it’s like working in a digital role for the company. It’s also opened my eyes to the opportunities available.”

Mat Sears, corporate affairs director for BT’s Consumer division, who presented certificates alongside Lord Young at the event, said: “I’d like to say a huge congratulations to all these young people who have taken the first steps towards their future careers.

“Nothing can imitate a real working environment so that is exactly what this programme sets out to achieve. The workplace is changing and nearly all jobs in the future will require at least an element of digital skills, so it’s vital that we equip the next generation with the tools and knowledge they need to be able to thrive.”

The work placements are part of a national pilot of the Government-led Transition to Work project which aims to support unemployed young people into work.

Youth unemployment remains a challenge in the UK. The national youth unemployment rate was 11.4% in May-July 2019*, compared with 3.8% for the whole population**. In London, 13.3% (121,000) of young people aged 16-24 are currently Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) according to latest figures***.

Since BT launched its Work Ready programme in 2014, around 3,000 young people have graduated from the scheme. More people took part than ever before during 2018 with 982 starting the programme and 77% of those completing it.

The Movement to Work charity focusses mainly on young people who are NEET. More than 50% of those who have completed a placement have gone into employment or back into education.

James Ashall, Movement to Work chief executive, said: “Congratulations to all the young people who have graduated from the BT Work Ready programme and we wish them all the best in their future careers.

“Brilliant employability programmes help businesses build a workforce that represent the communities in which they operate. This ultimately drives diversity, promotes social mobility and, crucially, supports individuals to fulfill their potential.”

Notes to editors

* Source: Parliament UK Research Briefing, September 2019 https://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/SN05871

** Source: ONS Labour Market Overview, UK: September 2019 https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeetypes/bulletins/uklabourmarket/september2019

*** Source: NEET Statistics Annual Brief 2018

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/neet-statistics-annual-brief-2018

Corey Taylor, from Nuneaton, served in the military for six years specialising in radio and satellite communications and setting up communications during operational tours.

His work involved operational tours of Iraq and Kosovo but with a young family, Corey decided to leave the Army to spend more time with them. He initially began working in IT and then took a two year career break while studying electrical installation at college as a mature student.

But, despite gaining a recognised qualification, Corey struggled to find a suitable job. Thankfully, he found out about the STEM Returners programme – a scheme that works with employers to recruit, develop and retain qualified and skilled people who are looking to re-start their careers or transfer their skills to another sector.

Applications for the next intake are now open until 26 April. For more information visit www.stemretuners.com

Corey, 41, has now secured a job as a BT engineer, helping maintain the company’s power network.

He said: “I really enjoyed my time in the Army and served all over the world. My role setting up the hubs enabled troops on the ground to communicate with each other. It was difficult work but my training made it easier to get the job done.

“The STEM Returners programme gave me the opportunity to showcase my skills and experiences by getting me a foot in the door of BT. After attending an informal open day, I was invited to join the programme - a paid internship to learn the job and hone my recently acquired qualifications in a practical environment. At the end of the programme I was delighted to accept a permanent position as a Power Engineer at my local BT site.”

Corey’s role at Telecom Centre, Coventry, includes maintaining the engines that generate their own electricity and power BT’s exchanges in case of emergency.

He added: “No day is the same and I'm constantly learning new things and completing new training.”

Pete Buckle, BT engineering services director, said he hoped Corey’s success would encourage more people to consider a career in engineering through the programme.

He said: “I’m delighted to have Corey working with us. It’s incredibly important to have an inclusive and diverse workforce - it adds a different set of skills and perspectives.

“We need to make STEM subjects and engineering more attractive to everyone, that will allow us to choose from a diverse and representative range of applicants.”

The STEM returners programme is open to anyone with electrical engineering or power planning skills who has taken a career break or would like to transfer to a different sector but lack the relevant work experience.

BT is also one of the largest employers of former armed forces veterans and reservists in the UK. The company’s support for the armed forces includes another programme called Transition Force, which helps service leavers and veterans find the right civilian career.

Notes

Stem Returners

STEM returners is a programme open to anyone with electrical engineering or power planning skills who has taken a career break, or would like to transfer to a different sector but lack the relevant work experience.

Once on the programme, participants join a paid 12-week structured return to work, which will include soft skills training, technical training and on the job experience, as well as coaching and mentoring support.

At the end of the 12 weeks, job offers will be made to those who have shown the necessary skills and aptitude to join the engineering specialists.