The scenic village of Clocaenog in Denbighshire had been without reliable mobile phone coverage for decades until a partnership between BT, Denbighshire County Council, Clocaenog Community Council and the Welsh Government was launched to plug the gap by bringing EE’s award-winning network to the area. The project is also supported by additional funding from the Brenig Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund.

Residents and businesses in Clocaenog can now benefit from high-speed EE mobile connectivity, with the UK’s best and most reliable mobile network¹ available across the village, helping people to stay connected whether they're working remotely, accessing services online, exploring the local area, or keeping in touch with family and friends.

Installed on an existing lamppost in the centre of the village, the technology provides an innovative way of extending mobile coverage into rural communities, helping tackle long-standing ‘not-spots’ in areas where traditional infrastructure can be more challenging to deploy.

Kris Longworth, a resident of Clocaenog for over four years, said: “The new EE coverage has made a huge difference to everyday life here. Before, getting a mobile signal meant travelling outside the village, whereas now I can make calls around my home and stay connected while out walking locally. As someone who works from home, that flexibility makes a real difference, allowing me to keep on top of messages and calls when I'm away from my desk. It's also reassuring to know that if our broadband goes down, or if family members need to get in touch while they're out and about, we now have a reliable way to stay connected. For a rural community like ours, it's been a real game-changer."

Susi Marston, Head of Public Sector Wales at BT Business, said: “Bringing mobile connectivity to Clocaenog gives residents and local businesses opportunities they have never been able to access before. This partnership has been entirely focussed on working together to provide the community here with better connections to services, stronger links between people and more confidence to grow and plan for the future. Using ‘mini masts’ means we are able to deliver the network services people need in a way which respects the unique character of the area.”

Adam Price, Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy, said: "Digital not-spots that cut communities off from modern life and economic opportunity have no place in our vision for Wales. As the new Welsh Government, we are committed to driving investment, innovation and higher productivity across Wales, and innovative projects like this will play an important part in delivering the stronger connectivity needed for the future Wales we want to foster.”

The project in Clocaenog is the latest example of how BT, local authorities and government are working together to help tackle mobile not-spots in rural communities across Wales.  It follows BT’s announcement earlier this year that EE had become the first UK operator to deliver reliable mobile connectivity the Welsh village of Penmachno in the Machno Valley, a few miles south of Betws-y-Coed. It also builds on BT’s ongoing commitment to advancing digital infrastructure throughout Wales, having invested more than £500 million in fixed and mobile connectivity across the country since 2020.

¹Claims based on the RootMetrics® UK RootScore® Report: H2 2025. Tested at locations across the UK with the best commercially available smartphones on 4 national mobile networks across all available network types. Your experiences may vary. The RootMetrics award is not an endorsement of EE. Visit ee.co.uk/claims for more details.

Photo credit: Natural Resources Wales

The Business Park Full Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) Project is a major step forward in bringing gigabit-capable broadband to business parks across Ceredigion and Powys. The project will deliver fast, reliable and future-proof full-fibre broadband to business parks that currently lack access to gigabit-capable connectivity. This investment will help local businesses grow, improve productivity and remain competitive in an increasingly digital economy.

The project forms part of the Growing Mid Wales Digital Programme and the wider Mid Wales Growth Deal – a £110m investment from the UK and Welsh Governments – to support economic growth across the region.

Crucially, the project focuses on business park properties that are not included in existing commercial broadband rollouts or other publicly funded programmes. This ensures the investment delivers clear added value by focusing on sites that would otherwise miss out on high-quality broadband. Full-fibre connectivity will be delivered to key employment sites across Ceredigion and Powys.

Beyond the identified business parks, the network build will also enable additional nearby homes and businesses to upgrade to full fibre as the network is extended through the area. This will further expand access to gigabit-capable broadband and maximise the wider benefits of the investment across the region.

Under the contract, BT will design and build a full-fibre network capable of supporting download speeds of up to 1 Gbps, with the flexibility to meet future demand. The network will be open access, meaning businesses will not be tied to a single provider and can choose broadband services of their choice from a range of Internet Service Providers, helping to promote choice, competition and value for money.

Councillor Bryan Davies, Leader of Ceredigion County Council, and Councillor Jake Berriman, Leader of Powys County Council, Co-Chairs of the Growing Mid Wales Board, said: “This project demonstrates the momentum already building across the Mid Wales Growth Deal, with investment translating into delivery on the ground. It is a major step forward for Mid Wales. Ensuring our business parks have access to gigabit-capable full fibre will strengthen the foundations for regional growth, improve competitiveness, and support businesses to adopt modern digital tools and services. Importantly, this project targets premises that were not in the scope of existing commercial or publicly funded programmes, ensuring the benefits of full fibre reach more of our communities and employment sites."

The Business Park FTTP Project forms part of the wider Growing Mid Wales vision to address connectivity challenges and unlock the economic benefits of digital infrastructure investment, supporting inclusive growth and long-term resilience across Mid Wales.

Susi Marston, Head of Public Sector Wales at BT, said: “Reliable, high-quality broadband makes a real difference to how people run their businesses every day, giving them the connectivity they need to innovate and grow. This programme means more people and places can benefit from fast, dependable digital access, helping them thrive in an increasingly digital future. Wales is a key location for BT and plays a vital role in powering the UK’s economy, so investing in the digital infrastructure which will power its businesses for years to come really matters to us.”

As part of the contract, BT will also deliver digital skills support for small and medium-sized businesses across Mid Wales. This will include a virtual programme led by industry experts, offering practical workshops, tools and tailored guidance to help businesses build digital capability and improve productivity. Targeted promotional activity will ensure businesses across the region are aware of and able to take part in the programme.

Network rollout has commenced, with businesses encouraged to sign up to the Growing Mid Wales newsletter for further updates as the project progresses: https://www.growingmid.wales/Newsletters

Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy, Adam Price, said: “We welcome the rollout of full-fibre broadband to business parks across Mid Wales. Gigabit-capable connectivity will help local firms grow, innovate and compete on a level playing field. Support of £55m has been made available from the previous Welsh Government to the Mid Wales Growth Deal. As a newly elected government, we will work with partners to drive long term prosperity for the region and beyond by building stronger Welsh businesses, creating sustainable high-quality jobs, and connecting people and opportunities.”

Wales Office Minister Anna McMorrin said: "The UK Government’s investment in the Mid Wales Growth Deal is bringing about real change for businesses and people across the region, driving forward our commitment to growing the Welsh economy and creating jobs in every part of Wales. The rollout of superfast broadband will enable businesses in Ceredigion and Powys to work more efficiently and reach more customers, while also boosting connectivity for local people."

The announcement builds on BT’s strong presence across Wales, with the company employing more than 4,500 people across the nation and providing a £680 million boost to the Welsh economy.

Notes to Editors

The Mid Wales Growth Deal, set within the broader vision for Growing Mid Wales, is a long-term investment providing capital funding to support regionally significant economic infrastructure that drives private sector investment and stimulates growth. Supported by a combined commitment of £110m from UK and Welsh Governments to leverage further public and private investment, the Growth Deal aims to create long term jobs and increase productivity, playing a key role in catalysing economic opportunities and growth across the region. 

BT Group has opened its new hub and Welsh HQ in Cardiff for 1,000 colleagues.

The move represents a multi-million pound investment by BT Group in the city, and secures a new, significant presence for the company in the Welsh capital. 

The new workspace and contact centre – located in the Capital Quarter development of the city centre – will become a hub for colleagues from across BT Group, including EE, BT Business and Openreach. 

Teams have been moving into the new workspace from other BT Group buildings in the city and wider region. 

The new Cardiff HQ is part of BT Group’s major programme* to modernise the company’s workspaces and reduce its number of locations in the UK from more than 300, to around 30. 

The workspace has been fitted with the latest smart building technology, flexible workspaces and collaboration areas. It also features a 6th floor roof terrace, café, underground cycle parking and shower and changing facilities. 

Brent Mathews, BT Group’s director of property, said: “We're really pleased to open our exciting new workspace in the centre of Cardiff. Despite the economic challenges, and changes to working patterns caused by the pandemic, we think this is an important investment and it secures our presence in the capital of Wales and the wider region. 

“It will bring our people together in an impressive and modern environment that will help us work better together, and attract and retain the best people. Our new workspaces have a real focus on colleague wellbeing.  

“We still see an important role for the office, where colleagues can come together to connect, learn and develop their skills. This is particularly important for younger people and those at the start of their careers.” 

BT Group remains one of Wales's leading private sector employers – employing around 4,000 people – and has a considerable impact on the Welsh economy. According to an independent study, the Group's activities in Wales contribute around £700 million a year to the Welsh economy and support more than 8,000 jobs across the nation. 

BT Group is also investing heavily in new ultrafast full-fibre broadband and mobile networks across Wales. Openreach revealed recently that half of all Welsh properties (more than 800,000) can now access ultrafast broadband thanks to the investment in a new, full fibre digital network. 

In terms of mobile networks, EE has continued to upgrade its 4G and 5G networks across Wales. EE’s 4G network now covers more than 85% of Wales’s geography, more than any other provider. It has continued to expand 4G in rural Wales, with 200 rural locations in Wales being upgraded by June 2024 as part of the Shared Rural Network. 

ENDS 

Canolfan newydd BT Group ar gyfer 1,000 o bobl yn agor yng Nghaerdydd 

Mae BT Group wedi agor swyddfa a phencadlys newydd yng Nghaerdydd ar gyfer 1,000 o weithwyr. 

Mae’r gweithle newydd yn cynrychioli buddsoddiad gwerth miliynau o bunnoedd gan BT Group yn y ddinas, ac yn sicrhau presenoldeb newydd, arwyddocaol i’r cwmni ym mhrifddinas Cymru. 

Bydd y swyddfa a’r ganolfan gyswllt newydd – a leolir yn natblygiad Capital Quarter yng nghanol y ddinas – yn dod yn ganolbwynt i weithwyr o bob rhan o BT Group, gan gynnwys EE, BT Business ac Openreach. 

Mae timau wedi bod yn symud i'r gweithle newydd o adeiladau eraill BT Group yn y ddinas a'r rhanbarth ehangach. 

Mae’r pencadlys newydd yng Nghaerdydd yn rhan o raglen sylweddol gan BT Group i foderneiddio gweithleoedd y cwmni a lleihau nifer ei leoliadau yn y DU o fwy na 300, i tua 30. 

Mae'r gweithle yn cynnwys y dechnoleg clyfar diweddaraf, mannau gwaith hyblyg a mannau cydweithio. Mae hefyd yn cynnwys teras ar y 6ed llawr, caffi, maes parcio beiciau tanddaearol a chawodydd a chyfleusterau newid. 

Dywedodd Brent Mathews, cyfarwyddwr eiddo BT Group: “Rydym yn falch iawn i agor ein gweithle newydd a chyffrous yng nghanol Caerdydd. Er gwaethaf yr heriau economaidd, a’r newidiadau i batrymau gwaith a achoswyd gan y pandemig, rydym yn credu fod hwn yn fuddsoddiad pwysig ac mae’n sicrhau ein presenoldeb ym mhrifddinas Cymru a’r rhanbarth ehangach. 

“Bydd yn dod â’n pobl ynghyd mewn amgylchedd trawiadol a modern a fydd yn ein helpu i gydweithio’n well, a denu a chadw’r bobl orau. Mae ein gweithleoedd newydd yn canolbwyntio ar lesiant cydweithwyr. 

“Rydym yn dal i weld rôl bwysig i’r swyddfa, lle gall cydweithwyr ddod at ei gilydd i gysylltu, dysgu a datblygu eu sgiliau. Mae hyn yn arbennig o bwysig i bobl iau a’r rhai sydd ar ddechrau eu gyrfaoedd.” 

Mae BT Group yn parhau i fod yn un o brif gyflogwyr sector preifat Cymru – yn cyflogi tua 4,000 o bobl – ac yn cael effaith sylweddol ar economi Cymru. Yn ôl astudiaeth annibynnol, mae gweithgareddau’r grŵp yng Nghymru yn cyfrannu tua £700 miliwn y flwyddyn i economi Cymru ac yn cefnogi mwy nag 8,000 o swyddi ar draws y wlad. 

Mae BT Group hefyd yn buddsoddi’n sylweddol mewn band eang ffeibr llawn newydd a rhwydweithiau symudol ledled Cymru. Datgelodd Openreach yn ddiweddar y gall hanner yr holl gartrefi a busnesau yng Nghymru (mwy na 800,000) bellach gael mynediad at fand eang gwibgyswllt diolch i fuddsoddiad newydd yn y rhwydwaith digidol ffeibr llawn. 

O ran rhwydweithiau symudol, mae EE wedi parhau i uwchraddio ei rwydweithiau 4G a 5G ledled Cymru. Mae rhwydwaith 4G EE bellach yn cwmpasu mwy nag 85% o ddaearyddiaeth Cymru, yn fwy nag unrhyw ddarparwr arall. Mae EE wedi parhau i ehangu 4G yng nghefn gwlad Cymru, gyda 200 o leoliadau gwledig yng Nghymru yn cael eu huwchraddio erbyn mis Mehefin 2024 fel rhan o’r Rhwydwaith Gwledig a Rennir (Shared Rural Network).  

DIWEDD 

Notes 

BT Group’s Better Workplace Programme is one of the largest workplace improvement and consolidation scheme of its type ever undertaken in the UK. The five-year programme, which will be completed this year, will see the company shift from having around 300 locations in the UK to around 30, with a focus on creating new, modern workspaces. The company has already opened new flagship offices in London, Birmingham and Bristol, refurbished offices in Glasgow and Belfast, and a new regional hub is opening later this year in Manchester. 

BT has confirmed that it will continue to sponsor the four professional rugby union sides in Wales until the end of the 2023-24 season, marking ten consecutive years as sponsor.

The company has sponsored all four Welsh professional teams – Ospreys, Cardiff Rugby, Scarlets and Dragons – since 2014, making it one of the longest sponsorship deals in the history of Welsh regional rugby.

When the first sponsorship agreement was signed in 2014, the ground-breaking deal used the BT Sport name and promoted support for grassroots, youth and community rugby.

BT said that it, and Welsh rugby, had experienced a lot of change over the last ten years, but that it was pleased to provide “continuity” in its support for professional and community rugby in Wales.

Scarlets Executive Chairman Simon Muderack said: “Speaking on behalf of the four Welsh professional sides, we’d like to express our heartfelt thanks to BT for their ongoing support of the domestic game.

“For the last decade, BT have been there through the highs and lows of Welsh rugby. To have such a well-respected business leader backing the game has meant a lot and all four of us look forward to collaborating on various initiatives and projects to promote Welsh rugby in the years to come.”

During the course of the sponsorship, the BT brand has appeared on player kits, at the clubs’ grounds and the agreement has involved community engagement with the teams.

Community initiatives have included the ‘Mini Judgement Day’ rugby festival, sponsored by BT, which has seen more than 1,000 young players (aged 7+8) from community clubs in all four regions come together for a mini ‘tag’ rugby tournament at the iconic Cardiff Arms Park stadium.

Other initiatives have included an education and mentoring programme with the clubs called ‘Tackle’, to help inspire young people in disadvantaged areas of Wales. There has also been joint charity work including BT and EE volunteers supporting various initiatives including food banks, Christmas charity food parcel drops and painting community clubhouses.

Matt Stevenston, head of sponsorship at BT Group, said: “We’re really pleased to be able to celebrate ten years of our sponsorship and relationship with the four Welsh teams. We believe this is the longest sponsorship in the history of the four Welsh clubs, so it's great to mark this milestone. BT and Welsh rugby have seen a lot of change in this ten-year period, but we’re proud to have been able to provide continuity in our support over this time.

“We hope our joint charity work and support for events like the BT Community Rugby festivals has made a difference and helped inspire a new generation of players and supporters.”

BT Group has a significant presence in Wales, both as a major employer and a leading provider of broadband and mobile connectivity. It currently employs around 4,000 people across Wales and is about to open a brand-new office and regional hub in the centre of Cardiff.

EE, part of BT Group, is also the lead sponsor of Wales’s national football teams.

BT has today announced the next phase in the rollout of its new home phone service, Digital Voice, to UK customers on a region-by-region basis.

Following successful pilots in Salisbury (Wiltshire) and Mildenhall (Suffolk), BT announced plans earlier this year to start contacting customers on a phased region-by-region basis across the country. Starting with the East Midlands in July, Yorkshire and the Humber in August and Northern Ireland in September, customers are contacted at least four weeks in advance before making the switch, to ensure that they are ready to move to Digital Voice.

Today, BT has announced the remaining regions and nations set to make the switch over the next year: 

Autumn 2023

• North West
• London

Spring 2024

• West Midlands
• South East
• Wales
• East Anglia

Summer 2024

• North East
• Scotland
• South West

Throughout the programme, BT will also be contacting some broadband customers in England, inviting them to switch their landline to Digital Voice in advance of local and regional campaigning in their area.

The landline is here to stay

The move comes as part of an industry-wide shift from analogue to digital landlines, where calls are made over a broadband line, and will see BT and nearly all other landline operators in the UK, including Virgin Media O2, supporting their customers in making the switch by the end of 2025.

The landline isn’t going away but is being upgraded to replace the decades old analogue technology that is increasingly unreliable and is no longer supported by suppliers and manufacturers. Customers risk facing increased service outages if this urgent infrastructure upgrade isn’t carried out now by BT and other operators. This new future-proof, digital landline technology is also a major step towards preparing the country for a Full Fibre future, in support of the UK Government’s gigabit connectivity ambitions.

Digital Voice will have no impact on how BT customers use their home phone and will not cost any more than customers pay today. They’ll still have the same service, and price plans and bills will stay the same. In addition, more than 99% of phone handsets work with Digital Voice and for those that won’t, BT has a range of handsets that customers can order.

In support of its regional approach and building on the successful starts in the East Midlands and Yorkshire and Humberside, BT is explaining to customers the simple steps required to make the move to Digital Voice through local and regional media and advertising campaigns. BT will also have a high street presence and hold local ‘town hall’ drop-ins to answer customer questions in person.

Initially, BT won’t be proactively switching anyone who falls under the below criteria, where it has this information available:

• Customers with a healthcare pendant
• Customers who only use landlines
• Customers with no mobile signal
• Customers who have disclosed any additional needs.

Customers who fall into any of these categories should contact BT to ensure their data is up to date.

Customers over the age of 70 are not being proactively switched to Digital Voice. However, since July 2023, BT has been trialling switching customers between 70-74 who live in urban areas and are ready to make the switch, i.e. they have the latest broadband hub and are not frequent landline users. These trials have gone well to date, with 98% of customers choosing to make the switch, and pending further consultation with the Digital Voice Advisory Group, BT will look to extend this trial nationally.

Lucy Baker MBE, All-IP Director, BT Consumer, said: “Through the work with our Digital Voice Advisory Group and our regional engagement, we’ve held 40 events, placed local radio and newspaper ads and met over 4,000 customers in person.

“We understand that any change can be unsettling, and we’re here to support our customers every step of the way. First-hand experience shows that once people have the facts and have spoken to one of our advisors, they feel confident to make the switch.

“If we’ve not been in touch or visited your area yet, don’t worry. We’ll be in touch when it’s time to switch. For anyone who has any issues, questions or concerns, then I’d encourage them to get in touch and let us know.”

Sarah Brain, Free Services Manager at AbilityNet, said: “Here at AbilityNet our staff and volunteers have been supporting BT to raise awareness of Digital Voice around the UK, and in particular to help those more nervous about the switch to give them the reassurance they need to make the move. 

“As a charity we support older and disabled people with technology at home every day, so we know that the world of tech can seem daunting.  The roadshows have been a great opportunity for us to work alongside BT to support those customers, and the ‘in person’ aspect is so important to answer any questions and concerns individual to them.”

Supporting customers every step of the way

BT has established and continued to work closely with its Digital Voice Advisory Group* – an association made up of charities and representative groups – who have been advising on the needs of customers most affected by the switch. Feedback from this group and its members has helped to shape the approach the company is taking.

BT and the industry, with the support of industry body, Tech UK, have been engaging with healthcare pendant and burglar alarm providers who will also need to upgrade their customers’ equipment to ensure that the most vulnerable customers continue to get the service they need.

A host of additional support and services will also be available including:

• The ability for customers to nominate a family member, friend or carer who will receive all the information about switching on their behalf.
• When vulnerable customers start to make the switch, they'll automatically receive equipment and an engineer appointment. Their switch won't go ahead until they have spoken to an advisor and booked an appointment.

For peace of mind in the event of a temporary power cut, BT will provide additional resilience to those who need it most, including:

• Free battery back-up units for Digital Voice customers with additional needs, who identify as vulnerable and/or live in an area without mobile signal. Customers without additional needs can also choose to purchase a battery back-up unit. 
• A hybrid phone that can switch to a mobile network and has an in-built battery for Digital Voice customers without a mobile phone.

In readiness for the December 2025 deadline, Openreach have taken steps to end the sale of new analogue services across the UK. That means when customers who have access to broadband sign up for a new contract – or when they switch, upgrade or re-grade their service via their provider – they’ll be moved onto a new digital landline rather than an analogue one.

Customers without broadband will not be switched to a digital landline until they are able to. BT will install new equipment in the local telephone exchange that will allow customers to use their phone in the same way as they do today. This temporary solution will keep customers connected until they are able to make the switch to Digital Voice and will help BT to retire its analogue service by the end of 2025.   

Together with Government, Ofcom, telecoms providers, charity partners and key industry groups, BT is working hard to ensure that everyone knows about the change, how they will be impacted and what they need to do as a result.  Further information about the industry wide change can be found here: UK transition from analogue to digital landlines - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

To find out more about BT’s new home phone service, Digital Voice, please visit: www.bt.com/digital-voice

ENDS

Notes to Editors

*Members of the Digital Voice Advisory Group include Age UK, Department of Health and Social Care, Independent Age, Rural Services Network, and Which? amongst others. This group of stakeholders have been incredibly important in helping to shape our plans for how we approach the move to digital home phones.

Useful links:

• UK Government website: UK transition from analogue to digital landlines - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• Ofcom: Moving landline phones to digital technology: what you need to know - Ofcom
• Which?: Digital Voice and the landline phone switch-off: what it means for you - Which?
• Age UK: Changes to landline telephones | Age UK
• Local Government Association: Digital switchover hub | Local Government Association

Case study: Marlene’s story

Marlene came to our town hall event in Leeds after receiving her invitation to find out about Digital Voice. She has her landline and broadband with BT, but only uses broadband for on demand TV programmes, so her telephone is her only means of keeping in touch with her loved ones. Here’s what she had to say to Alexander Clark and Macauley Green from our Customer Service team:

“It was so helpful to have it explained to me personally and I could ask questions. I’m not great with technology – I can’t even send a text message! My daughter had broadband connected for me so I can keep up with all my programmes, but I wouldn’t know where to begin surfing the web!

“Now I understand what’s happening with the telephone lines it’s a lot like when the television went digital and I didn't need my portable aerial anymore.

“At first, when I heard about Digital Voice I was worried I would lose my landline but Alexander and Macauley put my mind at rest that I’ll still be able to use my home phone and keep in touch with my family and friends - it will just be even better.”

Any of our customers who have been contacted about making the switch (regardless of their age) has the ability to call us with any questions or concerns and can defer their migration for the time being.

The activities of BT Group added £740 million to the wider economy of Wales last year and supported nearly 8,500 jobs, according to a new report published today.

The report from consultancy firm Hatch looked at the spend of employees and suppliers of BT Group – which includes EE, BT, Plusnet and Openreach – and the estimated knock-on impact that has on economies across the country.

The report found that BT Group, the UK’s largest telecommunications company which employs nearly 5,000 people in Wales, made a direct contribution to the economy of Wales estimated at £490 million in the last financial year (2021/22). Through the company’s employees and its supply chain, and their subsequent spending, Hatch estimates the resulting boost to the economy of Wales came to a total of £740 million.

The company’s spending with suppliers based in Wales came to a total of £110 million. According to the study, BT Group’s combined activities supported a knock-on total of 8,490 jobs across Wales.

The report highlights BT Group’s presence across Wales and its current major investment in the rollout of full-fibre broadband and 5G across the country. It also profiles the range of activities by BT Group colleagues across the country, from the volunteers helping care home residents avoid isolation and loneliness, to the innovative trials taking place in Wales to use 5G technology to help improve learning and skills for pupils and students living in rural areas.

BT Group is also transforming its offices and contact centres across the UK. The company is due to open a brand-new office and regional hub in the centre of Cardiff later in 2023. The company's contact centre is Bangor has received a major refurbishment as part of the programme and the EE Merthyr Tydfil centre will undergo a similar refurbishment in the coming year.

It is part of the company’s Better Workplace Programme, one of the largest workplace improvement schemes of its type ever undertaken in the UK. The five-year programme will see the company shift from having around 300 locations in the UK to around 30, with a focus on creating new, modern workspaces.

Philip Jansen, Chief Executive of BT Group, said: “BT Group plays a vital role at the heart of the Welsh economy. We're one of only a handful of companies that serves customers in every corner of the country.

“We've continued our major investment in building next generation full fibre and mobile connectivity rapidly across the UK. We've already reached 9.6 million premises with full fibre, and our 5G mobile network now reaches 60% of the UK population. The benefits to families and businesses are huge: new jobs, economic growth and innovation, across every nation and region.

“We’re also transforming BT Group so that we’re fit to power the Welsh economy of the future. Our new state-of-the-art offices, spread across the UK, are a central part of that, bringing colleagues together in brilliant spaces that will enable collaboration and help us to better serve our customers.”

The Group, via its digital network business Openreach, is already delivering ultrafast full-fibre broadband across Wales, while its mobile business EE is a leader on mobile coverage. Its 5G network has now expanded to cities and towns across Wales and its 4G network has now reached 85% of Wales’s geography, putting it ahead of the other mobile networks.

Notes

The Economic Impact Report 2023 has been prepared independently by Hatch Urban Solutions, drawing upon data for BT Group plc activities in the UK during the last financial year 2021/22.

9 February 2023, London: EE today announces new details of its nationwide investment to connect the UK to 5G, with the technology reaching hundreds of rural communities across the UK for the first time. A series of new innovations that will boost the range, resilience and energy efficiency of mobile connectivity in the years ahead have also been unveiled.

5G rollout windfall for rural communities

EE’s 5G network, which already reaches nearly every major UK town and city as well as over 60% of the population, is now expanding into more rural populations. Nearly 500 smaller communities, including Church Stretton and Birkenshaw in England, Llandeilo and Pen-y-banc (Carmarthenshire) in Wales and Tayport and Ratho in Scotland, now have their first 5G signal from EE, bringing the total number of UK cities, towns and villages where customers can access EE 5G to over 1,000.

As part of the rollout, EE’s 5G is also reaching National Parks and popular rural tourist destinations. Among seasonal hotspots seeing a 5G boost are Berwick-upon-Tweed and Windermere in England, Brecon (Aberhonddu), Dolgellau (Gwynedd) and Narberth (Pembrokeshire) in Wales, and Fort William in Scotland. The Brecon Beacons, Pembrokeshire Coast and The Broads are also named as the first National Parks to be getting the technology, which will deliver better performance and connectivity for residents, businesses and visitors. The investment in rural coverage is part of a commitment to deliver an EE 5G solution anywhere in the UK by 2028.

Technological innovation drives network improvements

BT Group has announced it is testing a range of innovative technologies to boost the range, reliability and energy efficiency of its networks. These include:

• UK’s first 4G sent over low earth orbit satellite: BT Group has partnered with OneWeb to achieve the first transmission of 4G data using a low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite link to connect an EE mast to the mobile core network, instead of a traditional line of sight microwave or fibre connection. This paves the way for connecting small ultra-remote communities, emergency responders and disaster recovery units and other temporary deployments like festivals, events or construction sites.
• Mobile coverage in harder to reach areas: In collaboration with Stratospheric Platforms Ltd (SPL), BT Group is running a trial that aims to deliver mobile coverage from the air using a ‘High Altitude Platform’ (HAPS) system being tested at BT’s Global innovation centre (Adastral Park). This has the potential to unlock connectivity for the most remote areas.
• Self-powering sites: EE is weeks away from launching its first self-powering mast using sustainable energy, in Wales’ Elan Valley. Initial assessments demonstrate that local sourced renewable energy (wind and solar) can contribute up to 90% of the site’s requirements.
• Biofuels phase-in: Trials are commencing to test the use of biofuels like Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), Biogas and Hydrogen in network generators to support wider resilience. EE will initially implement the solutions as a trial across 20 physical sites.

Underlying 4G leadership the key to a quicker rollout

EE has also revealed that its 4G network is on track to pass 90% of the UK’s geographic landmass by the mid-2020s thanks in part to the huge investment made in network infrastructure in line with its commitment to the Shared Rural Network (SRN). EE’s founding 4G network stretches more than 2,500 square miles further than the nearest challenger, with new 4G coverage added to nearly 50 locations every single month over the past three years. The network expects its landmark 1,500^th upgrade under the SRN as early as next month.

Wi-Fi coverage boost to mobile signal

EE’s Wi-Fi coverage boost, which launched last year, offers customers access to more than 150,000 Wi-Fi hotspots, all based in rural or indoor locations. Customers have already downloaded more than 350TB of accumulative data using the new feature – equivalent to streaming HD television continuously for 13 years - in areas where it wasn’t previously achievable.

Howard Watson, Chief Security and Networks officer, BT Group, said: “The network rollout progress announced today is a critical step toward meeting our goal of enabling a 5G connection anywhere in the UK by 2028. The strength of our underlying 4G network, thanks in part to improvements made under the Shared Rural Network, has put us in the best position to make widespread 5G coverage improvements outside of big cities. Speaking as a technologist, I’m proud of the way BT Group is applying new innovations to reduce the digital divide.”

About EE

EE runs the UK's biggest and fastest mobile network, offering superfast connections in more places than any other operator. EE brought the first 4G network to the UK in October 2012 and launched the UK’s first 5G network in May 2019.

EE has received extensive independent recognition, including being named the UK’s no.1 5G network and the UK's best network every year since 2014 by RootMetrics®. In 2022 EE was named best network at the Mobile Industry Awards.

As well as offering mobile services to consumers and small and medium businesses, EE also provides home and business broadband using both 4G and fixed line connections.

EE is committed to being number one for service in the industry and has nearly 600 shops across the UK. EE remains the only mobile provider to answer 100% of customer calls in the UK and Ireland and was recognised as the UK’s Best Large Contact Centre by the UK Customer Experience Awards 2018 and Welsh Contact Centre Awards 2019. EE was awarded The Sunday Times’ Best 100 Companies to Work for in 2018 and 2019, as well as being named Best Employer 2018 by the European Contact Centre & Customer Service awards.

EE is part of BT’s Consumer business unit which provides products and services to all of BT’s consumer customers in the UK. Follow us on:

Facebook at: www.facebook.com/ee
Twitter at: www.twitter.com/ee
YouTube at: www.youtube.com/ee
LinkedIn at: www.linkedin.com/company/ee-uk

BT Group has announced plans to invest in a new state-of-the-art office in the centre of Cardiff which will become a hub for up to 900 employees in the city and wider region.

The move represents a multi-million pound investment by BT in the city, and secures a new, significant presence for the company in the Welsh capital.

The office will be in the new Capital Quarter development in the centre of the city, with BT Group employees due to move in before the end of 2022.

Cardiff was named as a key location for BT in 2019 as part of its 'Better Workplace Programme'. The new workspace and contact centre – to be located at No3 Capital Quarter – will be one of around 30 new modern BT locations in the UK, as part of the company’s five-year workplace transformation programme.

BT believes that inspiring office environments, combined with a flexible approach to home working, will play a vital role in its future.

Brent Mathews, BT’s director of property and facilities services, said: “We're really pleased to have agreed this exciting new office space in the centre of Cardiff. Despite the economic challenges and changes to working patterns caused by the pandemic, we think this is an important investment and it secures our presence in the capital of Wales and the wider region.

“This will bring our people together in an impressive and modern environment in Cardiff’s developing Capital Quarter. Our new offices reflect a move to more hybrid and flexible ways of working, with colleagues able to come together, using the latest technologies, to collaborate in inspiring workspaces. It will help us attract and retain brilliant people and we look forward to welcoming colleagues into this great new workspace when it’s ready later this year.”

BT teams based in Cardiff include those providing customer service support and the new office will also act as a regional hub for colleagues working in other parts of the business.

The new workspace, close to Cardiff Central station, will include smart building technology, flexible workspaces and collaboration areas. It also features a 6th floor roof terrace, underground cycle parking and shower and changing facilities.

Huw Thomas, leader of Cardiff City Council, said: “Today's announcement by BT is a big vote of confidence in the city and in our plans for the future.

 “I’m pleased that BT sees Cardiff as a good place to invest and to continue recruiting its present and future workforce. This is good for skilled jobs, for the city and the wider region. The Central Cardiff Enterprise Zone was developed for this reason, to attract new investment, create new high quality workspaces and attract good, sustainable jobs.”

BT Group remains one of Wales's leading employers and has a considerable impact on the Welsh economy. According to an independent study, the Group's activities in Wales contribute almost £1bn (£971 million) to the Welsh economy (GVA) and support more than 12,000 jobs across the nation.

BT Group is also investing heavily in new ultrafast full-fibre broadband and mobile networks across Wales and the rest of the UK. As part of BT Group’s plans to invest around £15bn for Openreach to extend its ultrafast, full-fibre broadband network to 25 million UK homes and businesses by 2026, almost 500,000 premises in Wales can already order full-fibre, with hundreds of thousands more to come.

In terms of mobile networks, EE, part of BT Group, has continued to upgrade its 4G and 5G networks across Wales. EE’s 4G network now has 84% geographical coverage in Wales, more than any other provider. By 2024, EE is planning further upgrades to 4G connectivity in 123 rural locations across Wales and continued expansion of its 5G network.

Notes

Images

Images include artist impression images of how the BT office interior may look, as well as exterior images of the building provided by J R Smart, developers of Capital Quarter No3 and the Capital Quarter Development.

BT Group will occupy 65,000 sq ft of office space at No3 Capital Quarter.

BT Better Workplace Programme

BT’s Better Workplace Programme is the largest workplace improvement programme and consolidation scheme of its type ever undertaken in the UK. The programme, which will complete in 2024, will see BT rationalise hundreds of its offices across the UK, moving to around 30 new, modern workspaces. BT has already opened major new hubs at Three Snowhill in Birmingham and at One Braham in London, with Bristol Assembly due to open in September.

BT Group i agor swyddfa a hwb rhanbarthol newydd yng Nghaerdydd

Mae BT Group wedi cyhoeddi cynlluniau i fuddsoddi mewn swyddfa fodern newydd yng nghanol Caerdydd a fydd yn dod yn ganolbwynt ar gyfer hyd at 900 o weithwyr yn y ddinas a’r rhanbarth ehangach.

Mae’n fuddsoddiad gwerth miliynau o bunnoedd gan BT yn y ddinas, ac yn sicrhau presenoldeb newydd, arwyddocaol i’r cwmni ym mhrifddinas Cymru.

Mi fydd y swyddfa yn ardal newydd Capital Quarter yng nghanol y ddinas a bydd gweithwyr o BT Group yn symud i mewn cyn diwedd 2022.

Cafodd Caerdydd ei henwi fel lleoliad allweddol i BT yn 2019 fel rhan o’i rhaglen ‘Better Workplace’. Bydd y man gwaith a’r ganolfan gyswllt newydd – sydd i’w lleoli yn Rhif 3 Capital Quarter – yn un o tua 30 o leoliadau modern newydd i BT ar draws y DU, fel rhan o raglen trawsnewid gweithle pum mlynedd y cwmni.

Mae BT yn credu y bydd gweithleoedd ysbrydoledig, ynghyd ag agwedd hyblyg at weithio gartref, yn chwarae rhan hanfodol yn ei ddyfodol.

Dywedodd Brent Mathews, cyfarwyddwr gwasanaethau eiddo a chyfleusterau BT: “Rydym yn falch iawn ein bod wedi cytuno ar y swyddfa newydd cyffrous yma yng nghanol Caerdydd. Er gwaethaf yr heriau economaidd a’r newidiadau i batrymau gwaith oherwydd y pandemig, rydym yn credu fod hwn yn fuddsoddiad pwysig ac mae’n sicrhau ein presenoldeb ym mhrifddinas Cymru a’r rhanbarth yn ehangach.

“Bydd hyn yn dod â’n pobl at ei gilydd mewn adeilad trawiadol a modern mewn rhan gyffrous o Gaerdydd sy’n datblygu. Mae ein swyddfeydd newydd yn adlewyrchu’r symudiad tuag at ffyrdd mwy hybrid a hyblyg o weithio, gyda chydweithwyr yn gallu dod at ei gilydd, gan ddefnyddio'r technolegau diweddaraf, i gydweithio mewn mannau gwaith ysbrydoledig. Bydd yn ein helpu i ddenu a chadw pobl wych ac rydym yn edrych ymlaen at groesawu cydweithwyr i’r gweithle newydd arbennig hwn pan fydd yn barod yn ddiweddarach eleni.”

Mae timau BT sydd wedi’u lleoli yng Nghaerdydd yn cynnwys y rhai sy’n darparu cymorth gwasanaeth cwsmeriaid a bydd y swyddfa newydd hefyd yn gweithredu fel canolbwynt rhanbarthol i gydweithwyr sy’n gweithio mewn rhannau eraill o’r busnes.

Bydd y swyddfa newydd, sy’n agos at orsaf Caerdydd Canolog, yn cynnwys technoleg gweithio clyfar, mannau gweithio hyblyg a mannau i gydweithio. Mae hefyd yn cynnwys teras to ar y 6ed llawr, maes parcio beiciau tanddaearol a chyfleusterau cawod a newid.

Dywedodd Huw Thomas, arweinydd Cyngor Dinas Caerdydd: “Mae’r cyhoeddiad heddiw gan BT yn bleidlais fawr o hyder yn y ddinas ac yn ein cynlluniau ar gyfer y dyfodol.

“Rwy’n falch bod BT yn gweld Caerdydd fel lle da i fuddsoddi ynddo ac i barhau i recriwtio ei weithlu presennol, ac ar gyfer y dyfodol. Mae hyn yn newyddion da o ran swyddi safonol, ac i'r ddinas a'r rhanbarth yn ehangach. Datblygwyd Ardal Fenter Canol Caerdydd yn union am y rheswm hwn, i ddenu buddsoddiad newydd, creu mannau gwaith newydd o ansawdd uchel a denu swyddi da, cynaliadwy.”

Mae BT Group yn parhau i fod yn un o gyflogwyr mwyaf blaenllaw Cymru ac yn cael effaith sylweddol ar economi Cymru. Yn ôl astudiaeth annibynnol, mae gweithgareddau’r Grŵp yng Nghymru yn cyfrannu bron i £1bn (£971 miliwn) i economi Cymru (GVA) ac yn cynnal mwy na 12,000 o swyddi ar draws y wlad.

Mae BT Group hefyd yn buddsoddi’n sylweddol mewn band eang ffeibr llawn, a rhwydweithiau ffonau symudol newydd, ledled Cymru a gweddill y DU. Fel rhan o gynlluniau BT Group i fuddsoddi tua £15bn er mwyn i Openreach ymestyn ei rwydwaith band eang ffeibr llawn i 25 miliwn o gartrefi a busnesau yn y DU erbyn 2026, gall bron i 500,000 o adeiladau yng Nghymru eisoes archebu ffeibr llawn, gyda channoedd o filoedd yn fwy i ddod.

O ran rhwydweithiau ffonau symudol, mae EE, sy’n rhan o BT BT, wedi parhau i uwchraddio ei rwydweithiau 4G a 5G ledled Cymru. Mae gan rwydwaith 4G EE bellach 84% o wasanaeth daearyddol yng Nghymru, mwy nag unrhyw ddarparwr arall. Erbyn 2024, mae EE yn bwriadu uwchraddio cysylltedd 4G ymhellach mewn 123 o leoliadau gwledig ledled Cymru a pharhau i ehangu ei rwydwaith 5G.

DIWEDD

5G Wales Unlocked is the innovation project behind the new immersive 360-degree classroom in Ebbw Vale, just one of several trials demonstrating how ultrafast technology like 5G could transform rural communities, from powering tech innovations in agriculture, to improving rural transport and education and bolstering the tourism industry. 

Using a localised 5G network provided by BT as one of the project partners, the classroom uses the high-speed connectivity to project inspiring and educational video content onto all four walls in a 360-degree format, providing an immersive experience.

Lessons can be delivered across a variety of curriculum-related themes, taking children and young people on a journey of the senses as they ‘dive’ into the detail of a plant cell or explore the surface of a planet.

Thanks to the ultrafast 5G connection, live link-ups have also been established, allowing learners to discover the fascinating history of heritage sites such as Raglan Castle, with a live virtual tour from a Cadw custodian located at the site.

The live link-ups can also be used to connect classrooms across the country, meaning pupils can work collaboratively with other learners, and educators can enhance their own lessons in partnership with other schools.

Welsh Government Minister for Education and Welsh Language Jeremy Miles MS said: “It’s fantastic to see learners in Ebbw Vale benefitting from next-generation technology, thanks to this innovative project.

“It’s our ambition to see Wales leading the way in using digital technology to deliver high-quality education, and to raise attainment and skills of all learners, regardless of background. This trial will help learners in rural areas engage with the curriculum in an exciting, immersive environment.”

Nick Speed, BT Group Director in Wales, said: “We’re excited to be part of this pioneering project looking at the potential of 5G in rural areas.

“The immersive classroom is a brilliant example of how 5G’s greater bandwidth can help deliver rich, high quality content to inspire school pupils about the world, wherever they’re located. It has the potential to reduce the education gap between areas and make sure that all pupils have access to this kind of innovative learning material.”

Notes

5G Wales Unlocked has been made possible by funding from the Welsh Government’s Tech Valleys Programme and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

About 5G Wales Unlocked

5G Wales Unlocked is an innovation project demonstrating the commercial value of improved connectivity in rural Wales to accelerate the deployment of 5G and digital services across the region.

The project is led by the Welsh Government and involving a consortium of partners comprised of BT, Cisco, Cardiff University, Jam Creative Studios, Monmouthshire CC, Blaenau Gwent CBC, UtterBerry and AppyWay.  The project has received grant funding from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

 For more information, please visit 5gwalesunlocked.co.uk or follow 5G Wales Unlocked on Twitter and LinkedIn. 

The technology and telecoms firm is also using its own assets, including phone boxes and its Street Hub 2.0 digital units, so its mobile arm EE can house hundreds of small cells to boost capacity in high demand areas. Small cells are mobile radio cells that help to provide better coverage for customers at street level, where it’s often impractical to install larger mobile masts or where an offloading capability is required.

The programme will allow EE customers to experience uninterrupted data speeds of up to 300Mbps in areas including Croydon, Leeds, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Nottingham. The infrastructure will be delivered over the next 18 months and can also support 5G network coverage in the future. In addition to enabling small cell deployment by EE, BT is also working with other UK mobile network operators to deploy small cells around the UK to help extend and densify their high-speed mobile network coverage.

Brian More O’Ferrall, Director, Mobile Operators in BT’s Enterprise business, said: “Around 200 of the small cells are already live and are helping to boost 4G coverage for EE customers in towns and cities across the UK.

“We have worked closely with our local authority partners to utilise their street furniture, as well as our own assets, to improve connectivity in these areas.

“Ensuring good digital infrastructure is a priority for many councils, especially with the rise in mobile device ownership and growth in demand for data and connectivity, and they have seen the benefits that such partnerships can provide.

“Not only does it mean that average download speeds can often double in some areas, but it’s also more efficient and means there is a reduced need for new cell masts in the localities.

“We’re pleased to be working with EE and other mobile network operators to deliver this coverage boost.”

The small cells will be deployed across the UK including the following areas:

• Birmingham
• Croydon
• Edinburgh
• Glasgow
• Leeds
• Greater London (including numerous London boroughs)
• Greater Manchester
• Newcastle
• Nottingham
• Leicester
• Cardiff

Councillor Muhammad Ali, Croydon Council’s cabinet member for sustainable Croydon, said: “Demands for digital connectivity are set to grow even more over the next few years and this partnership with BT means we are able to ensure better mobile coverage for our residents, visitors and businesses.

“With 12 EE small cells already installed and an additional 20 to follow over the next 18 months, it’s fantastic that our existing street furniture, together with BT assets, can provide a simple and efficient solution to fast-track mobile network infrastructure in our borough.”

BT is using its new Street Hub 2.0 units to site small cells and further boost connectivity, which comes after a recent survey by the company found that two thirds of small firms agree that mobile connectivity could be improved in their area. The new units have already been rolled out in Glasgow, Nottingham and London. Subject to local planning processes, BT is aiming to roll out around 300 Street Hub 2.0 units across the UK this year, working closely with local councils and communities.

Today’s announcement also comes after the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport recently launched its new Digital Connectivity Infrastructure Accelerator (DCIA) scheme to enable telecoms firms to get easier access to public buildings and street lights, bus shelters and traffic lights to mount small cell equipment for 4G and 5G networks.

Through the pilots managed by DCIA, BT will be working closely with DCMS and local authority partners to further accelerate small cell deployment across the UK.

BT has connected 70 grassroots football clubs across the UK with broadband (Wi-Fi) and digital skills training, as clubs and their communities look to recover from the COVID-19 crisis.

The work is part of BT’s role as lead partner with each of the four home nation football associations – The FA, Scottish FA, Irish FA and FA of Wales.

Working with the FAs, BT identified the key areas of the game that needed the most support and developed the transformational 4-3-3 football strategy:

• 4 – to support the 4 home nations in partnership with each football association

• 3 – supporting the 3 football communities most in need of support – disability and para, grassroots, and women’s football

• 3 – 3 goals for BT: to develop new innovation and technology in football; new opportunities to promote digital and skills initiatives; and a new generation of girls and women to participate in football

The partnership includes a commitment to provide grassroots clubs across the four nations with a package of free products and services, including broadband and Wi-Fi connectivity. The aim is to support grassroots clubs in their role as hubs for their local community.

The connectivity will help the football clubs set up things like free guest Wi-Fi for supporters, taking wireless card payments and video streaming of matches and training sessions.

BT will also work with the connected clubs to help make them hubs for digital and employability skills support in the local community, through BT’s Skills for Tomorrow programme, which aims to help 10 million people make the most of life in the digital world.

Despite the coronavirus restrictions, BT has been able to connect 70 grassroots clubs across the UK, with the aim of reaching 100 by the end of the summer.

One of the ‘Connected Clubs’ already connected by BT is Horsforth St Margaret’s FC in Leeds.

Ange Emery, Club Secretary of Horsforth St Margaret’s FC, said: “I’m really pleased that Horsforth St Margaret’s FC is part of this initiative. Grassroots football is so important to the children, their families and our community.

“Now that we are a BT Connected Club, we will be looking at reaching out to more of the community to see how we can help with their digital skills, whether that be homework clubs, help writing CVs, searching for jobs or teaching the elderly new digital skills.”

Another connected club is Deveronvale FC in Banff, Scotland, who have already taken advantage of BT’s connectivity. In December 2020, the club live streamed their Scottish Cup game against Camelon Juniors FC, so fans could watch their team while restrictions didn’t allow them to attend, paying £5, and generating crucial matchday revenue for the club.

Kevin Stewart, Chairman of Deveronvale FC, said: “We are delighted to be partnering through the BT Connected Clubs initiative. It not only reduces costs to the club, but also opens offerings like the guest Wi-Fi, which we didn't have before, and the introduction of our contactless payment system and booking system.

“The connectivity has already allowed us to do things like live stream our Scottish Cup match so fans could watch at home. This went down very well with fans who weren’t able to attend the match in person. It’s also enabled our personal trainers to live stream fitness classes to our members, which we’re going to continue to do, as the club moves forward.

“As a community hub, we’ll also be using the technology and skills to support local families with things like improving health and wellbeing and tackling unemployment.”

James Kendall, Director of Football Development at The FA said: “It's great that our partnership with BT is helping us combine football and technology, making sure that grassroots clubs remain hubs for communities up and down the country.

“This past year has been some of the most challenging times not just for football, but across society, so this kind of support is hugely welcome as we look to get grassroots football back on its feet. We know that grassroots football has the power to change people’s lives for the better and these clubs will have a big role to play in bringing people back together and making a difference.”

Pete Jeavons, Marketing Communications Director at BT, said: “Supporting grassroots football is an integral part of our 4-3-3 football strategy. We know how important grassroots football clubs are across the country, so by linking them to the latest technology, connectivity and digital skills, we can help build their role as community hubs.

“People up and down the country are desperate to return to their local clubs, so we hope this will give these first connected clubs and their communities a small lift.”

BT created a one-off special TV show to celebrate the importance of grassroots football, as clubs begin to re-open. The hour-long ‘Grassroots Football Show’ has been aired on BT Sport and is also available to watch via BT Sport’s YouTube channel.

In partnership with the four home nation football associations, the programme was hosted at Horsforth St Margaret’s FC and presented by BT Sport duo Jules Breach & Robbie Savage. It featured elite players from each of the home nations’ senior men’s teams, including England’s Mason Mount, Northern Ireland brothers Jonny & Corry Evans, Wales’ 100-cap hero Chris Gunter and Scotland duo Craig Gordon and Stephen O’Donnell.

Notes

Connecting grassroots football

As part of BT's 4-3-3 strategy – as lead partner of the UK's four home nations football associations – 200 grassroots football clubs across the home nations are to be given a package of BT services and become part of the rollout of the digital skills programme BT Skills for Tomorrow to turn football clubhouses into hubs for their community.

The goal is to break down barriers to improve digital, education and footballing skills in communities across the UK, creating a network of hundreds of grassroots football clubs across the home nations.

About BT Skills for Tomorrow:

BT Skills for Tomorrow is helping 10 million people in the UK make the most of life in the digital world. It is completely free and designed to help everyone - from school children and teachers, parents and families, businesses and jobseekers, to older and more vulnerable people. Working in partnership with leading digital skills, enterprise and community organisations, we have created and collated some of the best advice, information and support in one easy-to-navigate place. Visit www.bt.com/skillsfortomorrow

• From life-saving defibrillators to a mini museum, the opportunities for local phone boxes are endless

BT today revealed that almost 4,000 of its iconic red phone boxes across the UK are up for grabs – as it urges local communities to take advantage of a scheme to help transform them for the 21^st Century.

Since 2008, over 6,600 phone boxes have been taken on by communities for just £1 each through BT’s Adopt a Kiosk programme. Redundant phone boxes, once a lifeline of communication before the arrival of mobile phone networks, have been transformed into everything from defibrillator units and mini history museums to art galleries and book exchanges.

BT will also consider adoption requests to house defibrillators in modern glass phone boxes, a potentially life-saving conversion.

James Browne, Head of Street at BT, said: “With most people now using mobile phones, it’s led to a huge drop in the number of calls made from payphones. At the same time, mobile coverage has improved significantly in recent years due to investment in masts, particularly in rural areas.

“We’re currently rationalising our payphone estate to make it fit for the future, and the ‘Adopt a Kiosk’ scheme makes it possible for local communities across the UK to retain their local phone box, with a refreshed purpose for the community.

“Thousands of communities have already come up with a fantastic array of ideas to re-use their beloved local phone box. Applying is quick and easy and we’re always happy to speak to communities about adopting our phone boxes.”

From Aberdeen to Plymouth, the Community Heartbeat Trust charity is working with BT and local communities to install lifesaving defibrillators in local kiosks. Martin Fagan, National Secretary for the Community Heartbeat Trust charity, said: “BT’s phone box kiosks are iconic British structures, and repurposing for this life saving use has given them a new lease of life. To date, we have converted about 800 ourselves, with another 200 in the pipeline.

“Placing the equipment in the heart of a community is important to save on time. Kiosks are historically at the centre of the community, and thus great locations for defibrillators.”

As part of plans to modernise its payphone estate, over 400 payphones across towns and cities have also been upgraded by BT to digital units, called Street Hubs, offering free ultrafast public Wi-Fi, free UK phone calls, USB device charging, environmental monitoring and more. BT’s Street Hubs also play a vital role in sharing public information, for example during the Covid-19 pandemic, Street Hub units across the country have displayed key advice from Public Health England and local councils. Street Hubs form part of BT’s plan to transform the UK’s high streets with a digital communications service designed for the 21^st Century.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Adopt a Kiosk Case studies

Patrick Brompton Parish Council – Defibrillator, Richmondshire

A traditional red BT phone box in the North Yorkshire village of Patrick Brompton has been turned into a defibrillator unit, a conversion which could help save lives.

The former payphone, situated centrally in the village, was adopted for just £1 by the parish council through BT’s Adopt a Kiosk scheme. It now houses a defibrillator which can be used in emergency situations.

Brian Whitehead, vice chairman of Patrick Brompton Parish Council, said: “As a council we were really keen to adopt our red phone box and we didn’t want to see it go.

“It’s a fact that no-one really uses payphones anymore, but they look quite iconic, especially in rural areas like ours, so we wanted to retain it from a heritage perspective.

“The defibrillator we did have in the village was behind the 18^th Century school room, so we’ve moved it to the phone box and think it’s a much better place for it. Thankfully, it’s never had to be used but it’s reassuring to know it’s there in case we ever need it in an emergency.”

Book Exchange - Church Lawford Parish Council, Warwickshire 

A book exchange has been created inside a former BT red phone box in a small Warwickshire village.  

The traditional kiosk opposite The Old Smithy pub in Church Lawford, near Rugby, was taken on by the parish council for £1 through BT’s Adopt a Kiosk scheme. It is now a thriving book exchange which is used by residents young and old alike. People donate books and take away others to read before returning them.  

Jeremy James, chairman of Church Lawford Parish Council, said they had taken inspiration from a nearby village - Stretton under Fosse – where the community adopted their local phone box and turned it into an information booth with details on local history, as well as local walks and footpaths.  

Jeremy added: “We wanted to add the book exchange element as the mobile library only visits briefly once a month, and this aspect has really taken over.  

“I have been pleased by the level of support it gets. Those people that use it appreciate it, and the only real maintenance needed is periodic tidying up of the book supply.  

“At Christmas we installed lights on the green for the first time, powered from the phone box, and we also installed a sound system with carols and songs written about the village during the Covid-lockdown.  

“If another village were considering adopting their phone box, I would say it is very worthwhile.” 

Defibrillator – Orkney Islands, Scotland

A red phone kiosk in the rural Orkney Islands has been transformed into a defibrillator for the local community.

Over the past year, the trust has installed five new community defibrillators across Westray, the locations being the Westray Airfield, Gill Pier Ferry Terminal Waiting Rooms, Westray Parish Kirk, Peter Miller’s Shop and the Rapness Ferry Terminal Waiting Rooms.

The sixth and final defibrillator was installed in the Midbea red telephone kiosk, in Westray’s west side.

The push for the installations came after a series of community first aid training sessions highlighted that there was limited access to defibrillators on the island.

Isobel Thompson, Operations Manager at Westray Development Trust, said: "The red telephone box on the Westside of Westray was an ideal location to install a public access defibrillator as the telephone box was both memorable and already strategically placed. Thanks to BT's 'Adopt a Kiosk' scheme we were able to expand our defibrillator network and improve access to life-saving equipment in an emergency for our isolated island community." 

About Adopt a Kiosk

Communities can adopt a kiosk if they are a recognised public body, such as a parish council, community council or town council. Boxes can also be adopted by registered charities or by individuals who have a payphone on their own land. BT will continue to provide electricity (if already in place) to power the light for adopted phone boxes, free of charge.

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.

• BT partners with National Poet of Wales to create 'Sgyrsiau', a poem to celebrate the importance of 'conversations' and connectivity

• The poem is to mark the completion of major redevelopment of Bangor's BT service centre, home of BT’s Welsh language customer helpline, and other teams

• Contact centre adviser says many callers are dealing with loneliness and isolation: “It could be the only chat they have that day or week”

• The poem has been brought to life with a striking video which can be seen here

The National Poet of Wales Ifor ap Glyn has written a new poem called ‘Sgyrsiau’ (Conversations), celebrating the important role connectivity and customer call handlers play in keeping people and the country connected.

The poem – written in Welsh and in the form of an ‘englyn’, a traditional Welsh short poem – was commissioned by BT to mark the completion of the redevelopment of its customer service centre in Bangor.

The centre provides a number of services for the company, including housing BT’s Welsh language customer service helpline. In 1994, BT became one of the first large private companies in the UK to adopt a voluntary bilingual policy in relation to the Welsh language, supporting the more than half a million Welsh speakers in Wales currently.

The poem reflects on the importance of staying connected and the value of hearing a ‘friendly voice’ down the line.

Frontline customer service agents, including BT’s Welsh language customer service team in Bangor, were designated key workers by government at the start of the pandemic and have continued to work throughout the outbreak, with Covid-19 safety measures in place.

BT’s customer service teams have seen a significant increase in the number calls during the period, with many customers calling to ask for increased connectivity to stay in touch with friends and family, and to support home learning and working. Call handlers also deal with customers facing difficult financial situations, as well as vulnerable customers and those dealing with loneliness.

Keith Jones, a member of BT’s Welsh language customer helpline team in Bangor, said: “It’s clearly been a difficult time for many customers, so if we can have that initial chat and hear about challenges they may be facing like health problems or work issues, we then know their circumstances and can better help them stay connected.

“COVID-19 has also fuelled loneliness and isolation. Being alone means many customers are not seeing anyone. This makes the phone call they make to us even more important. It could be the only chat they have that day or week.

“Being local and personal is such a big part of what we do, so we’re really proud to be able to provide support, including to those in our communities who need it most.”

It’s been one year since BT completed its commitment to answer 100% of its consumer customer service calls in the UK and Ireland, with the aim of providing a more personal and local service to its customers.

The Bangor team say that many of the people who call know that BT’s Welsh language helpline is based in the city and that this leads to natural discussions about where they’re from and shared experiences.

Keith Jones added: “By having those conversations at the start of the call about where they’re from and maybe how the rugby or football team is doing, that local touch can really put the customer at ease. It means you can then just get on and resolve their issue more effectively.

“Many of the customers who call us also value and appreciate the fact that they can deal with their issues in Welsh and many comment on this at the beginning of the call. It’s the first-language of many households and there are a lot of people who are more relaxed and confident discussing their issues in Welsh.”

BT announced last summer that its centre in Bangor – located in the heart of the city – was to undergo a full refurbishment to modernise it and create an improved workspace for the 150 or so staff based currently at the location. The redevelopment is part of the company’s ‘Better Workplace’ programme. It will see BT consolidate the number of office locations from more than 300 to around 30 across the UK, including Bangor and Cardiff which have so far been announced. Colleagues will benefit from new and refurbished workspaces as the company modernises.

The refit of the Bangor office has now been completed. The entire office has been modernised, with the introduction of new meeting rooms, relaxation areas and the latest conferencing technology.

Nick Speed, BT Group’s Director in Wales, said: “It’s great to have this wonderful piece of work from Wales’ National Poet to bring home the importance of connectivity and conversations. And to celebrate the completion of the new-look office in Bangor.

“I’m really proud of the role my colleagues have played, including here in Bangor, keeping our customers, including vulnerable people, connected.

“I’m also proud of our Welsh language support. Customers feel they’re getting a local and more personal service. Supporting the use of Welsh is good for the language, and for us as a business. I’d encourage more Welsh-speaking customers to use the services on offer.”

Poem by National Poet of Wales, Ifor ap Glyn:

Sgyrsiau

Rhwydd iawn deialu rhyddhâd

o'n hiraeth, drwy gyd-siarad,

rhannu hwyl, rhannu eiliad...

A ffonio ein gorffennol

a ddaw â'r hen alaw 'nôl

i swyno ein presennol...

Onid gwych yw clywed gwên

y lles clws sydd mewn llais clên,

fel gwefr yng ngofal gwifren?

Poet’s translation to English:

Conversations

Hiraeth is easily repaired

by dialling someone, who's shared

a moment of joy; who's cared...

And phoning friends from the past

recalls old tunes, like a blast,

healing our present at last.

How sweet thus to hear a smile,

the friendly voices that beguile,

sparkling down each cabled mile...

Notes

Photo credit: Photos by Deian Owen, part of BT's Voice Services team in Bangor

BT's Welsh language service

BT provides Welsh language customer service helplines (0800 800 288), including directory enquires, and produces bills in Welsh for those who request it. BT’s Welsh language policy was introduced to meet customer expectations and make sure that a reliable bilingual service was available to those who wanted to receive services in Welsh.

The policy has received praise from organisations across Wales, including from the Welsh Language Commissioner who joined BT in Bangor in 2019 to celebrate 25 years since the company’s policy was introduced.

BT Better Workplace programme

BT’s Better Workplace programme, first announced in 2018, is the largest workplace improvement and consolidation scheme of its type ever undertaken in the UK. It will consolidate BT Group’s UK footprint of more than 300 locations to around 30. The company has already announced several other locations including Bristol, Cardiff, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Belfast. It also plans to 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.

Bardd cenedlaethol Cymru yn dathlu cysylltedd a rôl hanfodol canolfannau cyswllt yn cadw pawb mewn cysylltiad

• BT yn partneru gyda Bardd Cenedlaethol Cymru i greu ‘Sgyrsiau’, cerdd i ddathlu pwysigrwydd sgyrsiau a chysylltedd

• Y gerdd yn nodi cwblhau gwaith i ailddatblygu canolfan wasanaeth BT Bangor, cartref llinell gymorth cwsmeriaid Cymraeg BT, a thimau eraill

• Un o dîm y ganolfan yn dweud fod nifer o alwyr yn delio ag unigrwydd: “Gallai fod yr unig sgwrs maen nhw'n ei chael y diwrnod neu'r wythnos honno”

• Mae fideo newydd trawiadol wedi'i greu i gyflwyno'r gerdd, sydd i'w weld yma

Mae Bardd Cenedlaethol Cymru Ifor ap Glyn wedi ysgrifennu cerdd newydd o’r enw ‘Sgyrsiau’, sy’n dathlu rôl bwysig cysylltedd a gweithwyr canolfannau cyswllt yn cadw pawb mewn cysylltiad.

Comisiynwyd y gerdd – a ysgrifennwyd ar ffurf englyn milwr – gan BT i nodi cwblhau ailddatblygiad eu canolfan gwasanaeth cwsmeriaid ym Mangor.

Mae'r ganolfan yn darparu nifer o wasanaethau i'r cwmni, gan gynnwys llinell gymorth gwasanaeth cwsmeriaid Cymraeg BT.

Ym 1994, BT oedd yn un o'r cwmnïau mawr preifat cyntaf yn y DU i gyflwyno polisi dwyieithog gwirfoddol, sy’n cefnogi'r mwy na hanner miliwn o siaradwyr Cymraeg yng Nghymru ar hyn o bryd.

Mae’r gerdd yn trafod pwysigrwydd cadw mewn cysylltiad a gwerth clywed ‘llais clên’ lawr ‘wifren’ ffôn.

Cafodd timau gwasanaeth cwsmeriaid rheng-flaen BT, gan gynnwys tîm gwasanaeth cwsmeriaid Cymraeg BT ym Mangor, eu dynodi’n weithwyr allweddol gan y llywodraeth ar ddechrau'r pandemig, ac maent wedi parhau i weithio trwy gydol y cyfnod, gyda mesurau diogelwch Covid-19 mewn lle.

Mae timau gwasanaeth cwsmeriaid BT wedi gweld cynnydd sylweddol yn nifer y galwadau yn ystod y cyfnod, gyda llawer o gwsmeriaid yn galw i ofyn am fwy o gysylltedd i gadw mewn cysylltiad â ffrindiau a theulu, ac i alluogi dysgu a gweithio o gartref. Mae’r timau yma hefyd yn delio â chwsmeriaid sy'n wynebu sefyllfaoedd ariannol anodd, yn ogystal â chwsmeriaid bregus a'r rhai sy'n delio ag unigrwydd.

Dywedodd Keith Jones, aelod o dîm llinell gymorth cwsmeriaid Cymraeg BT ym Mangor: “Mae'n amlwg ei bod wedi bod yn gyfnod anodd i lawer o gwsmeriaid, felly os allwn ni gael y sgwrs gychwynnol yna a chlywed am unrhyw heriau ma nhw’n eu hwynebu, fel problemau iechyd neu faterion gwaith, rydym wedyn yn gwybod eu hamgylchiadau a gallwn eu helpu yn haws o ran eu cysylltedd.

“Mae COVID-19 hefyd wedi arwain at fwy o unigrwydd. Mae bod ar eu pennau eu hunain yn golygu nad yw llawer o gwsmeriaid yn gweld unrhyw un. Mae hyn yn gwneud yr alwad ffôn maen nhw'n ei gwneud i ni hyd yn oed yn bwysicach. Gallai fod yr unig sgwrs maen nhw'n ei chael y diwrnod neu'r wythnos honno.

“Mae bod yn lleol a phersonol yn rhan mor bwysig o'r hyn rydyn ni'n ei wneud, felly rydyn ni'n wirioneddol falch ein bod ni'n gallu rhoi cymorth i bobol, yn enwedig y rhai yn ein cymunedau sydd ei angen fwyaf.”

Mae hi'n flwyddyn ers i BT gwblhau eu hymrwymiad i ateb 100% o’u galwadau gwasanaeth cwsmeriaid i alwyr yn y DU ac Iwerddon, gyda’r nod o ddarparu gwasanaeth fwy personol a lleol i’w cwsmeriaid.

Dywedodd y tîm ym Mangor fod nifer o bobl sy’n galw yn gwybod bod llinell gymorth Cymraeg BT wedi’i lleoli yn y ddinas a bod hyn yn arwain at drafodaethau naturiol ynghylch ble maen nhw’n byw a chysylltiadau lleol.

Ychwanegodd Keith Jones: “Trwy gael y sgyrsiau hynny ar ddechrau’r alwad o ran ble maen nhw’n byw ac efallai sut mae’r tîm rygbi neu bêl-droed yn gwneud, ma’r elfen leol yna’n gwneud gwahaniaeth ac yn gwneud i’r cwsmer deimlo’n gartrefol. Mae'n golygu y gallwch chi wedyn fwrw ymlaen yn haws a delio’r â’r rheswm dros eu galwad.

“Mae llawer o’r cwsmeriaid sy’n ffonio’r linell hefyd yn gwerthfawrogi’r ffaith eu bod yn gallu delio â’u materion yn Gymraeg, ac mae llawer yn nodi hyn ar ddechrau’r alwad. Dyma iaith gyntaf llawer o aelwydydd ac mae yna lawer o bobl yn hapusach ac yn fwy hyderus yn trafod eu materion yn Gymraeg.”

Cyhoeddodd BT y llynedd y byddai eu canolfan ym Mangor – sydd yng nghanol y ddinas – yn cael ei ailddatblygu’n sylweddol er mwyn moderneiddio’r safle ar gyfer y 150 o staff sydd wedi'u lleoli yno ar hyn o bryd. Mae’r ailddatblygiad yn rhan o raglen ‘Better Workplace’ y cwmni. Bydd yn gweld BT yn lleihau nifer y lleoliadau swyddfa o fwy na 300 i oddeutu 30 ledled y DU, gan gynnwys Bangor a Chaerdydd sydd wedi'u cyhoeddi hyd yn hyn. Bydd cydweithwyr yn elwa o weithleoedd newydd ac wedi'u hadnewyddu wrth i'r cwmni foderneiddio.

Mae gwaith adnewyddu swyddfa Bangor bellach wedi'i gwblhau. Mae'r swyddfa gyfan wedi'i foderneiddio, gyda ystafelloedd cyfarfod newydd, ardaloedd ymlacio a'r dechnoleg gynadledda ddiweddaraf.

Dywedodd Nick Speed, Cyfarwyddwr BT Group yng Nghymru: “Mae'n wych cael y gwaith yma gan Fardd Cenedlaethol Cymru sy’n cyfleu yn berffaith pwysigrwydd cysylltedd a sgyrsiau. Ac i ddathlu cwblhau'r swyddfa ar ei newydd wedd ym Mangor.

“Dw i’n wirioneddol falch o’r rôl y mae fy nghydweithwyr wedi’i chwarae, yn cynnwys y tîm yma ym Mangor, yn cadw pawb mewn cysylltiad, yn enwedig cwsmeriaid a allai fod yn fregus.

“Dw i’n falch hefyd o’r gwasanaethau rydyn ni'n eu cynnig yn Gymraeg. Mae cwsmeriaid yn teimlo eu bod yn cael gwasanaeth lleol a mwy personol. Mae hybu defnydd o'r Gymraeg yn dda i'r iaith, ac i ni fel busnes. Dw i’n annog mwy o gwsmeriaid sy'n siarad Cymraeg i ddefnyddio'r gwasanaethau hyn sydd ar gael.”

• BT Group supports 12,200 total jobs in Wales through direct and indirect effects

• It supports 1 in every 70 employees working in the private sector in Wales

• BT Group directly employs a total of 4,560 people in Wales

BT Group’s activities in Wales support more than 12,000 jobs across the country, according to an independent report published today.

According to the report by consultancy firm Hatch, the communications and technology company supported 1 in every 70 employees working in the private sector in Wales during the last financial year.

BT Group directly employs nearly 5,000 (4,560) people in Wales, making it one of the nation’s biggest private sector employers. The report estimates that those directly employed by BT Group in Wales earned £146 million in wages and salaries.

The Group also spent £340 million with suppliers based in Wales in financial year 2019/20, which also resulted in significant benefits for the Welsh economy.

The combined impact of BT Group’s activities in Wales contributes almost £1bn (£971 million) to the Welsh economy, according to the analysis.

The report includes the contribution of all parts of BT Group, including Openreach and mobile network provider EE.

According to the report, BT Group employed people across all parts of Wales in 2019/20:

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. 

A report commissioned by BT last year – focussed on agriculture and tourism in rural Wales – highlighted how connected smart technology could help rural sectors and communities thrive.

Nick Speed, BT Group’s director in Wales, said: “I’m really proud of the contribution our colleagues make in supporting the Welsh economy. At an important time for the economy and jobs, our spending on people, networks and suppliers, provides a vital economic boost across Wales. The wider impact of that spending helps to sustain communities and small businesses in all parts of Wales.

“The challenges posed by Covid-19 have highlighted the vital role BT Group plays in supporting families, businesses and communities across Wales. From the engineers who keep our broadband and mobile networks connected, to the vital contact centre staff helping people when they need it most. I’m proud also of the role our people are playing in supporting the NHS in Wales during the crisis.”

BT’s Consumer contact centres now handle 100% of customer calls in the UK, at centres from Swansea to Merthyr Tudful. 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.

Ian Price, CBI Wales Director, said: “Covid-19 has undoubtedly changed the way we live and work over the past twelve months, and companies like BT have been at the forefront of keeping us in touch with friends, colleagues and loved ones during an extremely challenging period. This year, perhaps more than at any other time, we have come to understand the true value of connectivity.

“Even amid these trying circumstances, it’s great to see just how significantly BT has invested in Wales and its communities. The scale of that investment is enormous and its value and impact can be felt in high quality local jobs, economic growth and across supply chains the length and breadth of Wales.”

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.”

Across Wales in 2019/20:

• 5,060 BT Group employees live in the nation (FTE)
• 4,600 BT Group employees work in the nation (FTE)
• £146 million total income of BT Group employees working in the nation
• £340 million spend with suppliers based in the nation
• £971 million total GVA impact (including indirect and induced effects)
• BT Group employed 1 in every 170 employees working in the private sector, and 1 in every 4 employees working in the IT and communications sectors
• £1 in every £130 of GVA is generated directly by BT Group
• BT Group supported 1 in every 70 employees working in the private sector and £1 in every £60 of GVA as a result of BT Group’s full economic impact

Notes: 

*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

Grŵp BT yn cynnal 12,200 o swyddi yng Nghymru ac yn ychwanegu bron i £1bn at economi’r wlad

• Mae Grŵp BT yn cynnal cyfanswm o 12,200 o swyddi yng Nghymru trwy effeithiau uniongyrchol ac anuniongyrchol
• Y cwmni yn cynnal 1 o bob 70 o weithwyr sy'n gweithio yn y sector preifat yng Nghymru
• Mae Grŵp BT yn cyflogi yn uniongyrchol cyfanswm o 4,560 o bobl yng Nghymru

Mae gweithgareddau Grŵp BT yng Nghymru yn cynnal mwy na 12,000 o swyddi ledled y wlad, yn ôl adroddiad annibynnol a gyhoeddwyd heddiw.

Yn ôl adroddiad gan y cwmni ymgynghori Hatch, roedd y cwmni cyfathrebu a thechnoleg yn cynnal 1 o bob 70 o weithwyr a oedd yn gweithio yn y sector preifat yng Nghymru yn ystod y flwyddyn ariannol ddiwethaf.

Mae BT Group yn cyflogi yn uniongyrchol bron i 5,000 (4,560) o bobl yng Nghymru, sy'n golygu ei fod yn un o gyflogwyr sector preifat mwyaf y wlad. Mae'r adroddiad yn amcangyfrif bod y rhai a gyflogir yn uniongyrchol gan BT Group yng Nghymru yn ennill cyfanswm cyflog o £146 miliwn.

Gwariodd y Grŵp hefyd £340 miliwn gyda chyflenwyr yng Nghymru ym mlwyddyn ariannol 2019/20, a arweiniodd at fuddion sylweddol i economi Cymru.

Mae effaith gyffredinol gweithgareddau BT Group yng Nghymru yn cyfrannu bron i £1bn (£971 miliwn) i economi Cymru, yn ôl yr adroddiad.

Mae'r adroddiad yn cynnwys cyfraniad pob rhan o Grŵp BT, gan gynnwys Openreach a’r darparwr rhwydwaith ffonau symudol EE.

Yn ôl yr adroddiad, yn 2019/20, cyflogodd Grŵp BT bobl ar draws pob rhan o Gymru:

Ar hyn o bryd, mae Grwp BT yn moderneiddio’r cwmni, sy’n cynnwys un o’r rhagleni cydgrynhoi a moderneiddio gweithle mwyaf yn y DU, wrth iddo symud o 300 o leoliadau i oddeutu 30 fel rhan o'i raglen ‘Better Workplace’.

Cyhoeddodd BT adroddiad y llynedd yn edrych ar amaethyddiaeth a thwristiaeth yng nghefn gwlad Cymru - a sut y gallai technoleg clyfar gysylltiedig helpu sectorau a chymunedau gwledig i ffynnu.

Dywedodd Nick Speed, cyfarwyddwr BT Group yng Nghymru: “Rwy’n falch iawn o’r cyfraniad y mae ein cydweithwyr yn ei wneud wrth gefnogi economi Cymru. Ar adeg bwysig i'r economi a swyddi, mae ein gwariant ar bobl, rhwydweithiau a chyflenwyr, yn rhoi hwb economaidd hanfodol ledled Cymru. Mae effaith ehangach y gwariant hwnnw yn helpu i gynnal cymunedau a busnesau bach ym mhob rhan o Gymru.

“Mae’r heriau yn dilyn Covid-19 wedi tynnu sylw at y rôl hanfodol y mae BT Group yn ei chwarae wrth gefnogi teuluoedd, busnesau a chymunedau ledled Cymru. O'r peirianwyr sy'n cadw ein rhwydweithiau band eang a symudol mewn cysylltiad, i staff hanfodol ein canolfanau cyswllt sy'n helpu pobl pan fydd ei angen arnynt fwyaf. Rwy'n falch hefyd o'r rôl y mae ein pobl yn ei chwarae wrth gefnogi'r gwasanaeth iechyd yng Nghymru yn ystod yr argyfwng.”

Mae canolfannau cyswllt BT bellach yn delio â 100% o alwadau cwsmeriaid yn y DU, yn cynnwys mewn canolfannau yn Abertawe a Merthyr Tudful. Ers i wasanaeth BT, EE a Plusnet ddychwelyd ôl i’r DU ac Iwerddon y llynedd, mae mwy na 34 miliwn o alwadau wedi’u hateb.

Dywedodd Ian Price, Cyfarwyddwr CBI Cymru: “Heb os, mae Covid-19 wedi newid ein ffordd o fyw a gweithio dros y deuddeg mis diwethaf, ac mae cwmnïau fel BT wedi bod ar flaen y gad o ran ein cadw mewn cysylltiad â ffrindiau, cydweithwyr ac anwyliaid yn ystod cyfnod hynod heriol. Eleni, efallai yn fwy nag ar unrhyw adeg arall, rydym wedi dod i ddeall gwir werth cysylltedd.

“Hyd yn oed ynghanol yr amgylchiadau anodd hyn, mae’n wych gweld pa mor sylweddol y mae BT wedi buddsoddi yng Nghymru a chymunedau ledled y wlad. Mae maint y buddsoddiad hwnnw’n enfawr a canlyniad hynny yw swyddi lleol o ansawdd uchel, twf economaidd ac hwb i gadwyni cyflenwi ar hyd a lled Cymru. ”

Dywedodd Tim Fanning, Cyfarwyddwr Hatch: “Mae ein dadansoddiad yn tanlinellu pa mor helaeth yw cyfraniad BT Group i economi’r DU gyfan yn ogystal ag i gymunedau unigol yn y cenhedloedd a’r rhanbarthau. Mae ei bresenoldeb ledled y wlad yn creu gwaith a buddsoddiad pellach sylweddol, gan gefnogi miloedd o swyddi.”

Ledled Cymru yn 2019/20:

• Mae 5,060 o weithwyr BT Group yn byw yn y wlad
• Mae 4,600 o weithwyr BT Group yn gweithio yn y wlad
• Cyfanswm incwm £146 miliwn o weithwyr BT Group sy'n gweithio yn y wlad
• Gwariant o £340 miliwn gyda chyflenwyr yn y wlad
• Cyfanswm effaith GVA o £971 miliwn (gan gynnwys effeithiau anuniongyrchol ac ysgogedig)
• Roedd BT Group yn cyflogi 1 o bob 170 o weithwyr sy'n gweithio yn y sector preifat, ac 1 ym mhob 4 gweithiwr sy'n gweithio yn y sectorau TG a chyfathrebu
• Mae £ 1 ym mhob £ 130 o GVA yn cael ei gynhyrchu'n uniongyrchol gan BT Group
• Cefnogodd BT Group 1 o bob 70 o weithwyr sy'n gweithio yn y sector preifat ac £ 1 ym mhob £ 60 o GVA o ganlyniad i effaith economaidd lawn BT Group

Providing our BT, EE and Plusnet customers with the best service has never been so important in what has been an extraordinary 12 months. With 100% of our frontline people based across many sites in the UK and Ireland, we have been able to maintain resilience in the face of the Coronavirus crisis where others have not. And that has helped us keep our customers connected when they need it most to employment, education, entertainment – all of which drove a surge in demand for connectivity triggered by the first lockdown last March – and, most importantly, to each other.

So, what has that enabled us to do over the past year? 

From Dundee to Plymouth, Sheffield to Glasgow, and Merthyr to Enniskillen we employ more than 11,000 customer service advisors. Between them, they have answered 34 million calls in the past 12 months alone. That’s down from 38 million the previous year because we are better placed to help our customers when they first call, reducing the number of times they need to pick up the phone to get in touch.

And they haven’t stopped there. Colleagues up and down the country have taken the opportunity to get involved their local communities to make a difference and support those who have been worst hit by effects of the pandemic. Our Care Home Companion initiative was born out of our contact centre in Darlington, with my colleagues using their professional communication skills and volunteering time to have regular conversations care home residents isolated by the pandemic feel less lonely. 

We are now rolling Care Home Companion out across the country, with calls happening in Gosforth, Darlington, North Tyneside, Sheffield and Leeds. Our people have already made 2,000 calls – each one an important social lifeline to a member of their community. And new partnerships are underway in Middlesbrough, South Shields and Enniskillen, with 600 colleagues volunteering to get involved. 

We have also made huge improvements in the way we handle issues when things go wrong*. We have reduced the number of Ofcom complaints so that we are consistently below industry average. And all while customer usage has doubled on our fixed network. A great example of that is the average household using more than 50% more data YoY to 15GB across Christmas and Boxing Day in 2020 – enough to stream 5,000 films on Netflix. They are there when you need them most. On Christmas Day last year, for example, my BT and EE call centre colleagues helped nearly 9,000 customers.

We have come a long way in a short time. We know our customers value speaking to someone who understands their issue down to the regional differences that make us so great as a country, whether that’s expert help with tech or chat about the local football team. Now our customers can be called ‘Duck’ in Sheffield, ‘La’ in Liverpool and ‘Pet’ in Newcastle.

This level of personal and local support is important for every customer but no more so than the many vulnerable customers and their carers that we serve. And that brings me back to what a lifeline our people have been for our customers during the pandemic.

Coronavirus continuity

When the world changed for us all last spring, we were able to meet the enormous technical, logistical, and regulatory challenges that arise in giving such a large number of our people the option of home working. We could only do that because 100% of our frontline people are based across many sites in the UK and Ireland, not only keeping our people safe, but also enabling us to maintain our customer service continuity.Our people showed amazing resilience and we completed a massive logistical challenge to equip every colleague who wanted to work from home with the technology, security and equipment to do so. I couldn’t be prouder of how my colleagues rose to this challenge, keeping our customers connected with the help they need so they don’t have to leave their homes.They are all walking, talking examples of BT’s ambition to connect for good. 

Marc Allera, CEO, BT’s Consumer brands

Follow me on Twitter and Instagram at @marcallera

*Complaint handling complaints have reduced from 1,168 per 100k to 922 per 100k

BT 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 announced today it will continue its support and investment into club rugby after agreeing a new three-year sponsorship deal with the four Welsh regions – Cardiff Blues, Scarlets, Dragons and Ospreys.

BT signed a ground-breaking three-year sponsorship deal with the Welsh regions in 2014. The sponsorship was extended in 2017. The new deal will run until 2023, at the end of which BT will have sponsored the four regions for nine consecutive seasons.

BT also announced last year that it had signed an agreement with FA Wales to become the exclusive lead partner of Welsh national football until 2024.

The new rugby agreement will see the BT brand featuring in all the Welsh regions’ home grounds, in community activity and in regional rugby marketing materials.

The agreement will also see community work continue between BT and the Welsh rugby regions, focusing in particular on highlighting the importance of technology, innovation and digital skills within communities across Wales.

Richard Holland, Chief Executive of Cardiff Blues, said: “On behalf of Cardiff Blues, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets, we are all delighted to continue our long-standing partnership with BT, who have already been such an enormous supporter of Welsh rugby.

“This is the only joint sponsorship across all four professional regions in Wales. It has already proved a great success and demonstrates what can be achieved by working collaboratively.

“We are all very grateful to retain such a high-profile and commercially successful partner, particularly at such a challenging time for all businesses navigating through this pandemic and the financial implications.

“There are some exciting new elements and community initiatives included in this agreement and we are looking forward to building upon an already robust relationship.”

Nick Speed, BT Group’s director in Wales, said: “BT is a long-standing supporter of Welsh rugby, so we’re pleased to be able to continue our sponsorship and relationship with the four Welsh regions.

“This new agreement will help us carry on working on community projects with all four regions, highlighting in particular how technology, innovation and improving digital skills can help people’s work prospects and lives across the country.

“2020 has been an incredibly difficult year for many sectors and sports, and Welsh rugby is no exception. We hope this new partnership will go some way towards making sure that our regional sides, and the communities in which they’re based, can emerge from the crisis stronger than before.”

Notes

BT sponsorship agreement

The new three-year agreement between BT and the four regions will run from 2020 until 2023 (season 2022/23). As well as BT branding and joint community work, the sponsorship will also involve hospitality and tickets for matches and events.

BT Skills for Tomorrow

BT Skills for Tomorrow is helping 10 million people in the UK make the most of life in the digital world. It is completely free and designed to help everyone - from school children and teachers, parents and families, businesses and jobseekers, to older and more vulnerable people. Working in partnership with leading digital skills, enterprise and community organisations, we have created and collated some of the best advice, information and support in one easy-to-navigate place. Visit www.bt.com/skillsfortomorrow

ENDS

BT a rhanbarthau rygbi Cymru yn arwyddo cytundeb noddi newydd

Cyhoeddodd BT heddiw eu bod am barhau i gefnogi rygbi yng Nghymru ar ôl cytuno ar gytundeb noddi newydd dros dair blynedd gyda phedwar rhanbarth rygbi Cymru – Gleision Caerdydd, Y Sgarlets, Dreigiau a’r Gweilch.

Yn 2014, cytunodd BT ar gytundeb tair-blynedd newydd, arloesol gyda'r rhanbarthau. Cytunwyd i ymestyn y nawdd yn 2017. Bydd y cytundeb newydd yn rhedeg tan 2023 ac, ar ddiwedd y bartneriaeth newydd hon, mi fydd BT wedi noddi'r pedwar rhanbarth am naw tymor yn olynol.

Cyhoeddodd BT y llynedd hefyd eu bod wedi dod i gytundeb â Chymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru i ddod yn brif noddwr timau cenedlaethol pêl-droed Cymru tan 2024.

Fel rhan o’r cytundeb rygbi newydd, bydd brand BT yn ymddangos yn stadiymau cartref y pedwar rhanbarth, yn y gweithgareddau cymunedol ar y cyd, ac yn eu deunyddiau marchnata.

Mae BT a’r rhanbarthau rygbi wedi cytuno hefyd i barhau i wneud mwy o waith cymunedol ar y cyd, gan ganolbwyntio'n benodol ar hyrwyddo pwysigrwydd technoleg, arloesi a sgiliau digidol mewn cymunedau ledled Cymru.

Dywedodd Richard Holland, Prif Weithredwr Gleision Caerdydd: “Ar ran Gleision Caerdydd, Dreigiau, Y Gweilch a’r Sgarlets, rydym i gyd yn falch iawn o barhau â’n partneriaeth hirsefydlog gyda BT. Maent eisoes wedi bod yn hynod gefnogol i rygbi yng Nghymru.

“Dyma’r unig nawdd ar y cyd sy’n cwmpasu pob un o’r pedwar rhanbarth proffesiynol yng Nghymru. Mae’r cytundeb eisoes wedi profi'n llwyddiant mawr ac mae'n dangos yr hyn y gellir ei gyflawni trwy weithio ar y cyd.

“Rydym i gyd yn ddiolchgar iawn i gadw partner sydd mor adnabyddus a llwyddiannus yn fasnachol, yn enwedig ar adeg mor heriol i bob busnes sy'n ceisio ymdopi â’r pandemig a'r goblygiadau ariannol.

“Mae'r cytundeb yn cynnwys elfenau a mentrau cymunedol newydd cyffrous, ac rydym yn edrych ymlaen at adeiladu ar berthynas sydd eisoes yn gadarn.”

Dywedodd Nick Speed, cyfarwyddwr BT Group yng Nghymru: “Mae BT yn gefnogwr hirsefydlog i rygbi yng Nghymru, felly rydym yn falch o allu parhau â'n nawdd a'n perthynas â’r pedwar rhanbarth.

“Bydd y cytundeb newydd hwn yn ein helpu i barhau i weithio ar brosiectau cymunedol gyda’r pedwar rhanbarth, gan dynnu sylw yn benodol at sut y gall technoleg, arloesi a gwella sgiliau digidol helpu rhagolygon gwaith a bywydau pobl ledled y wlad.

“Mae 2020 wedi bod yn flwyddyn anodd tu hwnt i lawer o sectorau a chwaraeon, a tydi rygbi ddim yn eithriad i hyn. Rydym yn gobeithio y bydd y bartneriaeth newydd hon yn helpu i sicrhau y bydd y timau rhanbarthol, a'r cymunedau y maen nhw’n eu gwasanaethu, yn dod allan o'r argyfwng hwn yn gryfach nag erioed.”

BT’s latest 999 call handling volumes are revealed today - with the company handling 90,000 calls every day - as BT joins the emergency services to mark this year's 999 Day [9 September], an annual celebration of the work of emergency services across the UK.

BT’s 999 agents are the calm and confident voice answering every 999 call. Six BT call centres handle all the UK's 999 calls in Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England, passing calls to the relevant emergency service.

The number of 999 calls handled by BT has increased significantly in recent years, jumping from around 25 million calls a year in 2000, to over 33 million calls in the last year. When the country entered into lockdown in March, BT 999 call advisors were given key worker status and put the needs of the UK public first to fulfil their critical role in answering 999 calls.

During the Covid-19 peak, BT’s 999 call handlers were responding to unprecedented levels of demand, answering a daily average of 105,000 999 calls[1]. The busiest periods saw 999 agents handling a call every three seconds. To meet this demand, BT trained an additional 100 staff to support with answering calls, including a number of volunteers who put themselves forward to help out.

Lacey Talbot, a BT employee who volunteered to work in the 999 team during the Covid-19 peak, said: “It was an honour to be trusted to do such an important role and I will never forget my experience. It made me feel proud to support the 999 service, especially during a nationwide pandemic. The people who perform this role each day under immense pressures are unsung heroes.”

BT’s team have been trusted to handle 999 calls for over 80 years. Mary Davies, a BT 999 agent based in Wales who has 53 years’ service in supporting 999 calls, reflected on how technology has changed the nature of her job: “Back in the day we had three people answering one 999 call and we had to check the location of each call manually. Today, our technology has advanced to enable us to track the accuracy of the call and to pinpoint the location, meaning we’re able to rapidly pass information to the Emergency Authorities to help save lives. I really enjoy working in such a fantastic team at BT. When we’re under pressure, such as recently during the Covid-19 peak, we all pulled together to put the needs of the public first.”

BT’s Advanced Mobile Location (AML) technology provides a critical role to the emergency services, providing the exact location of a 999 caller by sending an automatic text to the 999 call handler. The majority of mobile phones (70%) – including Android and Apple smartphones – can now detect that an emergency call is being made, with the caller’s precise GPS position being sent to the 999 service during the call and pinpointing their position to within just three metres in some cases. This plays a really important role in helping the emergency services reach incidents more quickly and save lives.

For example, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (NYFRS) frequently handle calls in remote locations. Viv Horton, Group Manager Control, at North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We’ve had numerous examples of where BT’s AML technology has provided an accurate address for mobilising a response when the caller couldn’t provide an address. To be able to say to your caller ‘I can see exactly where you are’ is worth its weight in gold, and having the right technology to identify where a caller is helps to reduce call handling times. This ultimately reduces the amount of further questioning required by the emergency services when trying to identify a location.

“One of our first AML calls was to a car fire in York, the distressed female caller could tell our Control Operator nothing other than she was in York with no street name. AML allowed the Control Operator to identify within seconds where the caller was in York, and a fire appliance was mobilised within 30 seconds. Had we not had AML for this call, there would have been a further delay in mobilisation, the fire would have been worse and the risk to others would have increased. We also feel the benefit of AML when dealing with Major Road calls – for example callers are rarely confident of their exact location when they’re travelling on the A1 – the location accuracy of AML has had huge benefits in reducing our major road incident call handling times.

“AML is used on a daily basis in NYFRS Control Room to support our call handling with almost immediate location results and I believe AML should be utilised in every Emergency Service Control Room.”

Don McShane, Control Room Manager at Merseyside Police, also commented:

“The Advanced Mobile Location (AML) system is used every day in our Contact Centre. The technology allows us to very quickly locate callers and reassure them that we know where they are. This in turn enables us to deploy police officers to incidents more quickly, ensuring that we are protecting our communities.

 “For example, we recently had an abandoned call from an upset female with a faint voice, with a male heard in the background. The location provided by the AML technology was very much spot on – we just needed a subscriber check to locate the exact address. This enabled us to reach the domestic violence victim in good time.

“In July we also had an abandoned 999 call with a female voice requesting police, but then the line cleared. The AML technology zoomed in to a jetty by a reservoir in Wales, enabling Merseyside Police to provide another force with an exact location of the incident.”

Mike Gauterin, Customer Service Director, BT Enterprise, said:

“At BT we’re proud to play a critical role in supporting the outstanding work of the emergency services. During the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic our 999 call agents faced a significant increase in calls, and have gone above and beyond to provide a critical role to the UK public.

“Our AML Technology also enables our call handlers to pinpoint a 999 caller to as close as three metres in some cases. This could mean, for example, being able to tell which side of the motorway the call has come from, helping an ambulance or fire engine get to a scene ten minutes earlier, which is potentially life-saving. Our 999 agents and the emergency services do phenomenal work and we’re delighted to be celebrating them on Emergency Services Day.”

BT plays a critical role supporting the emergency services – from its 999 call centres, building the Emergency Services Network (ESN), to BT’s emergency service volunteers working across the country from Cornwall to the Scottish Highlands and globally. 

[1] Average daily call volumes during height of lockdown (17^th March 2020 – 20^th March 2020)

​

Focusing on the agriculture and tourism sectors in rural Wales, rapidly growing technology such as "internet of things" (IOT) – internet-connected devices – could help these areas thrive in future, according to the report.

But, the study, commissioned by BT, says that this will only happen if 'early adopters' and champions of the new technology are supported, and there is continued investment in the availability of high speed broadband and mobile in rural areas.

For agriculture, the report highlights how solutions such as sensors and devices connected to networks are already being trialled in Wales to show how farmers can remotely track and manage their stock, helping to reduce costs and increase efficiency.

The tourism and hospitality industry has also seen a revolution in the use of digital technology in recent years, with smartphones, mapping services and augmented reality apps transforming the way visitors engage with tourist locations. The report highlights the tourism businesses using new technologies to help them work smarter and adapt to rising consumer expectations.

Agriculture and tourism organisations and businesses highlighted in the report include:

• Fferm Glynllifon, Caernarfon (Grŵp Llandrillo Menai College): Using LoRaWAN wireless technology – a way of linking sensor devices and applications together over a network – they are using cutting-edge sensors to remotely monitor things such as fridge temperature where vaccines are stored, contact sensors monitoring gates and cattle grids, and a tracking device installed on a ram to monitor its movement and whereabouts.

• Town wi-fi and analytics, Aberteifi (Cardigan): Cardigan’s wi-fi scheme provides free web connectivity at strategic points throughout the town centre. Data from the wi-fi app measure visitor footfall, provide information on where visitors are from and how long they stay and whether measures like free parking make a difference to numbers.

• Dioni Holiday Cottages, Snowdonia: The company has adopted various cloud-based systems, allowing staff to work remotely from connected devices. They can access their online booking system, web design software and they have plans to develop an app that will allow tourists to plot a route through Wales that is tailored to their preferences.

Rhodri Owen, Manager of Glynllifon college farm near Caernarfon, one of the case studies highlighted in the report, said: “It’s one of the biggest opportunities we have to make farms more efficient, safer and healthier.

“The data generated from these sensors will allow farmers to make better decisions quicker. I really hope to see more farmers getting involved in developing high-value applications in the future, as the agri-tech scene is booming in many parts of the world at the moment.

“A surprising benefit is that technology has made work on the farm more interesting. We are now able to measure and monitor things that we never dreamt of being able to commercially 10 years ago.”

Nick Speed, BT Group’s director in Wales, said: “Connected, smart technology could offer real benefits to rural communities in future. It has the potential to help rural economies grow and encourage young people to stay in these areas.

“This technology is developing quickly and it's pleasing that a lot of the cutting edge rural solutions are being trialled and developed here in Wales. But there are clear challenges to the growth of this technology in rural sectors, including the initial investment needed by businesses and how quickly the gap between rural and urban broadband and mobile connectivity can be closed.

“What we heard from many in rural sectors is that ‘it’s not relevant to my business’ or ‘I just don’t have the time’. Or ‘what will be the return on our investment?’. One of the report’s clear recommendations is to work together to improve digital skills in rural sectors and to help champion those trailblazers already doing amazing things. At BT we’re continuing to invest in rural connectivity, but it’s equally vital to see wider investment in rural innovation and infrastructure.”

BT Group has committed to working with governments to help close the divide between rural and urban areas in terms of the adoption of superfast broadband and good mobile coverage. Earlier this year, it announced a £12 billion investment to enable Openreach to bring full fibre broadband to more than 20 million premises right across the UK, with a focus on rural areas, by the mid-to-late-2020s.

It has also launched new initiatives to help support small businesses (SMEs) – many of which operate in rural areas – and improve digital skill levels across the population.

Notes

• The report – Smart rural: The utilisation of digital infrastructure by the agriculture and tourism sector in rural Wales – was commissioned by BT and written by economic research company Wavehill. While the focus is on agriculture and tourism in rural Wales, the findings can be applied more broadly. Its focus is not digital connectivity itself in rural Wales, but the future ability of rural sectors to take advantage of innovations in connected digital technologies.

• The case studies are based on interviews undertaken in late 2019 and early 2020. It’s important to note that the interviews were all undertaken prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, which does not, therefore, feature in any of them.

• According to Ofcom's latest ‘Connected Nations’ report, which gives a breakdown of broadband speeds available across the UK, the vast majority of properties in Wales (97%) can now access decent broadband (defined by Ofcom as 10Mbit/s download and 1Mbit/s upload speed). The figure across the UK is 98%. Continued investment will be needed to connect the small number of homes and businesses, many of them in rural areas, still unable to get a decent broadband service.

• As part of the 2020 spring budget, the Chancellor confirmed the UK Government’s intention to invest £5bn to support the rollout of gigabit-capable broadband in the most difficult to reach 20% of the UK. BT also announced recently a £12 billion investment to enable Openreach to bring ‘full fibre’ (FTTP) to more than 20 million homes across the UK by the mid-to late 2020s. A significant proportion of this build will be in rural areas.

• In terms of mobile, coverage has improved significantly across the UK in recent years. EE, part of BT Group, runs the UK's biggest and fastest mobile network and, according to Ofcom, already covers 82% of rural geography across the UK, and 84% of the UK landmass. This is higher than any other network. The UK’s mobile companies have invested over £45 billion over the last 20 years in their networks. But, as Ofcom’s report highlights, coverage remains patchy in parts of the UK, including in rural Wales. However, rural mobile coverage is set to increase as a result of the new Shared Rural Network (SRN) announced last year. The shared £1bn investment will bring combined 4G coverage to 95% of the whole of the UK by the end of 2025.

Digital skills

BT Skills for Tomorrow is helping 10 million people in the UK make the most of life in the digital world. It is designed to help everyone – from school children and teachers, parents and families, businesses and jobseekers, to older and more vulnerable people. Working in partnership with a range of the UK’s leading digital skills, enterprise and community organisations, BT have created and collated some of the best advice, information and support, in one easy to navigate place.

Gallai technoleg glyfar helpu i drawsnewid cymuned gwledig

Mae gan dechnoleg newydd clyfar, cysylltiedig y potensial i drawsnewid cymunedau gwledig, yn ôl adroddiad newydd a gyhoeddwyd heddiw.

Mae’r adroddiad, sy’n canolbwyntio ar sectorau amaeth a thwristiaeth yng nghefn gwlad Cymru, yn dweud y gall y twf mewn technoleg “rhyngrwyd y pethau” (IoT) – dyfeisiau clyfar sy’n cysylltu â'r rhyngrwyd – helpu’r ardaloedd hyn i ffynnu yn y dyfodol.

Ond, mae’r astudiaeth, a gomisiynwyd gan BT, yn rhybuddio na fydd hyn yn digwydd oni bai bod arloeswyr a 'mabwysiadwyr cynnar' y dechnoleg newydd yn cael eu cefnogi, a bod buddsoddiad parhaus yn argaeledd band eang cyflym a rhwydweithiau ffonau symudol mewn ardaloedd gwledig.

O ran amaethyddiaeth, mae'r adroddiad yn tynnu sylw at sut mae datrysiadau fel sensoryddion a dyfeisiau sy'n gysylltiedig â rhwydweithiau, eisoes yn cael eu treialu yng Nghymru i ddangos sut y gall ffermwyr olrhain a rheoli eu stoc o bell, gan helpu i leihau costau a chynyddu effeithlonrwydd.

Mae'r diwydiant twristiaeth hefyd wedi gweld chwyldro yn y defnydd o dechnoleg ddigidol yn ystod y blynyddoedd diwethaf, gyda ffonau clyfar, gwasanaethau mapio ac apiau realiti estynedig (Augmented Reality) yn trawsnewid y ffordd y mae ymwelwyr yn ymgysylltu â lleoliadau twristiaeth. Mae'r adroddiad yn tynnu sylw at fusnesau twristiaeth yng Nghymru sy'n defnyddio technolegau newydd i'w helpu i weithio'n fwy clyfar ac addasu i ddisgwyliadau cynyddol ymwelwyr.

Mae enghreifftiau o'r sectorau amaethyddol a thwristiaeth yn cynnwys:

• Fferm Glynllifon, Caernarfon (Grŵp Llandrillo Menai): Gan ddefnyddio technoleg ddi-wifr LoRaWAN – ffordd o gysylltu dyfeisiau a sensoryddion gyda'i gilydd dros rwydwaith – maent yn defnyddio y sensoryddion diweddara i fonitro pethau fel tymheredd oergell lle mae brechlynnau'n cael eu storio, sensoryddion cyswllt sy’n monitro gatiau a gridiau gwartheg, a dyfais olrhain wedi ei osod ar hwrdd i fonitro ei symudiad a’i leoliad.

• Ap Wi-fi tref clyfar, Aberteifi: Mae cynllun wi-fi Aberteifi yn darparu cysylltedd gwe am ddim mewn mannau strategol drwy ganol y dref. Mae data o'r ap wi-fi yn mesur nifer yr ymwelwyr, yn darparu gwybodaeth ar ble mae gwylwyr ac am ba hyd y maent yn aros ac os yw mesurau fel parcio am ddim yn gwneud gwahaniaeth i niferoedd yr ymwelwyr.

• Bythynnod Gwyliau Dioni, Eryri: Mae'r cwmni wedi mabwysiadu amryw o systemau ‘cwmwl’, sy’n caniatáu i staff weithio o bell drwy amryw ddyfeisiau cysylltiedig. Gall pob aelod o staff gysylltu a’u system archebu ar-lein, eu meddalwedd dylunio gwe ac mae ganddynt gynlluniau i ddatblygu ap a fydd yn caniatáu i dwristiaid blotio llwybr trwy Gymru sydd wedi'i deilwra i bob ymwelydd.

Dywedodd Rhodri Owen, Rheolwr fferm coleg Glynllifon ger Caernarfon, un o’r enghrieffitau yn yr adroddiad: “Dyma un o’r cyfleoedd mwyaf sydd gennym i wneud ffermydd yn fwy effeithlon, yn fwy diogel ac yn fwy iach.

“Bydd y data a gynhyrchir o’r sensoryddion yma yn galluogi ffermwyr i wneud penderfyniadau gwell yn gynt. Dw i’n mawr obeithio gweld mwy o ffermwyr yn cymryd rhan yn y gwaith o ddatblygu rhaglenni gwerthfawr yn y dyfodol, gan fod y maes technoleg amaethyddol yn ffynnu mewn sawlrhan o’r byd ar hyn o bryd.

“Un o’r buddion annisgwyl yw bod y dechnoleg yma wedi gwneud gwaith ar y fferm yn fwy diddorol. Rydym ni bellach yn gallu mesur a monitro pethau na fyddem erioed wedi dychmygu gallu ei wneud yn fasnachol 10 mlynedd yn ôl.”

Dywedodd Nick Speed, cyfarwyddwr BT Group yng Nghymru: “Gallai technoleg clyfar cysylltiedig gynnig buddion gwirioneddol i gymunedau gwledig yn y dyfodol. Mae ganddo'r potensial i helpu economïau gwledig i dyfu ac annog pobl ifanc i aros yn yr ardaloedd hyn.

“Mae'r dechnoleg hon yn datblygu'n gyflym ac mae'n braf bod llawer o'r rhagleni blaengar gwledig yn cael eu treialu a'u datblygu yma yng Nghymru. Ond mae heriau amlwg i dwf y dechnoleg hon mewn sectorau gwledig, gan gynnwys y buddsoddiad cychwynnol sydd ei angen ar fusnesau a pha mor gyflym y gellir cau'r bwlch rhwng band eang a chysylltedd symudol gwledig a threfol.

“Yr hyn a glywsom gan lawer mewn sectorau gwledig yw nad ydi’r dechnoleg yn berthnasol iddyn nhw neu ‘does gen i ddim yr amser ’. Neu sut y byddant yn elwa o'u buddsoddiad. Un o argymhellion clir yr adroddiad yw cydweithio i wella sgiliau digidol mewn sectorau gwledig ac i helpu i hyrwyddo'r arloeswyr hynny sydd eisoes yn gwneud pethau anhygoel. Yn BT, rydym yn parhau i fuddsoddi mewn cysylltedd gwledig, ond mae'r un mor hanfodol gweld buddsoddiad ehangach mewn arloesi a seilwaith gwledig. ”

Mae BT Group wedi ymrwymo i weithio gyda llywodraethau i helpu i gau'r bwlch rhwng ardaloedd gwledig a threfol o ran mabwysiadu band eang cyflym iawn a chysylltedd symudol da. Yn gynharach eleni, cyhoeddodd BT Group fuddsoddiad o £ 12 biliwn i alluogi Openreach i ddod â band eang ffibr llawn i fwy nag 20 miliwn o adeiladau ledled y DU, gan ganolbwyntio ar ardaloedd gwledig, erbyn canol i ddiwedd y 2020au.

Mae hefyd wedi lansio mentrau newydd i helpu i gefnogi busnesau bach (SMEs) a gwella lefelau sgiliau digidol ar draws y boblogaeth.

Nodiadau

Comisiynwyd yr adroddiad – Ardaloedd gwledig clyfar: Defnydd o seilwaith digidol gan y sectorau amaeth a thwristiaeth yng Nghymru wledig – gan BT a'i ysgrifennu gan y cwmni ymchwil economaidd Wavehill. Er bod y ffocws ar amaethyddiaeth a thwristiaeth yng nghefn gwlad Cymru, gellir defnyddio'r canfyddiadau yn ehangach. Nid cysylltedd digidol ei hun yng nghefn gwlad Cymru yw ei ffocws, ond gallu sectorau gwledig yn y dyfodol i fanteisio ar ddatblygiadau mewn technolegau digidol cysylltiedig.

[Scroll down for Welsh language version]

BT’s Bangor customer service centre is set for a major redevelopment as the company announced plans today to invest in a large refit of the building.

The building – located in the centre of the city and opened in 1957 – will undergo a full refurbishment to modernise it and create an improved workspace for the 150 or so staff based currently at the location.

Bangor is the latest key location to be unveiled across the UK as part of the company’s ‘Better Workplace Programme’, one of the largest workplace improvement and consolidation schemes of its type ever undertaken in the UK. The five-year programme will improve and consolidate BT’s footprint of more than 300 locations to around 30, including corporate offices, contact centres and specialist sites.

Work on the Bangor refurbishment is due to start at the end of the year, for completion in early 2021.

Bangor has been chosen as a key service centre location for BT as part of this programme. The centre provides a number of bespoke services on behalf of BT such as Welsh language customer service and directory enquiries, payphone customer services and handling BT Group head office switchboard.

Staff in the Welsh language customer services team in Bangor recently marked 25 years since BT established its Welsh language policy.

Gwynedd Council leader Councillor Dyfrig Siencyn said: “It's great news that Bangor has been chosen as a key operational location for BT. We're pleased that a large company such as BT is investing in Bangor and modernising its office space in the centre of the city.

“This is good for skilled jobs, for the city and the wider region. Hopefully this will also be a boost to the Welsh language services provided from the centre.”

Nick Speed, BT Group’s Director in Wales, said it was an exciting development for colleagues based at the site and for Bangor.

He said: “During uncertain times for jobs and the economy, this is a real sign of BT’s continued commitment to Bangor and to Wales generally. It’s an important site for BT and a vote of confidence in the fantastic teams we have working here on a range of specialist services.

“These are skilled jobs that attract people from Bangor, Ynys Môn and across the north of Wales. We’re creating a more modern and flexible workplace, fit for the 21st century, that we hope will inspire colleagues and give them the tools and environment to be able to succeed. This is also good news for the city of Bangor and the wider region.”

Mike Cook, BT managing director of customer services, said: “Our refurbished building in Bangor will bring our people together in an impressive and modern environment, transforming the way we work.

“Excitingly, it will become a key location for BT Group in Wales. Our colleagues in Bangor will benefit from working in a future-fit office which sits in the heart of the city.”

The refurbishment will be carried out in stages, with staff able to be based in the building throughout the development. BT will work with architects, designers and staff to finalise plans for the site.

The Better Workplace Programme will see some existing BT buildings refurbished, while others will see BT move into new offices. The programme is expected to be complete by 2024. BT Group directly employs around 4,400 people in Wales. This is equivalent to one in every 10 employees working in the Welsh IT and communications sectors, reinforcing its position as one of the country’s leading employers. According to an independent study, BT Group generated a £900 million contribution – expressed as “Gross Value Added” (GVA)* – to the Welsh economy during the 2017/18 financial year.

Bangor joins other key locations already announced including Cardiff, Glasgow, Dundee, London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Belfast, Bristol and Ipswich (Adastral Park). More announcements will follow in due course. ENDS

Notes

In November 2019, BT marked 25 years of its pioneering Welsh language policy. In 1994, BT became one of the first large private companies in the UK to adopt a voluntary bilingual policy in relation to the Welsh language, supporting the more than half a million Welsh speakers in Wales currently. See news release

BT provides Welsh language customer service helplines, including directory enquires – through teams based in Bangor – and produces bills in Welsh for those who request it.

The independent report The Economic Impact of BT Group plc in Wales is available to download. *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. 

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Canolfan gwasanaeth cwsmeriaid BT Bangor i gael ei ailddatblygu

• BT yn dewis Bangor fel un o'i brif leoliadau yng Nghymru

• Y buddsoddiad ym Mangor yn rhan o raglen sylweddol i wella safleoedd gwaith y cwmni

Bydd canolfan gwasanaeth cwsmeriaid BT ym Mangor yn cael ei hailddatblygu’n sylweddol, yn dilyn cyhoeddiad heddiw fod y cwmni am fuddsoddi’n yn y safle.

Bydd yr adeilad – a agorwyd yn wreiddiol ym 1957 ac sydd wedi'i leoli yng nghanol y ddinas – yn cael ei adnewyddu'n llawn er mwyn ei foderneiddio a chreu lle gwaith gwell i'r oddeutu 150 o staff sydd wedi'u lleoli yn y safle ar hyn o bryd.

Bangor yw’r lleoliad allweddol diweddaraf i gael ei gyhoeddi fel rhan o raglen sylweddol i wella safleoedd gwaith y cwmni ledled y DG.

Bydd y rhaglen bum mlynedd yn gwella ac yn lleihau y nifer o leoliadau sydd gan BT, gan symud o fwy na 300 o leoliadau ledled y DG, i oddeutu 30.

Disgwylir i'r gwaith ar adnewyddu adeilad BT Bangor ddechrau ar ddiwedd y flwyddyn, i'w gwblhau yn gynnar yn 2021.

Dewiswyd Bangor fel lleoliad canolfan wasanaeth allweddol i BT fel rhan o'r rhaglen hon. Mae'r ganolfan yn darparu nifer o wasanaethau arbenigol ar ran BT, yn cynnwys gwasanaeth cwsmeriaid Cymraeg ac ymholiadau cyfeirlyfr, gwasanaethau cwsmeriaid blychau ffôn cyhoeddus a derbyn galwadau prif switsfwrdd BT Group.

Llynedd, bu staff y ganolfan yn dathlu 25 mlynedd ers sefydlu polisi arloesol iaith Gymraeg y cwmni.

Dywedodd arweinydd Cyngor Gwynedd Dyfrig Siencyn: “Mae'n newyddion gwych bod Bangor wedi'i ddewis fel lleoliad allweddol i BT. Rydym yn falch bod cwmni mawr fel BT yn buddsoddi ym Mangor ac yn moderneiddio ei gweithle yng nghanol y ddinas.

“Mae hyn yn dda ar gyfer swyddi sgiliau uchel, i'r ddinas a'r rhanbarth yn ehangach. Gobeithio y bydd hyn yn hwb hefyd i ddarpariaeth gwasanaethau Cymraeg drwy’r ganolfan.”

Dywedodd Nick Speed, Cyfarwyddwr BT Group yng Nghymru, ei fod yn ddatblygiad cyffrous i’r timau sydd wedi eu lleoli ym Mangor ac i’r ddinas yn gyffredinol.

Meddai: “Mewn cyfnod o ansicrwydd o ran swyddi a’r economi, mae hyn yn arwydd o ymrwymiad parhaus BT i Fangor ac i Gymru yn gyffredinol. Mae'n safle pwysig i BT ac yn bleidlais o hyder yn y timau gwych sydd gennym yn gweithio yma ar ystod o wasanaethau arbenigol.

“Mae'r rhain yn swyddi sgiliau uchel sy'n denu pobl o Fangor, Ynys Môn ac ar draws y gogledd. Rydym yn creu gweithle mwy modern a hyblyg, sy'n addas ar gyfer yr unfed ganrif ar hugain. Y gobaith yw y bydd yn ysbrydoli cydweithwyr ac yn rhoi'r offer a'r amgylchedd iddynt allu llwyddo. Mae hyn hefyd yn newyddion da i ddinas Bangor ac i’r ardal ehangach.”

Dywedodd Mike Cook, rheolwr gyfarwyddwr gwasanaethau cwsmeriaid BT: “Bydd ein hadeilad ar ei newydd wedd ym Mangor yn dod â’n pobl ynghyd mewn amgylchedd modern a thrawiadol, gan drawsnewid y ffordd rydym yn gweithio.

“Bydd hefyd yn dod yn lleoliad allweddol i BT Group yng Nghymru, sy’n newyddion cyffrous. Bydd ein cydweithwyr ym Mangor yn elwa o weithio mewn swyddfa sy'n addas ar gyfer y dyfodol mewn lleoliad yng nghanol y ddinas.”

Bydd yr adnewyddiad yn cael ei gwblhau fesul cam, gyda staff yn gallu bod yn yr adeilad trwy gydol y datblygiad. Bydd BT yn gweithio gyda phenseiri, dylunwyr a staff i gwblhau cynlluniau ar gyfer y safle.

Bydd rhaglen ehangach BT i wella safleoedd gwaith y cwmni yn gweld rhai adeiladau BT yn cael eu hadnewyddu, tra bydd eraill yn gweld BT yn symud i swyddfeydd newydd. Disgwylir i'r rhaglen fod wedi'i chwblhau erbyn 2024. Mae BT Group yn cyflogi tua 4,400 o bobl yng Nghymru yn uniongyrchol. Mae hyn yn cyfateb i un o bob 10 gweithiwr sy'n gweithio yn sectorau TG a chyfathrebu Cymru, gan atgyfnerthu ei safle fel un o brif gyflogwyr y wlad. Yn ôl astudiaeth annibynnol, cynhyrchodd BT Group gyfraniad o £900 miliwn – a fynegwyd fel “Gwerth Ychwanegol Gros” (GVA)* – i economi Cymru yn ystod blwyddyn ariannol 2017/18.

Mae Bangor yn ymuno â lleoliadau allweddol eraill a gyhoeddwyd eisoes gan gynnwys Caerdydd, Glasgow, Dundee, Llundain, Manceinion, Caeredin, Birmingham, Belffast, Bryste ac Ipswich (Adastral Park). Bydd mwy o gyhoeddiadau yn dilyn yn y misoedd i ddod.

DIWEDD

BT has today unveiled its 4-3-3 football partnership strategy to use technology, innovation and digital skills in footballing communities across the UK to help change the lives of millions of players, coaches and fans.

In partnership with each of the four Home Nation Football Associations, BT will help break down barriers to playing or supporting the beautiful game by creating a para and disability innovation hub; launching The FA Playmaker, an official FA entry-level online course; and boosting support for men’s, women’s, para and disability football from grassroots to elite levels.

BT’s commitment will launch a number of initiatives and projects over the five-year agreement with each of The FA, Scottish FA, Irish FA and FA of Wales to deliver against specific goals and commitments for their communities.

BT & DISABILITY FOOTBALL: Inspiring the next generation of disability players BT will combine the power of its technology, innovation and partnerships and aim to increase national support for Home Nations teams.

Project Swift: A first of its kind research programme to enable those who currently can’t play, to play.

• Millions of people are fortunate enough to grow up playing football and dreaming of playing for their country, but for some disability groups there isn’t a form of the game they can play.

• Working with leading tech innovation hub, Plexal, within the Here East supercampus, as well as Disability Rights UK and other experts from the accessibility and sport communities, BT will design and develop a new format of disability football for those who can’t play with their bodies, but could potentially play with their minds.

• Through this ambitious research project, BT’s aim is to introduce new technology concepts into the game, helping those currently excluded from competitive sport to play, with the ultimate ambition of enabling the very best to potentially play one day for their country.

Content & programming: Raising the profile of Para and disability football

• BT to invest in the creation of inspiring para documentaries and films for BT Sport. The first documentary has been commissioned and will focus on blind football.

• This year BT Sport will broadcast the Disability Cup, the first time is had been broadcast live, providing disability football with a live TV broadcast platform.

CONNECTING GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL CLUBS: Break down barriers to improve digital, education and footballing skills in communities across the UK, creating a network of hundreds of grassroots football clubs across the Home Nations.

The FA Playmaker Partnership:

• BT will be the official partner of The FA’s revolutionary new digital entry-level football course – The FA Playmaker – which launches this Spring.

• The FA Playmaker will be free to sign up and available to anyone over 14 interested in taking a more active volunteer role in grassroots football, with a focus on encouraging a more diverse representation of people into football coaching.

• The aim will be to create 100,000 FA Playmakers by 2024 and equip them with the skills, knowledge and confidence to support licenced coaches make safe, fun and inclusive football happen in our grassroots game.

• The course is made up of five online modules and will take approximately four and a half hours to complete, with learners having the options afterwards to become FA licensed by taking their FA Safeguarding Children Workshop (FA SCW), FA Introduction to First Aid in Football (FA IFAiF), and their DBS.

• The FA Playmaker licence will qualify participants for leading roles in grassroots football and within FA participation initiatives – such as Wildcats, Just Play and FA affiliated football.

• BT to offer incentive scheme to encourage thousands of FA Playmakers from under-represented communities to achieve their full licence by removing the cost of the additional safeguarding and first aid courses required for supervising under 18s.

Connecting grassroots clubs and communities for increased Digital skills training:

• More than 200 grassroots football clubs across the home nations will be given a package of BT services and become part of the rollout of the new digital skills programme BT Skills for Tomorrow to turn football clubhouses into hubs for their community, helping to create the best-connected grassroots football community in the world.

• The new BT Skills for Tomorrow programme will be rolled out across the UK, starting in March at the National Stadium in Belfast where 50 18-24 years olds will celebrate completing a Work Ready programme, designed to help them develop employability and digital skills.

• Community football clubs will become hubs to give those at the club, in the local community and in small businesses the digital skills and confidence they need.

• These initiatives will support BT’s wider ambition by 2025 to empower 10 million people by giving them the skills they need for the digital world.

BOOSTING THE WOMEN’S GAME: BT will use its digital innovation and broadcasting expertise to inspire a new generation of girls and women to participate in football, on and off the pitch.

Football Mum to Football Manager:

• BT will bring 50,000 new women directly into the grassroots eco-system via the FA Playmaker online course as well as offering bursaries and mentoring schemes for women wanting to progress in football coaching.

Broadcast opportunities:

• Through BT Sport’s industry leading expertise, BT will provide an opportunity for girls and women to follow their ambitions for a career in sports broadcasting.

• BT Sport will increase its work with female students to offer broadcast training and presenting opportunities to create programming around women’s football.

• BT will create more TV and online content celebrating and showcasing women in football to help inspire and educate on the opportunities available on or off the pitch.

Marc Allera, CEO of BT’s Consumer division, said: “Football, like BT, is part of the fabric of our nations and we believe that combining football with the power of our technology, innovation and people will benefit society and the lives of millions of people across the UK over the next five years. We’re using these partnerships to break down barriers and create a meaningful legacy across grassroots, para and women’s football in the UK.”

“This is the start of a very exciting journey that goes far beyond traditional sponsorships and we’re looking forward to successful partnerships, on and off the pitch, with all the Home Nations over the coming years.”

Mark Bullingham, CEO of The FA, commented: “BT is using the partnership to have a transformative impact on people throughout the country. They have identified three important areas for growth and we are looking forward to BT bringing their digital expertise and innovative thinking to achieve these goals”

Ian Maxwell, CEO of The Scottish FA, added: “BT have some ambitious plans to combine football and technology to engage communities across the nation. Their goals for grassroots, girls’ and women’s and para-football dovetail perfectly with our own and we are excited at the opportunities our partnership with them holds for Scottish football.”

Jonathan Ford, CEO FA of Wales, added: “Football has the power to transform communities and it’s fantastic that this partnership will enable grassroots, women’s and para football clubs across Wales to benefit from the expertise and services that BT have to offer.” 

Irish FA Chief Executive Patrick Nelson said: “It is great that BT, as title sponsor of our men’s teams and our development and disability teams, is using its wealth of knowledge and expertise to help the football community in this way.“BT’s 4-3-3 strategy, with its focus on introducing new technology, innovation and enhancing digital skills, is a positive and very welcome initiative.“This strategy will undoubtedly be of immense benefit as we strive to promote, foster and develop football for all in Northern Ireland.”

Kamran Mallick, CEO, Disability Rights UK said “Sport is a way of bringing people together, an enabler for increased wellbeing, motivation and enjoyment. For many disabled people the barriers we experience limit or exclude us from taking part in sport. We are excited to be partnering with BT to see how technology can remove these barriers and help us to find ways to participate in sport with our peers and communities, and to be active in a way that works for us.”

BT is marking a quarter of a century since it established its Welsh language policy.

In 1994, BT became one of the first large private companies in the UK to adopt a voluntary bilingual policy in relation to the Welsh language, supporting the more than half a million Welsh speakers in Wales currently.

BT provides Welsh language customer service helplines, including directory enquires, and produces bills in Welsh for those who request it.

BT’s Welsh language policy was introduced to meet customer expectations and make sure that a reliable bilingual service was available to those who wanted to receive services in Welsh.

The BT policy has received praise from organisations across Wales for its commitment to both the language and communities. BT is encouraging more Welsh-speaking customers to use the services on offer.

There are currently around 570,000 Welsh speakers in Wales (approximately 20% of the population) and more than 100,000 in other parts of the UK. The Welsh government has set a target of a million people being Welsh speakers by 2050.

Welsh Language Commissioner Aled Roberts will join BT staff in Bangor, who manage the company’s Welsh language helpline, to mark the milestone.

Commenting on the anniversary, Nick Speed, BT Group Director for Wales, said: “We are very proud of the fact that, 25 years ago, we were one of the first, large companies to introduce a Welsh language policy.

“BT has a big presence in Wales, so the ability to communicate with our customers in the language in which they are most comfortable is important to us as a company. Supporting the use of Welsh is good for the language, and for us as a business.

“But we want to encourage more Welsh speakers and learners to use these services. We are working therefore with the Commissioner to develop our policy, and make sure it lays the foundations for the next twenty-five years.”

The Welsh Language Commissioner Aled Roberts said: “It’s great to celebrate this milestone in BT's Welsh language services.

“As we celebrate the successes of the past 25 years, the anniversary is an opportunity to look forward, and think about new and innovative ideas for developing the Welsh language services further.”

In relation to the Welsh language, BT provides:

• a Welsh Language Helpline - 0800 800 288 - for residential customers who wish to contact BT about sales, repair, billing and broadband

• a 24 hour directory enquiry service in the Welsh language on 118 404

• bills and invoices in Welsh or English, in line with customers’ wishes

• Welsh-speaking staff available for operator services 100, emergency services 999 and international operator services 155

• ‘Work Welsh’ courses for staff interested in learning the language with the National Centre for Learning Welsh

• corporate publications issued by BT in Wales in both Welsh and English

Notes

1. Across Wales in 2017/18, BT Group:

• Directly employed a total of 4,400 people (FTE, including contractors) and supported an estimated 11,600 full-time jobs

• Spent £300 million with suppliers based in Wales

• Generated £900 million total GVA impact (including indirect and induced effects)

• Directly employed 1 in every 180 employees in the private sector across Wales, and 1 in every 10 in the IT and Communications sectors

• Supported £1 in every £70 of GVA in the Welsh economy and 1 in every 70 employees working in the nation’s private sector.

BT yn dathlu 25 mlynedd ers sefydlu polisi arloesol iaith Gymraeg

Mae BT yn dathlu chwarter canrif ers i'r cwmni sefydlu polisi iaith Gymraeg.

Ym 1994, BT oedd yn un o'r cwmnïau mawr preifat cyntaf yn y DU i gyflwyno polisi dwyieithog gwirfoddol, sy’n cefnogi'r mwy na hanner miliwn o siaradwyr Cymraeg yng Nghymru ar hyn o bryd.

Mae BT yn darparu llinellau cymorth Gymraeg i gwsmeriaid – yn cynnwys gwasanaeth ymholiadau cyfeiriadur – ac yn cynhyrchu biliau yn Gymraeg i'r rhai sy'n dymuno hynny.

Cyflwynodd BT bolisi iaith Gymraeg er mwyn ymateb i'r galw gan gwsmeriaid, ac i sicrhau bod gwasanaeth dwyieithog dibynadwy ar gael i'r rheini a oedd am dderbyn gwasanaethau gan y cwmni trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg.

Mae'r polisi wedi derbyn canmoliaeth gan sefydliadau ledled Cymru am ei ymrwymiad i'r iaith ac i gymunedau. Mae BT am annog mwy o gwsmeriaid sy'n siarad Cymraeg i ddefnyddio'r gwasanaethau sydd ar gael.

Ar hyn o bryd, mae tua 570,000 o siaradwyr Cymraeg yng Nghymru (tua 20% o'r boblogaeth) a mwy na 100,000 mewn rhannau eraill o'r DU. Mae llywodraeth Cymru wedi gosod targed o gyrraedd miliwn o siaradwyr Cymraeg erbyn 2050.

Bydd Comisiynydd y Gymraeg Aled Roberts yn ymuno â staff BT ym Mangor, sy’n rheoli llinell gymorth Cymraeg y cwmni, i nodi’r garreg filltir.

Wrth nodi'r penblwydd, dywedodd Nick Speed, Cyfarwyddwr BT Group yng Nghymru: “Rydym yn falch iawn o’r ffaith mai ni, pum mlynedd ar hugain yn ôl, oedd un o’r cwmnïau mawr cyntaf i gyflwyno polisi iaith Gymraeg.

“Mae gan BT bresenoldeb sylweddol yng Nghymru, felly mae’r gallu i gyfathrebu â’n cwsmeriaid yn yr iaith y maent fwyaf cyfforddus ynddi yn bwysig iawn i ni fel cwmni. Mae hybu defnydd o'r Gymraeg yn dda i'r iaith, ac i ni fel busnes.

“Ond, rydym eisiau annog mwy o siaradwyr a dysgwyr Cymraeg i ddefnyddio’r gwasanaethau hyn. Rydym yn gweithio felly gyda'r Comisiynydd i ddatblygu ein polisi, ac i sicrhau ei fod yn gosod y sylfeini ar gyfer y pum mlynedd ar hugain nesaf.”

Dywedodd Comisiynydd y Gymraeg Aled Roberts: “Mae’n braf dathlu’r garreg filltir yma yng ngwasanaethau Cymraeg BT.

“Yn ogystal â dathlu llwyddiannau’r chwarter canrif diwethaf, mae’r pen blwydd yn gyfle i edrych ymlaen ac i feddwl am syniadau newydd ac arloesol ar gyfer datblygu’r gwasanaethau Cymraeg ymhellach.”

O safbwynt y Gymraeg, mae BT yn darparu:

• Llinell Gymorth Iaith Gymraeg – 0800 800 288 – ar gyfer cwsmeriaid preswyl sy'n dymuno cysylltu â BT ynghylch archebion, atgyweirio, bilio a band eang

• gwasanaeth ymholiadau cyfeiriadur 24 awr yn yr iaith Gymraeg ar 118 404

• biliau ac anfonebau yn Gymraeg neu yn Saesneg, yn unol â dymuniadau cwsmeriaid

• staff Cymraeg eu hiaith ar gael ar gyfer gwasanaeth cysylltydd 100, gwasanaeth brys 999 a gwasanaeth cysylltydd rhyngwladol 155

• cyrsiau ‘Work Welsh’ ar gyfer staff sydd â diddordeb mewn dysgu’r iaith gyda’r Ganolfan Dysgu Cymraeg Genedlaethol

• cyhoeddiadau corfforaethol BT yng Nghymru yn Gymraeg ac yn Saesneg

Nodiadau

1. Ar draws Cymru yn 2017/18, bu BT Group yn gyfrifol am:

• Cyflogi yn uniongyrchol cyfanswm o 4,400 o bobl (FTE, gan gynnwys contractwyr) ac yn cefnogi cyfanswm o 11,600 o swyddi llawn amser

• Gwario £ 300 miliwn gyda chyflenwyr yng Nghymru

• Cynhyrchu cyfanswm gwerth GVA o £900 miliwn (gan gynnwys effeithiau anuniongyrchol ac ysgogedig)

• Cyflogi yn uniongyrchol 1 o bob 180 o weithwyr yn y sector preifat ledled Cymru, ac 1 o bob 10 yn y sectorau TG a Chyfathrebu

• Cefnogi £1 ym mhob £ 70 o GYC yn economi Cymru ac 1 o bob 70 o weithwyr yn gweithio yn sector preifat y genedl.

BT today announced the launch of its much-anticipated 5G mobile service for consumers and business customers in the UK. BT Plus and BT Business customers are the first to benefit from the option to move to the 5G service, which is available in more than 20 cities and large towns, including London, Birmingham, Cardiff, Manchester, Edinburgh, Belfast, Coventry, Leicester and Bristol – with the 5G ambition to expand coverage to a further 25 towns and cities by the end of 2019.

Bringing BT customers the best connection possible, whether inside or outside the home or office, 5G provides a faster and more reliable connection, with an increase in speeds of around 100-150Mbps, even in the busiest of places. When they’re in a 5G area, customers can download the latest movie in seconds, and they won’t be competing for signal in the most crowded places, such as train stations and stadiums, so they can video call their family or colleagues to stay in touch while travelling.

BT Plus customers will be able to benefit from access to four new 5G plans – each offering double data. BT Plus customers can choose from a 12GB, 30GB, 60GB or 200GB* 5G handset plan, starting from just £45 per month. They will also be able to select a 5G smartphone from leading manufacturers, which include:

• Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ 5G
• Samsung Galaxy S10 5G
• OnePlus 7 Pro 5G
• OPPO Reno 5G
• Huawei Mate 20 X

All BT’s 5G smartphone plans also allow customers to benefit from inclusive BT Sport app access, so they can keep up with all the live sporting action on the move as well as at home.

Marc Allera, CEO of BT’s Consumer Division, said: “Our 5G service provides customers with a faster and more reliable connection in high demand, crowded areas across the UK at peak times. When combined with the best fibre, the UK’s fastest 4G network and biggest wi-fi network, BT is helping consumers and businesses stay connected wherever they are and whatever they need to do.”

BT Plus is the UK’s first converged fibre and mobile plan and comes with BT’s Keep Connected Promise. If a BT Plus customer reports a fault with their home broadband, BT will switch on free, unlimited data on their BT mobiles within an hour and will also send a free 4G Wi-Fi Mini Hub to arrive the next day, with unlimited data to keep customers connected at home while their broadband is repaired. BT Plus customers also benefit from 24/7 dedicated UK and Ireland support.

BT’s 5G mobile service uses the EE 5G network, which is available in more places than any other 5G network. It will also be supported by the UK’s fastest 4G network and biggest wi-fi network – providing customers with the ultimate connectivity experience. BT’s 5G service can be accessed in some of London’s busiest train stations, including Waterloo, Liverpool Street and Charing Cross, and some of the UK’s busiest places, including London’s Piccadilly Circus, Manchester’s Albert Square and Birmingham’s Brindley Place.

5G for BT Business

BT Business Mobile 5G will give businesses greater capacity for a more reliable connection, as well as improved latency, giving them instant access to online services and applications hosted in the cloud.

BT Business customers can choose from a variety of 6GB, 30GB, or 60GB 5G mobile plans, with customers benefiting from a £10 discount on their handset or SIM only plans when they order together with BT Business Broadband.

BT Business Mobile’s 5G plans start from £35 per month** for a handset plan, or £15 per month** for a SIM-only plan and include unlimited calls and texts, as well as unlimited access to BT’s 5.5m Wi-Fi hotspots across the UK.

For more information on BT’s 5G smartphone and mobile plans, customers can visit: https://www.bt.com/mobile/5G

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

*With more than one million homes connected to BT’s flagship converged plan BT Plus, BT is launching Halo from BT in November 2019 to provide even better connections and service to customers across the UK. Halo customers can benefit from unlimited data and calls on mobile and at home. Customers who sign up for 5G and Plus plans will be upgraded to Halo from November.

BT Mobile we will offer an unlimited mobile data plan when Halo launches in November. The plan will replace the current consumer 200GB price point (customers already on this plan will be moved over to unlimited at no extra cost or additional contract length). Further detail on Halo from BT will be announced in November.

**Price includes £10 discount when taken with BT Business Broadband

• BT signs multi-year partnership with the Football Association of Wales (FAW) to become the exclusive Lead Partner of all the National Men's, Women's, Development and Disability football teams
• The new BT logo to appear on all training kits from November as the men's and women’s senior teams prepare for qualifying for Euro 2020 and 2021
• BT has signed a series of deals as part of a brand relaunch to become the exclusive lead partner of all the home nations football until 2024

BT has signed a deal to become the exclusive lead partner of Welsh football until 2024. The partnership will see the BT logo appear on all training kit worn by all Men’s, Women’s, Development and Disability Teams from November.

The partnership with the FAW will aim to connect the nation at every level of the game, particularly supporting grassroots. More details about the broader ambitions of the partnership will be revealed in the coming months and is part of a wider new BT brand and sponsorship strategy, to champion every home nation.

Marc Allera, Chief Executive of BT’s consumer division, said: “To be the lead partner for Welsh football is a proud moment for BT and supports our ambition to be a national champion across the UK. Our partnership will reach all areas of football, including grassroots football and communities.”

The partnership is part of a wider move by BT to partner with all the Home Nations for the next five years. The partnership with all the nations will start in November when the men’s and women’s teams will be aiming to qualify for next summer’s Euro 2020 and Euro 2021 tournaments respectively.

Jonathan Ford, Chief Executive of the Football Association of Wales, said: “The FAW are delighted BT will become exclusive lead partner of our national teams. We are really excited about this partnership developing with the expertise and services that BT have to offer.”

For further information

Enquiries about this news release should be made to the BT Group Newsroom 020 7356 5369. From outside the UK dial + 44 20 7356 5369. All news releases can be accessed at our web site. You can also subscribe to receive all BT announcements here and you can follow us on Twitter here.

About BT

BT’s purpose is to use the power of communications to make a better world. It is one of the world’s leading providers of communications services and solutions, serving customers in 180 countries. Its principal activities include the provision of networked IT services globally; local, national and international telecommunications services to its customers for use at home, at work and on the move; broadband, TV and internet products and services; and converged fixed-mobile products and services. BT consists of four customer-facing units: Consumer, Enterprise, Global and Openreach.

For the year ended 31 March 2019, BT Group’s reported revenue was £23,428m with reported profit before taxation of £2,666m.

British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group plc and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on the London stock exchange.

For more information, visit www.btplc.com

About FA Wales

The Football Association of Wales is the third oldest association in the world, having come into existence in 1876. The association has governed football in Wales continually since that date.

For more information, visit www.faw.cymru

8 Hydref 2019

BT yn arwyddo cytundeb fel prif bartner gyda Chymdeithas Pêl-droed Cymru i hybu’r gamp ar lawr gwlad

• Mae BT wedi arwyddo partneriaeth aml-flwyddyn gyda Chymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru (CBDC) i ddod yn brif bartner holl dimau pêl-droed cenedlaethol Cymru, yn cynnwys timau dynion, merched, datblygu ac anabledd

• Bydd logo newydd BT yn ymddangos ar bob cit hyfforddi o fis Tachwedd, wrth i dimau dynion a merched Cymru baratoi ar gyfer gemau rhagbrofol Ewro 2020 a 2021

• Mae BT wedi arwyddo cyfres o gytundebau – fel rhan o ail-lansiad brand – i ddod yn brif bartner holl dimau pêl-droed cenedlaethol gwledydd Prydain tan 2024

Mae BT wedi arwyddo cytundeb i ddod yn brif bartner pêl-droed Cymru tan 2024. Bydd y bartneriaeth yn gweld logo BT yn ymddangos ar bob cit hyfforddi a wisgir gan bob tîm cenedlaethol dynion, merched, datblygu ac anabledd o fis Tachwedd ymlaen.

Nod y bartneriaeth gyda CBDC yw sicrhau fod y gêm yn cael ei chysylltu ar bob lefel ledled Cymru, yn enwedig cefnogi’r gamp ar lawr gwlad. Bydd mwy o fanylion am amcanion ehangach y bartneriaeth yn cael eu datgelu yn ystod y misoedd nesaf. Mae'n rhan o strategaeth noddi a brand newydd BT, i hyrwyddo pob glwad yn y DU.

Dywedodd Marc Allera, Prif Weithredwr adran defnyddwyr BT: “Mae BT yn hynod falch i gael bod yn brif bartner pêl-droed Cymru. Mae’n cefnogi ein huchelgais i hyrwyddo holl genhedloedd y DU. Bydd ein partneriaeth yn ymestyn i bob agwedd o’r gêm, gan gynnwys pêl-droed ar lawr gwlad a chymunedau.”

Mae'r bartneriaeth yn rhan o gynllun ehangach gan BT i fod yn bartner gyda holl dimau cenedlaethol y DU dros y pum mlynedd nesaf. Bydd y bartneriaeth gyda’r holl genhedloedd yn cychwyn ym mis Tachwedd, pan fydd timau’r dynion a’r merched yn ceisio cyrraedd twrnameintiau Ewro 2020 ac Ewro 2021.

Dywedodd Jonathan Ford, Prif Weithredwr Cymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru: “Mae CBDC yn hapus dros ben y bydd BT yn dod yn brif bartner i’n timau cenedlaethol. Rydym yn gyffrous iawn bod y bartneriaeth hon yn datblygu gyda'r arbenigedd a'r gwasanaethau sydd gan BT i'w cynnig.”

Diwedd

The poll, commissioned by BT, reveals that most calls to the 999 number are now made from a mobile phone. 58% adults in Wales have made a 999 call from a mobile, compared to 56% making the same call from a landline.

The survey has been published by BT to mark this year's 999 Day [9 September], an annual celebration of the work of emergency services across the UK. Six BT call centres handle all the UK's 999 calls in Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England, passing calls to the relevant emergency service.

The number of 999 calls handled by BT has increased significantly in recent years, jumping from around 25 million calls a year in 2000, to close to 33 million calls last year. BT’s 999 call centre in Wales handled around 17% (5.5m) of these calls. Over a quarter (27%) of adults believe that there were less than 10 million 999 calls made in the last year.

The poll of adults across the UK, conducted by Opinion Matters, showed that many people are not clear when to call 999 or 112, and when to call non-emergency numbers such as 101 and 111. 5% of adults in Wales said they don’t know when to call 999. In Wales, just over a third (35%) know that they can call 101 for a non-emergency police issue. Women across the UK are more likely than men to know they can call 111 in a medical non-emergency, with half of women (52%) knowing when to call 111, compared to under 2 in 5 (38%) of men.

More than half (56%) of adults in Wales also did not know that smartphones can now provide the exact location of a 999 caller by sending an automatic text to the 999 call handler. The majority of mobile phones (70%) – including Android and Apple smartphones – can now detect that an emergency call is being made, and sends the caller’s precise GPS position to within three metres to the 999 service during the call. This can help emergency services get to incidents more quickly and save lives.

Nick Speed, BT Group Director for Wales, said: “We are now handling record numbers of 999 calls each year. There may be several reasons for this, but it’s clear from the survey that not everyone knows when to call the emergency number, and when to call the range of non-emergency numbers.

“With nearly 80% of people now using a smartphone, we have a lot of people carrying potential life-savers in their pockets. Using a smartphone’s location service, our call handlers can now pinpoint a 999 caller to within three metres in seconds. This could mean, for example, being able to tell which side of the motorway the call has come from, helping an ambulance get to a scene ten minutes earlier, which is potentially life-saving.

“Our call handlers and emergency services do phenomenal work, so anything we can do to help them respond more efficiently, and potentially save lives, has to be a good thing.”

Superintendent Neil Thomas at North Wales Police said: “Call handlers are a vital part of the 999 emergency service. While they are handling more 999 calls every year, we’re able to use the latest technology, including location services in smartphones, to help locate people more quickly and ultimately save more lives.”

Notes

1. The research was conducted by Opinion Matters, with 2,005 nationally representative UK Adults between 30.08.2019 - 02.09.2019. Opinion Matters abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society which is based on the ESOMAR principles.

2. In the past year, BT’s call centres handled around 33 million calls at an average of 93,000 per day. Of those calls connected to the emergency services, 49% were for the Police, 47% Ambulance, 4% Fire and less than 1% for the Coastguard. Calls answered in the last year by BT call centre locations: England: 9.1m; Scotland: 11.4m; Wales: 5.5m; N. Ireland: 7.1m.

3. Nearly 70% of 999 calls in the UK are now made from a mobile, working out at 17 million calls a year or 45,000 a day. According to Ofcom, 79% of UK adults are now using a smartphone, up from 39% in 2012.

4. Before the introduction of mobile phones, the vast majority of emergency calls were made from landlines, with callers having to provide their locations to the operator. While most landline calls can now be traced electronically to an address, this is often only accurate to a certain wide area.

5. Advanced Mobile Location (or AML) is an emergency location-based service developed by BT and is available on smartphones that, when a caller dials the emergency telephone number, sends a text with the location of the caller to the emergency call takers in real-time.

6. The number 999 was launched in London on June 30, 1937. This was after a fire at a London doctor’s surgery in November 1935 led to the tragic death of five women, a committee was then set up by the government to look at the problem of how telephone operators could identify emergency calls. This then resulted in the setup of the 999 line.

7. The 999 line celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2017. See the news release

8. Alongside BT’s role handling 999 calls, BT’s EE is working with the Home Office to provide Britain’s Emergency Services with an enhanced, resilient 4G national mobile network, giving 300,000 critical emergency workers prioritised access to voice and data for the first time. To find out more, visit the ESN site

9. 999 Emgergency Services Day was established to celebrate and promote the work of the emergency services across the UK. See the 999 Day website for more information.

BT has installed 5G at the Showground, making it one of the first, permanent rural 5G networks in Europe.

Visitors to the annual show – one of the largest agricultural shows in Europe – have been able to see how 5G technology could transform our lives in future, with a demonstration of a 5G-connected driverless pod at the showground.

The driverless electric vehicle being demonstrated at the show is one of the first self-driving pods in the world to be connected to a live 5G network, and highlights the possible future uses of 5G technology. BT’s Enterprise business has partnered with Westfield Technology Group, which manufactures the driverless pods, to bring the live demonstration to this year’s show. The vehicles can be used across a wide range of environments and industries and are being considered as a sustainable transport alternative in rural areas such as national parks.

Connecting the pods with 5G transforms the range of applications that can stream data to and from the pod in real-time, including 3D mapping models, video from the on-board safety cameras and infotainment for passengers.

Nick Speed, BT Group Director for Wales, said: “5G is the next generation of mobile technology and will transform the way we live and work. We’re hugely excited about what we can do with 5G today, and in the future. This activation at the showground shows one of the many possibilities for farming, agriculture and rural tourism.”

Deputy Minister for Economy Lee Waters said: “It’s excellent news that 5G is now available at the Royal Welsh showground and a great way to mark the show’s centenary. The Welsh Government has worked closely with EE from the outset to establish a mast at the showground and it is currently the only one outside of major cities which has been upgraded to 5G.

Mr Waters added: “As part of our Mobile Action Plan we have highlighted innovation and emerging technologies, including 5G, and the importance of working with major events, such as the Royal Welsh, to improve connectivity. 5G also opens up opportunities for agriculture technology developments and autonomous vehicles, and it’s great to see this innovation happening in the rural community.”

Julian Turner, CEO of Westfield Technology Group, said: “We are really privileged to showcase the first driverless pod, rural 5G solution in the world. This is a perfect opportunity to illustrate how technology can improve people's lives in a rural setting, and what better place to show it than the Royal Welsh Show.”

EE, the UK’s number one mobile network and part of BT Group, became the first network to launch 5G when it switched on coverage in six UK cities, including Cardiff, on 30th May 2019. It will be extended to the busiest parts of ten more UK cities this year.

5G will bring a faster and more reliable mobile connection – particularly in crowded areas – and will enable a range of new, 'smart' devices to connect to the web using the superfast network.

ENDS

Notes

1. EE is the largest mobile operator in the UK, delivering mobile and fixed communications services to its customers. EE is part of BT’s Consumer business unit which provides products and services to all of BT’s consumer customers in the UK. EE runs the UK's biggest and fastest mobile network, offering superfast 4G in more places than any other operator after pioneering the UK's first superfast 4G mobile service in October 2012. Today, EE’s retail presence exceeds more than 600 shops across the UK. For more information on EE’s 5G network, 5G devices and 5G Smart plans customers can visit www.ee.co.uk/5G
2. Having been the first mobile network operator to launch 5G in the UK – with launch cities London, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Belfast, Birmingham and Manchester – EE will also be introducing 5G across the busiest parts of ten more UK cities in 2019. These cities are: Glasgow, Newcastle, Liverpool, Leeds, Hull, Sheffield, Nottingham, Leicester, Coventry and Bristol.
3. Autonomous vehicles generate significant amounts of data from the large numbers of on-board sensors that enable them to move safely. They also need to regularly download mapping data to understand their environment, and with 5G, this can be achieved in real-time. The technology has the potential to transform transportation and agriculture, including concepts such as autonomous tractors in the future. For more information on Westfield’s driverless-pod, visit Westfield’s website.

BT announces it is launching 5G this autumn. BT Plus customers will be the first BT mobile customers to benefit from the option to upgrade to 5G, making BT the first provider to offer 5G as part of a converged mobile and broadband package.

The move will continue to bring BT Plus customers the best connections possible from BT, in and out of the home. 5G from BT Mobile will use the EE 5G network, which launched in May in six cities. 5G will be rolled out to the busiest parts of a further ten cities across the UK by the end of 2019 – giving BT Mobile customers the most reliable mobile experience, even in the busiest areas.

Marc Allera, CEO of BT’s Consumer division, said: “We’re bringing together the best fibre and mobile connections to help keep our customers connected, both on the go and at home. Launching 5G for BT customers will give them the opportunity to experience the fastest mobile speeds in the busiest areas of the UK, and our BT Plus customers will have the first opportunity to sign up for 5G.”

5G for BT mobile customers will be available in the busiest parts of London, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Belfast, Glasgow, Newcastle, Liverpool, Leeds, Hull, Sheffield, Nottingham, Leicester, Coventry and Bristol by the end of 2019.

From autumn 5G will be available for BT and BT business customers and will provide a more reliable experience and higher speeds in high demand, crowded areas at peak times. 5G works alongside the UK’s fastest 4G network and biggest WiFi network to help consumers and businesses stay connected, wherever they are and whatever they need to do.

BT Plus is the UK’s first converged fibre and mobile plan and comes with BT’s Keep Connected Promise. If a BT Plus customer reports a fault with their home broadband, BT will switch on free, unlimited data on their BT mobiles within an hour and will also send a free 4G Wi-Fi Mini Hub to arrive the next day, with unlimited data to keep customers connected at home while their broadband is repaired. BT Plus customers also benefit from 24/7 dedicated UK and Ireland support.

Further details on the launch of 5G for BT Plus customers including 5G device availability will be announced in due course. Click here to register your interest, and to find out more about becoming a BT Plus customer.

Nick will lead BT Group's relationships with Welsh policy makers and will sit on BT’s board in Wales. He joins BT from energy company Centrica, where he has been head of public affairs for Wales since 2012. Before that, he worked as a journalist, including spells as political editor at both ITV Wales and the Western Mail.

Commenting on the new role, Nick Speed said: “I'm really looking forward to be taking up this role with BT. It’s a household name with a long history and an exciting future. BT Group is at the cutting edge of innovative technologies, with nearly 4,500 employees in Wales helping to develop and deliver a range of products and services.

“I look forward to start working with colleagues to find out how we can help make customers’ lives easier, deliver increasing benefits for businesses, and help Wales develop as a world class, digital nation.”

Welcoming the appointment, Jane Wood, BT Group director of UK nations and regions, said: “I look forward to working with Nick when he joins the business. His knowledge of government and policy-making in Wales will be a huge asset to the company.

“BT Group contributes more than £900m to the Welsh economy and plays an important role in the lives of everyone living and working in Wales, from handling 999 calls, to connecting communities. I know that Nick will build on our existing relationships, helping to lead and shape the public policy debate on improved digital services in Wales.”

Notes

1. Nick Speed will start in the role on 1 July. 
2. Nick first came to live in Cardiff to study for a postgraduate diploma in journalism after growing up in Derbyshire and graduating from Durham University. A Welsh speaker, Nick committed to learning Welsh on returning to Wales from London in 2004 and was Learner of the Year in 2012 at Cardiff University’s Welsh for Adults Centre.
3. Nick is a member of the CBI Wales Council and a member of the Advisory Panel to the Welsh Language Commissioner. He is also a school governor at Ysgol Bro Edern in Cardiff and is on the advisory panel to the youth homelessness prevention charity Llamau.
4. Across Wales in 2017/18, BT Group:

• Directly employed a total of 4,400 people (FTE, including contractors) and supported an estimated 11,600 full-time jobs
• Spent £300 million with suppliers based in Wales
• Generated £900 million total GVA impact (including indirect and induced effects)
• Directly employed 1 in every 180 employees in the private sector across Wales, and 1 in every 10 in the IT and Communications sectors
• Supported £1 in every £70 of GVA in the Welsh economy and 1 in every 70 employees working in the nation’s private sector.

The BT board in Wales brings together senior staff working across the business in the country. The new Wales board – launched in 2019 – is chaired by Samantha Toombs, Director of Local Government and Health for BT in Wales. Other members of the board include: Allison McCarthy, Head of Contact Centre Operations (Merthyr), Consumer; Lynne Toogood, 4G and 5G Mobile Deployment Director, Technology; Sandra Sexton, Senior Apprenticeship Programme Manager, Group; Susi Marston, (Board Secretary), Senior Marketing Manager, Enterprise; Gareth Hopkins, Client Services Director, UK Public Sector, Enterprise; Ben Koscian, Head of Test, Trials & Trading Deployment, Consumer; Jeremy Smitham, Customer Operations Performance, Enterprise.

• 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.

More than 400 traditional red boxes are available for adoption across Wales. 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, nearly 400payphones have been adopted by communities across Wales.

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 nearly 400 payphones now adopted across Wales, 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. InLink units are live in two Welsh cities – Cardiff and Swansea.

Tomos Hughes of Achub Calon y Dyffryn, a group working to get defibrillators into communities across Wales, said: “This scheme has enabled communities across Wales to purchase phone boxes for £1 and turn them into real community assets. The kiosks are often in rural and isolated areas, so having easy to use defibrillators, for local residents and tourists, could be a real life saver in future.

“Many of these phone boxes were not being used and were being vandalised. Being able to give them a new lease of life, and one that could save a life, has been fantastic. I would encourage other communities to take advantage of this scheme, before the remaining phone boxes are gone.”

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.

Notes

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:

• Recognised local authority (e.g. District/Borough Council)
• Parish/Community/Town Council or equivalent
• Registered charity
• Private land owner. (Anyone who has one of our telephone boxes on their land)

All BT news releases can be accessed at the BT Newsroom website. You can also subscribe to receive all BT announcements here and you can follow us on Twitter here

Working as public sector director in BT’s Enterprise division in Wales, Samantha’s focus will be on building relationships and driving business with local authorities, health boards, universities and colleges, emergency services and other public sector organisations.

As chair of the BT Group board in Wales – which brings together senior leaders from across BT’s business – her focus, and that of the board, will be on supporting BT’s customers and helping the country become one of the most digitally connected nations. She is the first woman to chair the BT board in Wales.

Samantha said that, in her role as director of public sector, she wants to highlight how using the latest technology across our public services can help transform and improve the lives of Welsh citizens.

Commenting on the role, she said: “I'm looking forward to working with colleagues to help us become a digital nation. There are big and exciting technological developments taking place at the moment, and it's vital that Wales is ready to adapt and take advantage of these changes.

“The internet and technology have changed the way we now live and work. The number of devices connected to the internet, in our homes and workplaces, has increased massively in recent years, and this is set to rise further. While this change will present challenges for businesses and public bodies in Wales, it will also offer opportunities. Using the latest digital technology will allow people in the public sector to work more efficiently, and help them to protect and improve the lives of Welsh citizens.

“BT is at the forefront of developing cutting edge technologies to meet future digital citizen demands and services. I'm proud that many of these technologies are being developed and implemented in Wales. With a large presence in all corners of Wales and one of the nation’s largest private sector employers and investors, BT Group now directly employs 4,400 people in Wales and spends £300m with Welsh suppliers.”

Samantha is also BT’s director for public sector in South West England and chair of the region’s board.

A new director of public affairs, Wales, and member of the BT Board in Wales, will be announced in the coming months.

Notes

Since leaving Glamorgan University (now University of South Wales), Samantha has worked in client facing roles for a number of large, digital transformation companies including Fujitsu, Logica, CGI and Atos. Having travelled with her work for a number of years – working in locations including London, Birmingham, Germany and Prague – she returned to work in Wales three years ago. Sam has always lived in south Wales and now lives in Aberavon, Port Talbot.

Across Wales in 2017/18, BT Group:

• Directly employed a total of 4,400 people (FTE, including contractors) and supported an estimated 11,600 full-time jobs
• Spent £300 million with suppliers based in Wales
• Generated £900 million total GVA impact (including indirect and induced effects)
• Directly employed 1 in every 180 employees in the private sector across Wales, and 1 in every 10 in the IT and Communications sectors
• Supported £1 in every £70 of GVA in the Welsh economy and 1 in every 70 employees working in the nation’s private sector.

Members of the new Wales BT board include:

• Allison McCarthy, Head of Contact Centre Operations (Merthyr), Consumer
• Lynne Toogood, 4G and 5G Mobile Deployment Director, Technology
• Sandra Sexton, Senior Apprenticeship Programme Manager, Group
• Susi Marston, (Board Secretary), Senior Marketing Manager, Enterprise
• Gareth Hopkins , Client Services Director, UK Public Sector, Enterprise
• Ben Koscian, Head of Test, Trials & Trading Deployment, Consumer
• Jeremy Smitham, Customer Operations Performance, Enterprise

Openreach

Since 2017, Openreach is a separate legal entity from BT, with its own independent board. For more information on Openreach's work, visit www.openreach.co.uk

Latest numbers show that teachers from 60 per cent of primary schools in Wales – a total of 3,000 teachers so far – have registered to use the BT-sponsored Barefoot Computing programme, which offers free, classroom-ready teaching resources.

Launched in 2017 in Wales, the lessons are available to all primary schools and aim to help pupils aged between five and 11 years old to develop basic computing skills. The downloadable resources and lesson plans have been tailored to the Welsh curriculum – with the main resources available in English and Welsh – and have been backed by the Welsh Government. They are designed to help primary school teachers across Wales, some of whom may not have specialist computing knowledge. The resources promote problem-solving, creativity and collaboration among pupils.

Haf Pugh, a teacher at Llanfechain Church in Wales Primary School in Powys, said: “We have been pleased to be part of the Barefoot initiative. It's been a great way to get the pupils further excited and inspired about computing and developing their digital skills.

“Technology and digital skills are an integral part of the New Curriculum for Wales and the Digital Competency Framework, therefore it's vital that school children get the opportunities to learn and develop these skills. The Barefoot resources are helpful and accessible.”

Kirsty Williams, Minister for Education at the Welsh Government, said: “I’d like to thank everyone involved in the BT tech literacy programme for working with us on this journey as we raise standards in our transformational curriculum.

“Digital competency is at the heart of our National Mission for Education in Wales, because it’s crucial our learners develop the skills they need to thrive in an increasingly digital world. I look forward to continuing to work with BT to make these excellent resources accessible to all schools in Wales.”

Jane Wood, BT Group UK nations and regions director, said: “I’m incredibly proud of how many teachers and children have been involved in the Barefoot programme and benefitted from the fantastic resources available.

“Increasingly, our jobs rely on people having digital skills. By 2022 the UK will need an additional 500,000 workers in digital industries, which is three times the number of computer science graduates the UK has produced in the last 10 years. The Barefoot resources are available in English and Welsh and not only deliver important tech skills, but also life skills.

“Well done to all the teachers, the Barefoot team and of course to the thousands of pupils from across Wales who have made the programme the success it is today. We live in a world powered by technology. Let’s make sure the next generation can thrive in it and work together to get Barefoot to all of the nearly 300,000 primary-aged children in Wales, as fast as possible.”

Alongside the release of these figures, a new Barefoot website has also been launched which provides even more lesson plans for teachers. A typical lesson plan consists of tasks designed to improve pupils’ understanding of concepts like algorithms in a way that improves their ability to think logically and sequentially but creatively. The website also includes a new lesson plan which helps educate pupils on using the internet safely and what ‘consent’ means in terms of controlling their personal information and identity.

Teachers and parents can find more information and get the free resources at https://barefootcomputing.org

Notes to Editors:

Barefoot Programme reach in Wales:

• 2,891 teachers in Wales already accessing the resources
• Teachers at 60% of Welsh primary schools now part of programme
• 754 schools in Wales reached

Across the UK:

• Two million children engaged so far
• 70,000 teachers already accessing free resources
• 60% of UK primary schools part of programme
• Built for teachers by teachers
• Created by Computing at School and funded by BT,
• Supported by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT and the Raspberry Pi Foundation

‘The Economic Impact of BT Group plc in the UK’ report, by Hatch Regeneris, shows that the communications company generated a £900 million contribution – expressed as “Gross Value Added” (GVA)* – to Wales’s economy during the 2017/18 financial year.

The report estimates that the equivalent of 11,600 full-time jobs in Wales are supported through BT’s direct employment, its spending with contractors and suppliers and the spending of its employees.

BT Group directly employs 4,263 people in Wales, with a further 136 employed as contractors. It’s estimated that BT Group supports one in every 70 employees working in Wales’s private sector, reinforcing its position as one of the nation’s biggest private sector employers.

The Group also spent £302 million with suppliers based in Wales.

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.

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

BT Group employs people in all parts of Wales, with significant offices in Cardiff and Swansea. In north Wales, BT's call centre in Bangor is one of the UK's major 999 emergency locations and handles more than a million calls a year.

EE, the UK’s number one mobile network and part of BT Group, employs around a thousand employees in Wales, including at its contact centre in Merthyr Tydful. In 2017, EE became the first UK mobile network operator to offer customer service in Welsh.

Last year, it was announced that Cardiff will be one of the first UK cities to be used as launch locations for EE’s new 5G network, later this year.

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.

Jane Wood, BT Group UK nations and regions director, said: “Few companies play as important a role in Wales as BT Group. Not only does BT connect friends, families and businesses across the country, but we also put premium fuel in the tank of the nation’s economy. The report shows that BT generates £1 in every £70 of wealth in Wales.

“We’re proud to be one of the nation’s largest private sector employers and investors. Our investments, including the latest 5G mobile technology through our mobile network EE, will ensure Wales continues to be one of the best-connected economies.

“With around 4,400 people directly employed in Wales, 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 highlights that, across Wales in 2017/18, BT Group:

Directly employed a total of 4,400 people (FTE, including contractors) and supported an estimated 11,600 full-time jobs

Spent £300 million with suppliers based in Wales

Generated £900 million total GVA impact (including indirect and induced effects)

Directly employed 1 in every 180 employees in the private sector across Wales, and 1 in every 10 in the IT and Communications sectors

Supported £1 in every £70 of GVA in the Welsh economy and 1 in every 70 employees working in the nation’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.