The company is set to recruit across diverse areas such as cyber security, software engineering and customer service to support the UK’s fast growing digital sectors.

The new roles will be based at BT Group’s state-of-the-art offices; locations include Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Darlington, Ipswich, Leeds, London, Manchester, Sheffield, and Warrington².

BT Group is the UK’s top private sector apprenticeship employer, recruiting more than 3,000 apprentices and graduates over the past five years. In 2024, BT Group was named the UK’s leading private sector company for apprentices, recognising the company’s commitment to creating new apprenticeships, the diversity of apprentices and the number of apprenticeships successfully completed.

Athalie Williams, Chief Human Resources Officer at BT Group, said: “I’m incredibly proud of the opportunities we provide to develop new talent at BT Group and recognise the valuable contributions graduates and apprentices bring to the workforce. Last year alone, we recruited around 500 apprentices and graduates, all eager to learn, develop their skills, and help deliver better experiences for our customers.”

Last year, BT launched a new Apprenticeship Fund, designed to support SMEs, charities and public sector organisations across England, who can access up to £4m in apprenticeship funding over an initial four-year period.

In partnership with Babington, one of the UK's largest and longest-established apprenticeship training providers, BT is offering businesses the financial support they need to invest in talent, and organisations can register their interest on the BT Group Apprenticeship Fund Portal.

Jacqui Smith, Minister for Skills, said: “Apprenticeships are central to this government’s Plan for Change — they break down barriers to opportunity and equip people of all ages and backgrounds with the skills they need to go on to rewarding careers. They also drive growth by giving businesses the workforce they need in key sectors of the economy.

“It’s great to see BT Group, one of our Top 100 apprentice employers, backing this mission by recruiting more than 600 apprentices and graduates. Their commitment demonstrates the real impact apprenticeships can have both for individuals and for businesses pushing our economy forward.

“We are fully committed to expanding opportunities even further. Through our reforms, including the introduction of Skills England and our new Growth and Skills offer, we will ensure even more apprentices will join the pipeline of talent that will drive growth and power our mission-driven government.”

For more information on apprenticeships or graduate jobs at BT Group, please visit: bt.com/earlycareers.

Notes to editors

• Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers: Top apprenticeship employers celebrated - GOV.UK
• For more information about our Work Ready programme and our digital skills programme please visit: https://www.bt.com/skillsfortomorrow
• 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)

_{¹ 651 jobs: 633 apprentice and 18 graduate roles
² Field based roles are located in communities across the country}

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.