The DigiTech Centre will provide cutting-edge digital skills for people looking to pursue careers in information and communications technology and received the blessing of Her Royal Highness, Princess Anne, when she visited Adastral Park at the beginning of the project.

Specialist high tech laboratories form the heart of the new centre and it will be used jointly by university staff, students and businesses at Adastral Park and across the region.

Professor Mohammad Dastbaz, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Suffolk said: “In a rapidly developing technological age, we want the DigiTech Centre to be a state of the art ‘solution centre’ for SMEs and other businesses as well as a research and knowledge transfer hub. The Centre will have state of the art specialist laboratories in AI, Data Science, Network Security and Cyber range and will make Suffolk a recognised destination for industry-focused ICT and Digital Creative study programmes and an internationally recognised destination for continuous professional development in digital technologies. This new initiative will play an important role in our region and nationally and we are pleased that students at the University will benefit from the partnership with BT and state-of-the-art facilities.”

Adastral Park is BT’s global Research and Development centre and has played a pivotal role in telecommunications research, such as the commercialisation of single-mode optical fibre, and the recent development of the world’s first quantum networks.

Lisa Perkins, Adastral Park and research realisation director at BT, said:  “This is a major milestone for us at Adastral Park as this new centre will help supply a rich pipeline of new technology talent, which will not only be of huge benefit to BT, but also the entire region.”

“There is also a growing demand for people with skills in new technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data science. The courses and scholarships offered through the University of Suffolk will mean that we will have access to students graduating with these key skills right on our doorstep.

“The DigiTech Centre builds on a legacy of innovation and development at Adastral and ensures the East of England continues to be a major technology hub.”

The DigiTech Centre has received funding from the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). C-J Green, Chair of New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership said: “This is a stunning facility and one which will help supply the skilled workforce demanded by our fast-growing and high-value digital tech sector. Ipswich is recognised as having a vibrant digital creative hub and students at the DigiTech Centre will have the opportunity to become part of the Adastral Park community. This investment will nurture skills, create jobs and increase growth and productivity in a sector that underpins the Norfolk & Suffolk economy.”

The DigiTech Centre has several facilities which span both the University’s Waterfront campus in Ipswich and BT’s Adastral Park. Adastral Park is home to BT’s Applied Innovation Labs and Innovation Martlesham, a cluster of over 100 high-tech digital and technology companies.

To find out more about the DigiTech Centre please visit www.uos.ac.uk/digitech

BT Group, its spend with contractors and suppliers, and the spending power of its own employees, are responsible for supporting nearly 55,000 jobs in the East of England, according to an independent report published today.  

The Economic Impact of BT Group plc in the UK report, by consultancy firm Hatch, calculates that the communications and technology company generated more than £24 billion in gross value added (GVA) to the UK economy during the last financial year, including £3.1 billion in the East of England alone*. 

The report estimates that around 54,700 full-time jobs in the East of England are supported by BT Group through direct, indirect and induced effects. The firm also spent £1.5 billion with suppliers based in the East of England, including those in the education, construction and telecommunications industries.

BT Group has broadband and mobile networks spanning from the Scilly Isles to Shetland, built and maintained by some of the 82,800 direct employees it has in the UK. In the East of England, the firm directly employs 8,560 people, with a further 394 employed as contractors.

The company is currently modernising its business, including investing in the UK’s largest workplace consolidation and modernisation programme, as it moves from 300 locations to around 30 as part of its Better Workplace programme. BT’s research and innovation hub at Adastral Park, near Ipswich, has also been named as a key site in the company’s future. The Group plans to open a new HQ in London later in 2021, while strategic hub locations are due to open in places such as Birmingham, Bristol and Manchester, providing future-fit workplaces of the future for thousands of colleagues.

Last week BT unveiled plans to recruit 78 apprentices and graduates at Adastral Park for its September 2021 intake, including roles in cyber security and applied research. Meanwhile, Openreach, the digital network business, part of BT Group, announced in December that it would create 295 full time engineering roles across the East of England this year.

Jane Thomas, BT Group regional lead for the East of England, said: “I’m immensely proud of the contribution our colleagues make in supporting the East of England economy. At an important time for our region, our spending on people, networks and suppliers, provides a vital economic boost. The wider impact of that spending helps to sustain communities and small businesses right across the region.  

“In the past year, having good connectivity has become more important than ever as we’ve all had to work, learn, and spend more leisure time online. Despite these challenges, our dedicated and determined colleagues have ensured EE’s 5G network has been extended to cover 125 towns and cities, including Ipswich, Brentwood, and Watford; built out Openreach’s full-fibre networks to reach 4.1 million premises; and EE’s 4G network now reaches 85 per cent of the UK. I know these significant investments will help to underpin the country’s economic recovery post-Covid.” 

Employees from across BT Group, which includes Openreach, EE and Plusnet, have played a key role in keeping the country connected during the pandemic. The company has provided critical support to the NHS, SMEs via its Small Business Support Scheme and school children by providing unlimited broadband data, free mobile data and access to learning resources for customers. 

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

Richard Tunnicliffe, CBI East of England Director, said: “BT is a major employer in the East of England and has a big impact on the economy and jobs. It’s good news to see this significant presence continuing.

“BT Group’s investment in the region not only means a boost to local economies, but also to skills and high-quality jobs, including recruiting apprentices and graduates. BT’s investment in the fastest networks and latest technology is also vital for the country. Being connected is essential for our businesses, for boosting productivity and for improving quality of life in all our communities.”

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

Summary of results for year 2019/20: 

• 82,800 employees directly working for BT Group in the UK, and 10,600 contractors (Full Time Equivalent – FTE)  

• 300,000 total FTE jobs supported (including indirect and induced effects)  

• £3.4 billion total income of BT Group employees (including contractors)  

• £10.1 billion spend with suppliers based in the UK  

• £24 billion total GVA impact associated with BT Group activities (including indirect and induced effects) 

• BT Group directly employed 1 in every 230 employees in the private sector across the UK, and 1 in every 12 in the IT and Communications sector  

• BT Group directly created £1 in every £165 of GVA in the UK  

• As a result of the full economic impact of BT Group, the firm supported £1 in every £75 of GVA in the UK economy and 1 in every 90 employees working in the UK economy 

More than 3,600 traditional red boxes are available for adoption across England and BT will also consider adoption requests to house defibrillators in more modern boxes. BT is encouraging community groups to seize the opportunity to do something wonderful with phone boxes that have little or no usage. Already, more than 5,800 payphones have been adopted by communities since 2008.

BT will continue to provide electricity (if already in place) to power the light for adopted kiosks, free of charge to communities. Where electricity is available, adopted boxes can be used as housings for defibrillators – an increasingly popular and potentially life-saving conversion. Other exciting new ventures include conversions to mini-libraries, miniature art museums, cake shops and information centres. One payphone in Devon was even turned into the “world’s smallest nightclub.”

Commenting on the launch, Katherine Bradley, BT’s Senior Payphones Commercial and Operations Manager, said: “We’re pleased to be giving even more local communities the chance to adopt a phone box. With more than 5,800 payphones now adopted across the UK, this is a fantastic opportunity for communities to own a piece of history.

“The opportunities are endless and we’ve already seen some amazing transformations. Applying is easy and quick and we’re always happy to speak to communities about adopting our traditional BT red payphone boxes.”

Communities can adopt a kiosk if they are a recognised public body, such as a parish council, community council town council or parish meeting. Boxes can also be adopted by registered charities or by individuals who have a payphone on their own land.

Most people now have a mobile phone and calls made from our public telephones have fallen by around 90 per cent in the past decade. BT is also replacing more than 1,000 payphones in major cities across the UK, with new digital hubs called InLinks as part of a joint venture with InLinkUK. Each InLink provides ultrafast, free public Wi-Fi, phone calls, device charging and a tablet for access to city services, maps and directions.

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

Case study

Two former traditional red phone boxes purchased by Appleton Parish Council in Warrington, Cheshire, for £1 each through BT’s Adopt a Kiosk scheme have now been converted into a great community asset.

The Parish Council secured the boxes in 2017 and has now successfully refurbished them. The one kiosk has been turned into a Book Swap where residents, including school children, can take and deposit books; while the other houses a defibrillator.

Joanne Monks, clerk of Appleton Parish Council, said: “We secured two former red phone boxes through BT’s Adopt a Kiosk scheme for £1 each and we have turned them into a great community asset.

“The residents think it’s fantastic and the Book Swap is really popular with people of all ages. We have approx. 50 plus books stacked neatly within the former telephone box that people can take away, read, enjoy and then exchange for another one.

“We actually secured the defibrillator for free thanks to the British Heart Foundation and it’s an important facility. With something as serious as a cardiac arrest, time is of the essence and this one is situated in a place that’s easily accessible and could potentially help save someone’s life.

“I would encourage other communities to take advantage of the scheme and preserve a bit of heritage for their area while providing a valuable community asset.”

Residents using the Book Swap are asked to make a donation at the Parish Hall to help the project’s running costs. Appleton Parish Council also hopes that the box housing the defibrillator can be a recognised stop on any planned heritage trail of the area.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Private individuals cannot purchase kiosks unless they own the land where the kiosk is currently placed.

Here’s a list of eligible bodies from our website: 

‘The Economic Impact of BT Group plc in the UK’ report, by Hatch Regeneris, shows that the communications company generated a £2.7 billion contribution – expressed as “Gross Value Added” (GVA)* – to the East of England economy during the 2017/18 financial year.

The report estimates that the equivalent of 47,200 full-time jobs in the East of England are supported through BT’s direct employment, its spending with contractors and suppliers and the spending of its employees.

BT Group directly employs 11,700 people in the East of England, with a further 678 employed as contractors. It’s estimated that BT Group supports one in every 40 employees working in the East of England’s private sector, reinforcing its position as one of the region’s leading employers.

The Group also spent nearly £1bn (£993m) with suppliers based in the East of England.

Across the UK, BT Group directly employed 94,800 people (FTE) and supported an estimated total of 290,000 full-time jobs. It also generated, in total, almost £23bn (£22.8bn) to the UK economy.

BT's main research facility is located at Adastral Park – located in Martlesham in Suffolk – which employs more than 3,000 people.

Tim Fanning, Director at Hatch Regeneris, said: “Our analysis underlines how vast BT Group’s contribution is to the UK economy, particularly across the nations and regions.

“BT Group is almost unique in contributing to the economies of virtually every community across the UK, supporting significant levels of GVA spend and employment opportunities per region.”

The report from Hatch Regeneris comes in addition to a recent report by PWC¹ which highlighted that BT Group is the 5^th highest tax contributor in the UK among FTSE 100 companies, and the highest contributor among non-financial companies. The PWC report also identified BT as the largest capital expenditure investor in the UK.

Giles Ellerton, Regional Director, Midlands and East Anglia, said: “Few companies play as important a role in the East of England as BT Group. Not only does BT connect friends, families and businesses across the UK, but we also put premium fuel in the tank of the nation’s economy. The report shows that BT generates £1 in every £55 of wealth in the East of England.

“We’re proud to be one of the region’s largest private sector employers and investors. Our investments, including the latest 5G mobile technology through our mobile network EE, will ensure the UK continues to be one of the world’s best-connected economies. Information and communications technology remains one of three core industrial sectors across East Anglia thanks to our Global Research and Development HQ in Martlesham.

“With more than 12,000 people directly employed in the region, spending their salaries in local businesses, as well as regularly volunteering on activities such as our Barefoot tech literacy programme in schools, our people are at the heart of nearly every community.”

The report includes the contribution of all parts of BT Group, including Openreach, mobile network provider EE and BT’s Consumer and Enterprise divisions.

The report highlights that, across the East of England in 2017/18, BT Group:

Directly employed a total of 12,400 people (FTE) and supported an estimated 47,200 full-time jobs

Spent £993 million with suppliers based in the East of England

Generated £2.7bn (£2,750 million) total GVA impact (including indirect and induced effects)

Directly employed 1 in every 160 employees in the private sector across the East of England, and 1 in every 8 in the IT and Communications sectors

Supported £1 in every £55 of GVA in the East of England’s economy and 1 in every 40 employees working in the East of England’s private sector.

Across the UK in 2017/18, BT Group:

Directly employed 94,800 people (FTE) and supported an estimated total of 290,000 full-time jobs

Employees committed more than 37,000 volunteering days to worthy causes

Spent £510 million on research and development, making it one of the UK’s top investors in innovation

The full report is available at: www.bt.com/reports

ENDS

Notes to Editors

*Gross Value Added (GVA) measures the value of all goods and services produced in an economy. GVA combines wages and operating profits from companies and other organisations. Growing GVA can reflect improvements in workforce skills, productivity, R&D and innovation. The figures for BT show the value added directly through BT's services and additional value generated through BT's suppliers across the nations and regions.

¹ PWC Total Tax Contribution of UK FTSE100 companies 2018. BT is:

5th highest contributor (amongst FTSE100 respondents) of UK taxes (borne and collected) – with the 4 slots above BT occupied by banks (HSBC, Lloyds, Barclays, RBS);

4th highest payer of UK wages and salaries;

2nd highest overall distributor of “value” into the UK, where value is the sum of taxes borne, taxes collected, wages and salaries paid, interest paid, and equity returns (which are available for reinvestment, dividends and pension deficit payments) ;

Highest capex investor.