New research from BT Skills for Tomorrow found almost a third of interviewers admit to not hiring someone based on something they have seen in a candidate’s video backdrop (28%), with a further 58% saying a messy room in the background could cost someone the job.

A poll of 500 recruitment decision-makers reveals modern day job interview faux pas, such as 20% of calls have been joined by the household pet. Other interviewees have been caught short, with 13% standing up mid-call to reveal they are dressed in joggers or underwear.

The research also polled 500 people who have taken part in a video job interview over the last 12 months. The pandemic has meant job seekers have had, on average, three virtual interviews during lockdown, with most interviews now conducted via video (56%). Remote interviews are likely to remain the new normal with 42% of interviewers wanting to continue this way after COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.

While unreliable audio (25%) was also among the most common issues, one in 10 also admitted to answering a phone call during the interview. Video backdrops are viewed by some as a representation of a candidate’s work ethic, as more than two thirds of interviewers (67%) believe that applicants did not put enough thought into their background when on a virtual call.

More than half (51%) of interviewees believe video interviews are harder than those done face-to-face, and 30% have deliberately placed an ‘object of interest’ in shot behind them, to use as a talking point.

With 4 in 10 job seekers unable to land a job from virtual interviews, people need some support to impress potential employers over video. A number of candidates are already being proactive, with a third carefully tailoring their backgrounds to create a more positive impression, including books, awards and house plants.

BT Skills for Tomorrow is offering free resources and advice to support job seekers across the UK prepare for a digital future. This includes an upcoming interactive webinar – ‘be a hit at interviews’ – on 19 April 2021, designed to help jobseekers improve their interview technique, whether that’s by phone, on a video call or in person in the future.

Hannah Cornick, Head of Digital Impact, Consumer said: “Video calls are going to remain part of the hiring process well into the future, and there is an opportunity for candidates to use this to their advantage.

“Being in control of your environment and in a familiar space can help reduce nerves and allow you to showcase your personality. While you can’t always plan for unexpected interruptions, there are things you can do when preparing for a video interview to ensure you come across professionally and set yourself up for success.

“This is the time to show the interviewer your strengths and how you stand out from the crowd, without any distractions from your surroundings.”

In January this year, BT Skills for Tomorrow also launched Stand Out Skills to help candidates get in the right mindset for the journey ahead, discover the skills that businesses are looking for and understand how to make their strengths stand out. This is part of BT’s Skills for Tomorrow commitment to help 10 million people make the most of life in the digital world.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

The research was conducted by One Poll.com with 500 UK adults who’ve had a job interview via video call in the past 12 months and 500 UK employed adults responsible for hiring decision at their company between the dates of 18th to 24th March 2021.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ENDS

Notes to Editors

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

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

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

BT Group today released images of its new regional office hub at Three Snowhill - as it announced the first colleagues will move into the brand-new building in the New Year.

Around 200 people will begin working from the site early in 2021, following the latest public health guidelines, with more arriving in phases over the following months. The office is expected to eventually accommodate more than 3,000 people.

The state-of-the art building will also be the first of BT’s future-fit offices in the UK to open as part of its ‘Better Workplace Programme’ - the largest workplace improvement and consolidation scheme of its type ever undertaken in the UK.

The investment will help BT to transform the way it works, create efficiencies and enable it to better serve its customers. The new office is also a sign of the company’s commitment to the Midlands, providing a major new hub site for the region and the best facilities and services for colleagues to thrive.

The first colleagues to occupy the building will come from a wide range of its functions. BT will ensure social distancing rules apply inside the building, as well as following Public Health England’s latest guidelines on Covid-19 to ensure people are kept safe. The company will be the main occupier of the 17-storey development, marking a major investment by the company in the UK’s second city.

The update comes as BT released new interior images of the building. The modern office environment includes smart building technology, flexible workspaces and collaboration areas. There will also be a range of catering options including a ground floor café open to the public, world class event spaces, and a large media screen in reception.

Hosts will welcome and support colleagues and guests on arrival and throughout the building, and there will be a variety of wellbeing facilities including an on-site gym, multifaith rooms and parenting rooms. In addition, there will be cycling facilities and even a ‘bike doctor’ available to encourage as many colleagues as possible to travel into work by sustainable transport.

Graeme Paton, BT’s managing director of Property and Facilities Services, said: “This year has been so tough on everybody due to the impact of Covid-19 and we know how acutely this has been felt in Birmingham. We believe in the power of our teams and want to give them the best environments to connect, collaborate, create and innovate.

“As the UK’s second largest city, Birmingham is a strategically important location as part of BT’s future. Despite the issues caused by Covid-19, our contractors have been doing an amazing job getting the building prepared so we can occupy it.

“We are pleased to demonstrate this sign of commitment to the West Midlands region and we’re so excited for our colleagues who will be the first in the company to benefit from the future-fit facilities and latest technology that are the cornerstone of our transformation plans.”

Under the five year ‘Better Workplace Programme’, first announced in 2018, BT will consolidate its footprint of more than 300 locations to around 30. The company has already announced several other future locations including Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Manchester and Bristol. It will also move from its current headquarters in London at St Paul’s to a new 320,000 square foot, 18-storey building near Aldgate East Station next year.

BT colleagues based at Three Snowhill will include those from its existing sites in Birmingham and the wider region. The company will also recruit a number of new roles into Three Snowhill over the next year.

Andy Street, the Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “I am delighted that a firm of BT’s size and stature is making this move, especially at such a challenging time for the regional economy. It shows there is still a future for major city centre office blocks despite the coronavirus pandemic, and it is a real vote of confidence in the West Midlands economy.

“I look forward to welcoming the first tranche of BT’s employees in the New Year and seeing that number grow throughout the year as our city centres spring back to life.”

Paul Faulkner, chief executive of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, said: “This fantastic news is a great boost for Birmingham and the wider region at a time when we needed it most.

“By confirming their move to Three Snowhill, BT have underlined their confidence in the city and beyond. And there is the added bonus that their commitment will lead to new jobs being created.”

Wendy Sycamore, BT Group regional lead for the Midlands, said: “This is a really exciting time for BT in the region. Three Snowhill is an amazing workplace that will bring our colleagues together in a modern working environment that will facilitate and build upon the fantastic work BT is doing in the area.

“Birmingham is a really attractive city to work in for our colleagues and we will have access to a great talent pool in the West Midlands region. From digital infrastructure rollout and technology innovation to digital inclusion, BT is already playing a huge role in supporting the West Midlands economy and this will only serve to help expand and increase our ambitions”

Teams based at Three Snowhill will also benefit from Openreach’s full fibre broadband network investment in Birmingham, with more than four million premises across the UK set to receive ultrafast connections by March next year. Colleagues at the new office will also benefit from EE’s extensive 5G coverage in the area. According to independent testing from RootMetrics last year, EE’s 5G network achieved the highest availability in eight major cities, including Birmingham.

BT’s ambition is to increase efficiency and productivity, improving its ability to do the best for its customers. The Better Workplace Programme will deliver a combination of moves like this, into new offices, as well as the refurbishment of some existing BT buildings

BT Group plays an important role in the Midlands economy and is responsible for generating £1 in every £115 produced in the Midlands region, according to an independent report. It also generated nearly £2 billion towards the Midlands economy in Gross Value Added, during the 2017/18 financial year. BT Group employs more than 11,000 people across the Midlands.

The centre in Wilmington Drive has undergone a major revamp to modernise it and create a fantastic workplace for more than 1,000 colleagues – nearly double the number of colleagues based there currently (around 600).

The first phase of works, which started at the end of last year, are now complete and it’s already demonstrating what BT’s vision of the future will look like. The modern office environment will feature everything from full height windows providing natural light, café and restaurant facilities, flexible workspaces, collaboration areas, as well as plants. It will also include relax and refuel areas and a games area with table tennis, pool and games consoles.

The refurbishment is taking place in two stages, allowing contact centre workers to continue operating in another section of the building whilst work takes place. BT is ensuring social distancing rules apply inside the contact centre as well as following Public Health England’s latest guidelines on Covid-19 to ensure people are kept safe.

When the refurbishment is complete, the state-of-the art building will be one of the first of BT’s future-fit offices in the UK to open as part of its ‘Better Workplace Programme’ - the largest workplace improvement and consolidation scheme of its type ever undertaken in the UK.

BT says the investment will help transform the way it works, create efficiencies and enable it to better serve its customers. The new office is also a sign of the company’s commitment to Yorkshire and providing the best facilities and services for colleagues to thrive.The building itself will include multifaith and parenting rooms, and even a ‘bike doctor’ to encourage as many colleagues as possible to travel into work by sustainable transport.

Nick Lane, managing director for consumer customer services at BT, said: “The refurbishment of our Doncaster Contact Centre has been progressing well, with the first phase now complete.

“Throughout the refurbishment, some of our colleagues have chosen to remain on site while others have worked from home. Everyone has done a fantastic job ensuring our customers have been able to stay connected with family and friends during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We are fully committed to Doncaster and the wider Yorkshire region and we cannot wait for our colleagues based there to be among the first in the UK to benefit from one of our new future fit workplaces.

“Although it’s the same building, the capacity will be significantly increased thanks to this refurbishment. We plan to recruit further roles next year, providing new job opportunities in Doncaster.”

BT’s Doncaster contact centre first opened in 1997 and the company says the refurbishment will safeguard its long-term future.

Damian Allen, CEO Doncaster Council, said: “I’m delighted to see the progress that has been made on the refurbishment of BT’s Doncaster Contact Centre and it is undoubtedly a great vote of confidence that the company is planning to increase the number of staff they have based here.

“The centre makes a vital contribution to our local economy and community in Doncaster and I look forward to seeing the new centre when it is completed next year.”

Under the five year ‘Better Workplace Programme’, first announced in 2018, BT will consolidate its UK footprint of more than 300 locations to around 30. The company has already announced several other locations including Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Manchester, Birmingham and Bristol. It will also move from its current headquarters in London at St Paul’s to a new 320,000 square foot, 18-storey building near Aldgate East Station called One Braham next year.

Liz Needleman, BT Group regional lead for the North of England, said: “Doncaster is an important town for BT and a strategically important site for us in the region.

“When it comes to doing the best thing for our customers and colleagues, the buildings we work in play a huge part in how we feel about being here. We are bringing our people together in a brilliant space that will transform the way we work.

“This is a bold and ambitious programme for BT and we are committed to this major investment for Doncaster even in these challenging times.”

Teams based at the Doncaster Contact Centre will benefit from full fibre broadband as well as EE 5G mobile connectivity in the area. BT’s ambition is to increase efficiency and productivity, improving its ability to do the best for its customers. The Better Workplace Programme will deliver a combination of moves like this, into new offices, as well as the refurbishment of some existing BT buildings

BT Group plays an important role in the Yorkshire and The Humber economy and is responsible for generating £1 in every £190 produced in the region, according to an independent report. It also generated more than £1.2 billion to the Yorkshire and The Humber economy in “Gross Value Added” GVA, during the 2017/18 financial year. BT Group employs more than 6,400 people across the region.

The new building will complete the New Bailey scheme, close to the city’s Spinningfields business district. It will become a key hub for BT with the capacity for up to 2,000 colleagues – more than four times the number currently based in Manchester. The company will eventually occupy the full building, marking a major investment in the city. 

In the coming months, most colleagues will continue to work from home but when government and public health guidance confirms it’s safe to return to the workplace, BT wants to ensure it has inspiring environments to work in. BT is proceeding with this multi-million investment in Manchester as it strongly believes that brilliant office environments, combined with a more flexible approach to home working, will play a vital role in its future.

BT has secured the lease and plans to move colleagues into New Bailey from late 2023. It comes as BT today also announced a new temporary home in Manchester while the new site is prepared for occupation. 

The new temporary office at 125 Deansgate will give the leading telecoms and network provider the opportunity to grow its presence in Manchester, ahead of the transition to New Bailey. Deansgate is now ready for staff who want to work in the office in a safe and socially-distanced manner from this autumn, subject to government and public health advice.

The announcements are part of BT’s ‘Better Workplace Programme’ – one of the largest workplace improvement and consolidation schemes of its type ever undertaken in the UK. Manchester was announced in June 2018 as one of the first locations that will house BT’s workplaces of the future as part of the programme. The five-year programme will improve and consolidate BT’s footprint of corporate offices, contact centres and specialist sites across the UK. 

Graeme Paton, BT’s managing director of Property and Facilities Services, said: “Our new buildings will bring our people together in an impressive and modern environment, transforming the way we work.  

“Excitingly, they will become strategic locations for BT in the UK with a considerable increase in the number of colleagues based in this city. We hope our colleagues will be inspired by the new spaces, which will give them the tools and environment to be able to thrive. Our building at New Bailey will boast panoramic views over the River Irwell and across the city, as well as incorporating outstanding design features including a rooftop garden and exceptional communal spaces.” 

Liz Needleman, BT Group regional lead for the North of England, said it was a huge boost for the city. 

She said: “Manchester has already been revealed as one of our key cities and I’m excited that we have now identified the development that will provide an impressive, state-of-the-art building for our staff and represents our future vision as a company. I’m really pleased we’re able to make this long-term commitment to Greater Manchester during an incredibly difficult time for our economy due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Our new office spaces and increased presence in the city will make us one of the largest employers in the area.” 

Teams based at BT’s new and refurbished buildings will benefit from the company’s investment in the latest technology. BT’s ambition is to increase efficiency and productivity, improving its ability to do the best for its customers. The Better Workplace Programme will deliver a combination of moves like this, into new offices, as well as the refurbishment of some existing BT buildings. The programme is expected to be complete by 2024. 

BT Group plays an important role in the North West’s economy and directly employs more than 7,000 people in the region. According to an independent report, it generated a £1.6bn (£1,600 million) contribution – expressed as “Gross Value Added” (GVA)* – to the North West economy during the 2017/18 financial year. 

Manchester joins other locations already announced including, London, Birmingham, Warrington, Belfast, Edinburgh, Bristol, Cardiff and Ipswich (Adastral Park). More locations will be announced in due course.  

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.

That means the level of personal and local support we aim to provide is something only our three Consumer brands – BT, EE and Plusnet – can offer. It's important for every customer, for the communities we’re part of, and it's something every one of my colleagues believes in.

I've seen my colleagues' personal approach shine through since the world changed for us all three months ago. Not only are they working hard to keep the UK connected at a time when we all need to stay in touch more than ever. They've been putting care packages together for people working in local hospitals, 3D-printing face visors for frontline NHS workers, or delivering supplies to people self-isolating in their hometowns.

Our people keep doing amazing things.

Calls for Care Homes

During Loneliness Awareness Week, I want to share another brilliant colleague-led initiative – and I could not be prouder of the people who have made it happen. Volunteers from our BT contact centres in Gosforth and Doncaster have been making weekly calls to local care homes to help combat loneliness among socially-isolated care home residents. It was born of a project my colleague Chris Reid first began, called ‘Give A Little Bit’.

Now we’re calling this pilot initiative Care Home Companion.

COVID-19 and the lockdown that came into force in March has created an epidemic of loneliness. To help address that, my colleagues are using the interpersonal skills they use to support customers every day to build friendships. They’re having meaningful conversations with care home residents who might otherwise not have anyone else to talk to.

EE and BT have provided mobile handsets and SIM cards to each care home. Our volunteers work with the homes to arrange a suitable time to call their companions. After the pilot project's initial success, we are looking at rolling it out across our contact centres, from Canterbury to Greenock to Enniskillen, because it can be so rewarding for everyone involved. This is just the beginning.

My colleague Bev, who helped to set up the scheme, has spent her time speaking with Pat. In Bev's own words:

"I know I’m going to be grinning throughout the call. I just enjoy talking to her about things I would have done or watched as a child. It brings back lovely memories. When people go into a care home, they tend to not get a lot of visitors, so it's an important thing to do. These people are telling us personal things, they’re opening up to us.

"Although this is new to me, it’s quite close to home because my mother is currently in a care home with dementia. She's since forgotten who we are, but I always think about her when I'm doing these calls. We’ve heard of residents who have hardly left their rooms, prior to receiving our calls. Now they’ll socialise with the other residents, telling them all about their chat with us."

I know just how much more our people do beyond the personal, local customer service they provide. And I know there are projects like this helping people in our local communities are happening up and down the UK. I talk a lot about our mission to make BT a National Champion, breaking down barriers and going Beyond Limits for our customers, for our people and the rest of the country. This initiative from my colleagues to lighten loneliness in care homes is one awesome realisation of that.

We connect for good.

- Marc Allera, Consumer CEO

Follow me on Twitter and Instagram @marcallera

To help lighten the loneliness epidemic in care homes, a team of over 40 volunteers from the BT contact centres in Gosforth and Doncaster make regular calls during their shifts to local Marton Care Home residents. The employee-led initiative offers volunteers from contact centres the opportunity to give back to their local community using their professional skills to chat with residents who might not have anyone else to talk to.

The idea was born out of an existing project set-up by a group of BT employees to help tackle loneliness in the UK. Lockdown and social distancing has had a devastating impact for residents in care homes, so EE and BT volunteers are taking this project one step further to help combat loneliness for this vulnerable part of society.

Volunteers work with the care home managers to find a companion with similar interests and find a suitable time to help get the budding friendships off to the best start. Residents who don’t have a phone have been provided with handsets and SIM cards. The pilot is still in the early stages but is already creating positive results.

Nick Lane, MD of service, BT’s Consumer division said: “Giving back to the local communities that we’re part of is so important, so when we heard there’s 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 while we’re still at the trial stage with a small team, I’m hoping we can ultimately grow this. COVID-19 has only fuelled the UK's loneliness epidemic which is why this initiative is even more rewarding for everyone involved.”

Colleagues who volunteer to take part are given full training on top of their professional customer service skills to help their companions feel more connected during lockdown. 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.

Dawn Ellis, a volunteer from BT Gosforth, who speaks to Ruth, often chats about Ruth’s favourite ice cream:

“Our calls are lovely, Ruth is such a joy to talk to, she tells me about what she has done in the day. She loves attending her local church services but can’t at the moment because of the lockdown situation. We had a good chat the other day when she heard the ice cream van coming, in fact, she couldn’t be quick enough to get off the call as she didn’t want to miss it and thought it was great that she can get an ice cream and I couldn’t. She is looking forward to talking to me next week to let me know which ice cream she had.”

Bev Wilson, who initially helped to set up the scheme, and has spent her time speaking with Pat:

"Speaking with Pat has been just so rewarding. I know I’m going to be grinning throughout the call. I just enjoy talking to her about things I would have done or watched as a child. It brings back lovely memories. It’s important now more than ever because when people go into a care home, they tend to not get a lot of visitors anyhow because of their age. Now, they’re getting to speak to somebody different. These people are telling us personal things, they’re opening up to us, probably the first people they’ve spoken to about these things in a long time.

"Although this is new to me, it’s quite close to home for me as my mother is currently in a care home with dementia. She's since forgotten who we are but I always think about her when I'm doing these calls. We’ve heard of residents who hardly left their rooms, prior to receiving our calls. Now they’ll socialise with the other residents, telling them all about their chat with us. The only thing that might cut a chat short is if the ice-cream van arrives or it’s time for bingo! Just speaking about it now puts a grin on my face.”

The last few weeks have changed the way we use technology in ways we probably never imagined. Many of us are spending more time online, whether that’s home schooling, home working, shopping, gaming, or video calling with friends and family.

BT has produced a range of ‘Top Tips on Tech’, which give guidance on online issues ranging from children’s safety through to working from home and taking your business online. Throughout all these activities, it’s vital that you are doing them securely and protecting yourself from cybercrime. To help you, BT is supporting the government’s Cyber Aware campaign which gives six important tips to stay secure online.

Alongside these top tips, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has also produced helpful guidance on the secure use of video conferencing, online gaming and shopping to help keep us protected during this period of social distancing. Both BT and the NCSC believe making this guidance both easily available and understandable is crucial to keeping the UK safe online, and will explain below how following these steps can help your security.

Your email account contains lots of important information about you and is the gateway to all your other online accounts. If you think about it, if someone gets into your email, they could potentially reset the password on all your online accounts. That’s why it’s so important to keep it secure by protecting it with a strong password that is different to all your others. But what makes a strong password? Essentially the longer and more unusual your password is, the stronger it becomes and the harder it is for a criminal to hack or guess. The best way to make your password hard to hack is by using a sequence of three random – but memorable – words. For example, “BeachTarantulaOranges” (don’t copy this one though…).

You’ve probably got more online accounts than you can keep track of, from banking to shopping to social media to TV streaming services. You should avoid using the same password for different websites and do this by finding a way to remember passwords that works for you. Saving your passwords in your browser or by using a third party password manager is a great way to do this.

For an added layer of security on your important accounts, turn on two-factor authentication (2FA). This is a free security feature that’s available on many popular services and helps to prevent criminals accessing your accounts, normally by sending you a text or code when you log in, to check you are who you say you are. So if another person tries to access your account, they’re prevented from doing so.

Making sure your devices – your laptop, phone, tablet, smart speaker – have the most up to date software and apps is one of the best things you can do to immediately improve your security. Cyber criminals exploit weaknesses in software and apps to access your sensitive personal data, but providers are continually working to keep you secure by releasing regular updates. We’d encourage you to regularly check for updates on your devices and apps or set them to automatically update so you don’t have to think about it anymore.

If you’ve ever left your phone in your pocket and not realised until you heard it bouncing round the washing machine, your first two thoughts were probably ‘that’s going to be expensive’ and ‘I hope I haven’t lost all my photos’. We can’t help with the first thought, but the second one is easy to prepare for – just turn on automatic backup on your device. Not only will it help keep those treasured memories safe so you can access them again when you get a new device; it will also mean that if your phone, tablet or laptop is hacked you can recover quickly from your backup.

Finally, you may have noticed that cyber criminals using our fear of coronavirus (COVID-19) when sending scam emails that try and trick people into clicking on a bad link. The link could take you to a dodgy website or infect your device with malicious software. You may have received an email that claims to have a ‘cure’ for the virus or encourages you to donate. If you receive an email that you’re not quite sure about, you can send it to the NCSC’s Suspicious Email Reporting Service by forwarding it to report@phishing.gov.uk. If anything is found to be malicious, the NCSC will take it down and you will have helped protect others from falling victim to scams.

For more information visit www.ncsc.gov.uk/cyberaware

BT has committed to creating many more digital roles in 2020 and is offering a range of apprenticeships which will develop into the cyber security experts, software developers, data analysts and network engineers of the future. BT Group, including Openreach, is one of the UK’s largest private sector apprenticeships employers.

The Secretary of State for Education, The Rt Hon Gavin Williamson CBE MP, said: “This is a brilliant achievement and I applaud the BT Group for their continued support and investment in apprenticeships. The digital economy is booming, and we need to make sure we can continue to build the skilled workforce to support it.”

“Apprenticeships are a great way for people of all ages and backgrounds to learn the skills they need to go on to have successful careers. I look forward to hearing how the new recruits are getting on.”

BT has been creating apprenticeships and employment opportunities for young people for decades. More recently, the Group has embraced the apprenticeship levy to significantly increase the range of programmes on offer – creating thousands of meaningful careers since 2017. During that period BT has also significantly increased the number of digital apprenticeships it offers, reinforcing its commitment to developing the skills needed for the digital economy.

Alison Wilcox, Group HR Director, BT Group said: “BT is at the heart of the UK’s digital economy and as a leading employer of apprentices and graduates we offer unparalleled development opportunities. Our business attracts people from all walks of life, and we value the diverse perspectives they bring. We look forward to welcoming the 2020 newcomers.”

Alongside its apprenticeship and grad scheme opportunities, BT is also investing in several initiatives to empower the next generation. These include BT’s Work Ready programme which gives young people aged 16-24 who are not in education, employment or training, on-the-job experience, and tech literacy; and Barefoot which aims to give 5 million children the skills to thrive in the digital world by 2025, through a mixture of workshops and school teacher training.

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

BT has launched its latest advertising campaign today supporting BT Halo - the UK’s best converged plan – providing customers with ultra-reliable, superfast connectivity at home and on the go, and expert home service like they’ve never experienced with BT’s new Home Tech Experts.

The campaign launches with a 90 second TV advert that premieres on Friday 17^th January during Love Island on ITV 2. The campaign focuses on the importance and far-reaching nature of human connection and highlights the power of what can happen when people come together. This includes medical care, sporting achievements, a girl searching for her biological father via social media, and record-breaking attempts.

The campaign shows gamers, musicians, students, parents and athletes benefitting from connecting with others whilst a spoken-word poet brings this to life through an inspirational poem. The ad ends with an emotional scene showing the girl finally being reunited with her father finishing with the message that BT Halo helps create millions of connections every day across the UK.

BT’s recent gaming partnership with esports team Excel also features with a fan in the ad sporting the team jersey.

The multi-channel campaign also includes out of home (OOH), both roadside and across seven major train stations, bus liveries, cinema, broadcast VoD, a 60 second TV ad, and online video, press, and social. The campaign was developed by Saatchi & Saatchi.

BT launched its BT Halo proposition in November to redefine connectivity in and out of the home. Customers signing up for BT Halo enjoy the best of BT, with a wide range of benefits available including:

• In-home support from BT’s Home Tech Experts

• The fastest speeds from BT at home and on the go, with fibre and 5G

• Complete Wi-Fi - the UK’s fastest Wi-Fi speeds guarantee

• BT’s latest Smart Hub with Wi-fi Controls to help family’s manage screen time

• BT’s Keep Connected Promise

• Unlimited mobile, home phone and broadband calls and data

• Dedicated UK & Ireland customer service teams

• And BT’s price promise, with no end of contract price rises

Pete Jeavons, Director of Marketing Communications, BT said: “This campaign shows the power of connections between us all, and the amazing things we can do together. BT Halo keeps people connected with the best from BT – offering unlimited, reliable 4G, 5G and fibre, as well as dedicated Home Tech Experts to help customers make the most of their technology and stay connected to the people and experiences that matter most to them.”

As previously announced, BT has agreed the sale of BT Centre to Orion Capital Managers. The transaction includes an initial leaseback agreement of 30 months during which time BT will move to its new headquarters in Aldgate.

BT’s new headquarters will be housed in a new fit-for-purpose building, developed and owned by Aldgate Developments, and will be adaptable to suit the business’ changing needs.

“We’ve been headquartered in BT Centre for nearly 35 years and we’ve been looking for a building in central London that will be the home of BT for the next 35 or more. The 18 floors of our new headquarters will do just that,” said Philip Jansen, Chief Executive, BT. “Between now and moving into the building we’ll be working with architects, designers and – most importantly – our colleagues, to make sure it’s the home the business wants and needs.

“The relocation of our global headquarters is a symbolic move but really it’s the tip of the iceberg; we are currently embarking on one of the largest workplace transformation programmes the UK has ever seen. The Better Workplace Programme is going to take a lot of hard work but it will have a huge and positive impact on BT’s working culture, our productivity and, ultimately, our ability to serve our customers.”

BT’s current offices in St Paul’s were purpose-built and completed in 1985, one year after the company’s privatisation. Since then, the immense changes within BT and technological advancements across the industry have left the building no longer fit-for-purpose. BT’s deal with Orion Capital Managers and subsequent move to brand new offices in Aldgate will provide business continuity and the opportunity to significantly upgrade the current working environment.

Paul Molloy, Leasing Director for Aldgate Developments, said: “Aldgate Developments and our partners are delighted to welcome BT to One Braham for their new corporate headquarters. They could not have picked a more exciting and dynamic location in Central London.

“BT have recognised the quality that Aldgate Developments and our world class team deliver in our buildings. We look forward to bringing more offices to the market in London and Dublin in the near future, and to working with BT to make them very happy in their new home.”

BT expects to complete the move to its new offices by the end of 2021 at which point the site in Aldgate, currently called One Braham, will be renamed.

• BT’s workplace improvement and consolidation programme is the biggest of its type ever undertaken in the UK and is expected to complete by 2023

• More than 300 BT office locations across the UK will be consolidated to around 30

• All of the new locations will benefit from 5G connectivity

Today, BT Group revealed the first eight of the locations that will house its workplaces of the future as part of a three-to-five-year programme initially announced in May 2018 to improve and consolidate its workplaces across the UK.

‘The Better Workplace Programme’ will consolidate BT Group’s footprint of more than 300 locations to around 30, containing modern, future-fit buildings, including corporate offices, contact centres and specialist sites. It is the largest programme of its type in the UK. BT’s telephone exchanges will be retained by the Group.

Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Ipswich (Adastral Park), London and Manchester are the first towns and cities to be selected and will house a variety of the company’s operations. This is a clear signal that BT is committed to the whole of the UK, with locations in all four countries and their capitals. Though detailed plans of BT’s footprint in each location are still to be finalised, some existing BT buildings will be refurbished while others will see BT move into new offices.

BT Group plays an important role in the UK’s four countries and is responsible for generating £1 in every £75 produced across the UK, according to an independent report. It also generated £22.8 billion to the UK’s economy in “Gross Value Added” GVA, during the 2017/18 financial year.*

All eight locations will benefit from 5G coverage, announced on 22 May. Teams within the future-fit buildings will benefit from state-of-the-art mobile connectivity alongside the existing fibre connections.

“The Better Workplace Programme is about bringing our people together in brilliant spaces, and transforming the way we work,” BT Group chief executive Philip Jansen said. “Revealing these eight locations is just the first step; we have dedicated teams working on identifying the best buildings to move into and which ones to redesign for the future. As a result of this programme, BT people will be housed in inspiring offices that are better for our business and better for our customers.”

As announced in May 2018, BT Group will also exit its St Paul’s headquarters in London and is currently identifying a new home for the business in the capital. Further details on ‘The Better Workplace Programme’ will be revealed in due course.

The ‘yourshare’ scheme will amount to approximately £50m per year for BT Group colleagues around the world, equating to an initial award value of £500 per employee. The shares will need to be held for three years, a move designed to encourage the long-term thinking and customer focus that will drive the success of the company.

Openreach colleagues’ awards will be aligned to the success of Openreach and its customers to ensure that their independence is maintained.

Chief Executive Philip Jansen said: “I want to make BT a company that exceeds our customers’ expectations and does a brilliant job for the country. To achieve that, I’m going to start with our colleagues: the 100,000 people involved in developing and delivering the essential products and services that connect millions of people across the globe.

“I’m asking our colleagues for their commitment to making BT a national champion; and I want to give them ownership in our company and a share in our success. Placing customers at the heart of BT will only be possible by investing in the lifeblood of the business, our people, giving everyone a stake as we build a better BT for the future.”

Carolyn Fairbairn, CBI Director-General, said: “BT’s move towards employee ownership is very welcome, giving employees a stronger voice, which has been shown to foster productivity growth and inclusivity in the workplace.

“All businesses need a structure that works for them and their staff, and workers should rightly feel they are an integral part of any business.”

At an event for BT’s colleagues around the world today, Jansen will outline his internal proposals for a new, re-energised BT. These new initiatives will be considered over the coming months, following input from BT’s workforce.

At its Full Year results last week, BT reaffirmed its strategic commitment to improving customer service, investing in its leading fixed and mobile networks and transforming its operating model. BT confirmed its intent to imminently launch the UK’s first 5G network. The company, together with Openreach, also outlined an increased fibre rollout target from 3m to 4m premises passed by March 2021 and an increased ambition to pass 15m premises by the mid-2020s, if the conditions are right.

BT will recruit talent into the company across areas as diverse as engineering, customer service, TV production, and cyber-security to support the UK’s fast-growing digital sectors. The new recruits will also support the company’s plans to extend 4G coverage and build the latest 5G networks around the UK.

Over a fifth of this year’s recruits will be based at BT’s world-renowned labs at Adastral Park, near Ipswich, in Suffolk. The research centre plays a leading role in the development of mobile technologies, artificial intelligence and ultrafast broadband.

These figures are in addition to Openreach’s recent drive to bring in 3,000 engineers to support their fibre broadband ambitions. BT and Openreach are currently delivering a wide range of apprenticeships to over 6,000 learners.

Many of the apprentices will achieve foundation and full degrees as part of their work at BT, while graduate recruits will also have the opportunity to secure fully funded qualifications. The scheme is delivered in partnership with local colleges, training partners and universities to ensure that apprentices and graduates receive the best education in their area of focus, as well as hands-on experience and training.

Alison Wilcox, HR Director, BT Group said: “We’re proud to be a leading employer of apprentices and graduates in the UK, investing in training thousands of people to give them the digital skills they’ll need to prosper. Through our apprenticeship and graduate programmes, we are able to attract people from all walks of life, allowing us to bring in new perspectives and develop a highly skilled, committed workforce. I look forward to welcoming the new recruits who are joining BT at such an exciting time.”

BT Group is one of the UK’s largest employers with 82,800 people based in the UK. The new roles, which include those within EE and Plusnet, are spread across a number of locations including London, Glasgow, Belfast, Warrington, Bristol, Cardiff, Doncaster and Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

BT has developed and offered apprenticeships for more than 60 years and has a commitment to helping individuals meet the demands for innovation and digital skills in the UK. BT’s Work Ready programme was launched in 2014 specifically for NEETS (Not in Education, Employment or Training). To date, more than 6,500 people from around the UK have participated and more than half have gone on to either gain employment or return to education.