The company says it will create the new jobs over the coming months and years, with around 225 roles currently available. The employment boost comes as construction work was completed on Three Snowhill, which will serve as BT’s regional hub site for the Midlands. The state-of-the-art new office, built over 17 floors, houses the latest technology and modern facilities that allow colleagues to perform at their best.

BT colleagues have been taking part in induction sessions as part of a phased return to the office over the next few weeks following the end of Covid-19 restrictions. In addition to recent new hires and colleagues moving in from other locations, there are currently 225 vacant roles available in areas such as digital, data, analytics, sales and HR. The new office will eventually accommodate around 3,500 colleagues from across BT Group, including digital network business Openreach.

Philip Jansen, chief executive, BT Group, said: “This is our first major regional hub site to open outside London and is a marker of how BT is transforming to meet the needs of our colleagues and our customers.

“It’s also a statement that we’re serious about the ‘levelling up’ agenda. While our head office remains in London, we are committed to creating more opportunities and basing key operations in other areas of the UK too. A number of our senior leaders are now based here in Birmingham, as well as colleagues from across the business in a wide variety of roles, including exciting new technology research and digital product development functions.

“Three Snowhill epitomises what we are trying to achieve through our new workspaces, and we continue to work towards that vision of providing future-fit, inspiring offices where people can collaborate, innovate and ultimately deliver the best for our customers and the best for our business.”

Andy Street, the Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “It really is fantastic to see BT complete their switch to a new flagship office at Three Snowhill with the first of their colleagues moving in.

“Not only is it a huge sign of confidence in the West Midlands that a company of BT’s size and stature is investing in and committing to our region, but it is also brilliant news for people’s livelihoods with around one thousand new jobs to be created. 

“I look forward to working with BT to ensure these roles are filled by local people as part of my 100,000 jobs plan.”

The state-of-the art building will be the first of BT’s hub locations in the UK to open as part of its ‘Better Workplace Programme’ - the largest workplace improvement and consolidation scheme of its type ever undertaken in the UK. Other hubs that will open in the future include Manchester, Bristol and the new London HQ. BT will reduce its footprint from over 300 locations to around 30.

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

Elaine Bergin, BT director for colleague experience, who is based at Three Snowhill, said: “This is a really exciting time for BT as we launch our new regional hub in Birmingham with some fantastic job opportunities for local people and those looking to move to the area.

“BT is a great company and Three Snowhill is an incredible place to work, so I would encourage anyone who may be interested to check out our careers website bt.com/careers where more information and details on how to apply can be found.”

Despite the Covid-19 pandemic seeing many staff shift to home working over the past 18 months, BT still firmly believes in the future of the office.

Elaine added: “We still see our shared workplaces as central to BT’s future. They will be places where colleagues come together to connect, collaborate, learn and develop, build friendships and share their experiences.

“We recognise that colleagues need the opportunity to work flexibly, and we can enable that through hybrid working. However, particularly for younger individuals and those joining BT for the first time, the opportunity to learn those soft skills and form positive relationships by working together in the office is invaluable.”

BT is adopting a hybrid, flexible approach called ‘Smart Working’ where teams will choose how colleagues spend time between home and their office. Shared workplaces will continue to be central to the company’s future.

Three Snowhill boasts smart building technology, flexible workspaces and collaboration areas. There are also a range of catering options including a ground floor café open to the public, world class event spaces, and a large media screen in reception. It also has a ‘bike doctor’ to encourage more colleagues to cycle to work.

BT will ensure it complies with all the latest guidelines on Covid-19 from Public Health England to ensure people are kept safe in the office. The company will be the main occupier of the 17-storey development, marking a major investment by the company in the UK’s second city.

BT Group plays an important role in the West Midlands economy and is responsible for generating £1 in every £180 produced in the region, according to an independent report. It also generated £1.5 billion to the West Midlands economy in “Gross Value Added” GVA, during the 2019/20 financial year.* BT Group directly employs 5,470 people across the region, with a further 600 employed as contractors.

As more companies have relied on their digital presence to survive during the Covid-19 pandemic, and with record numbers of start-ups springing up, the need for investment in new technologies such as full fibre and 5G has grown. Working with its infrastructure partner Openreach, BT’s Enterprise business will focus on bringing full fibre to businesses across Birmingham, including 8,500 micro businesses initially. These businesses will be able to access BT’s fastest full fibre speeds yet – up to 900Mbps – a tripling of the speeds previously available. BT’s Enterprise business expects more of Birmingham’s businesses to benefit from these full fibre speeds over time as Openreach continues to expand its fibre footprint across the country.

Recent research by BT has found that more than 70 per cent of small firms in Birmingham are confident in the success of their business as the lockdown restrictions lift. And with more than 18,000 businesses set up in Birmingham during 2020, the rise of digital shopkeepers and freelancers mean that an increasing number are running their business from home.

BT is so convinced by the high-growth potential of micro-businesses and start ups in Birmingham and nationally - and their role in powering the post pandemic recovery - that it has carved out a new SoHo (Small/Single office, Home office) unit to focus on their digital and connectivity needs. As well as delivering business-grade connections which offer value for money and a premium customer service experience, BT will launch a new suite of services and apps to help the UK’s smallest and fledgling firms grow by building stronger digital foundations. These new services could include stronger cyber security measures, free digital skills training and new digital advertising tools, for example.

Together with the launch of the UK’s first ‘unbreakable’ Wi-Fi for micro-businesses - delivering guaranteed coverage across the workplace, full fibre speeds and free tech expert support - the new unit will help the UK’s smallest firms and start-ups to rebuild and get set for growth.

Sarah Walker, BT Enterprise business director for the Midlands, said: “By setting up this new unit we’re investing in the future of Birmingham’s smallest firms and start-ups which are the lifeblood of the local economy. I’m really proud that we’re creating this new unit at a time when their success has never been more important in securing the city’s future as it rebuilds after the toughest economic crisis in a generation.

“In addition, we’re tripling the speed of full fibre broadband for businesses in Birmingham, with nearly 8,500 of the city’s smallest firms now able to access speeds of up to 900Mbps through BT. The availability of our fastest business broadband speeds yet will grow over time as Openreach continues to expand its full fibre footprint across the city.”

A recent survey carried out by BT found that nearly a third of Birmingham small businesses (28 per cent) planned to move more of their operations online following lockdown restrictions easing; while 67 per cent would be more likely to adopt new technologies if they knew the technology industry provided training or support.

BT’s new SoHo business unit will provide dedicated support for small and micro-businesses buying its new Halo for business broadband bundles, with free expert set-up of equipment and advanced UK-based remote IT support. A 4G back-up service will also be offered if there’s a problem with the fixed line, to ensure uninterrupted business connectivity.

As part of its bid to kick start the growth of UK micro-businesses and start-ups, BT is also trialling new online tools which will make it easier for them to run their own digital advertising campaigns.

BT’s new online tools are designed to remove some of the biggest barriers which are preventing the UK’s smallest companies from using digital advertising to boost their online presence and reach new customers. The new service is currently being trialled with customers and BT will share more details over the coming weeks.

The launch of the new SoHo business unit and the availability of new business broadband and digital marketing tools is further evidence of BT’s support for the UK’s small businesses. It builds on BT’s Small Business Support Scheme, a broad package of measures launched last Summer to help small businesses thrive during and beyond the pandemic, by boosting their connectivity, cashflow and confidence.

Businesses can find out more about the full fibre offers available from BT by visiting: https://business.bt.com/products/broadband-and-internet/full-fibre/

BT Group, its spend with contractors and suppliers, and the spending power of its employees, are responsible for supporting more than 21,000 jobs in the West Midlands, according to an independent report published today.  

The Economic Impact of BT Group in the UK report, by consultancy firm Hatch, calculates that the communications and technology company generated more than £24 billion in gross value added (GVA) to the UK economy during the last financial year, including £1.5 billion in the West Midlands alone. 

The report estimates that around 21,700 full-time jobs in the West Midlands are supported by BT Group through direct, indirect and induced effects. The firm also spent 636 million with suppliers based in the West Midlands, including those in the retail, construction and telecommunications industries.

BT Group has broadband and mobile networks spanning from the Scilly Isles to Shetland, built and maintained by some of the 82,800 direct employees it has in the UK. In the West Midlands, the firm directly employs 5,470 people, with a further 600 employed as contractors.

The company is currently modernising its business, including investing in the UK’s largest workplace consolidation and modernisation programme, as it moves from 300 locations to around 30 as part of its Better Workplace programme. The firm plans to move into a brand-new regional hub at Three Snowhill, Birmingham, this year, and plans to open a new HQ in London later in 2021. New strategic hub locations will open in places such as Bristol and Manchester, providing future-fit workplaces of the future for thousands of colleagues. 

Last week BT unveiled plans to recruit 51 apprentices and graduates in Birmingham for its September 2021 intake. Meanwhile, Openreach, the digital network business, part of BT Group, announced in December that it would create 160 new full time engineering roles across the West Midlands this year.

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

“In the past year, having good connectivity has become more important than ever as we’ve all had to work, learn, and spend more leisure time online. Despite these challenges, our dedicated and determined colleagues have ensured EE’s 5G network has been extended to cover 125 towns and cities, including 17 in the West Midlands, built out Openreach’s full-fibre network to reach 4.1 million premises and EE’s 4G network now reaches 85 per cent of the UK. I know these significant investments will help to underpin the country’s economic recovery post-Covid.” 

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

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

Richard Butler, CBI West Midlands Director, said: “BT is a major employer in the Midlands and has a big impact on the economy and jobs. It is good news to see this significant presence continuing.

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

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

Summary of results for year 2019/20:

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

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

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

• £10.1 billion spend with suppliers based in the UK

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Coventry-born executive started her career at BT selling analogue mobile to small and medium sized businesses and has worked in a variety of roles during her 22 years with the firm. She will lead BT’s Enterprise unit’s relationships with its business and public sector customers across both regions.

Sarah, who is based in Wirral, has started her new role during a particularly challenging time for the regions, and the entire UK, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We know how tough it has been for our customers, including some who have had to temporarily cease trading and others who are adapting to finding new ways of working,” said Sarah.

“The shutdown of normal activity is having a huge impact on businesses, particularly in the hospitality, leisure, entertainment, travel and education industries. As a critical enabler, we are doing all we can to support our partners in both the public and private sectors.

“We are helping a number of NHS bodies through our Smart Messaging platform to relay COVID-19 related patient communications and appointment reminders, as well as being a key partner for Nightingale hospitals in Birmingham and the North of England, and the invaluable LifeLines – a project providing a secure virtual visiting solution for families whose loved ones are in intensive care units.

“We’re also supporting businesses from sole traders and SMEs, all the way through to large corporates by giving them access to the best technology, flexible options and training to help them navigate through this crisis.”

Sarah’s most recent role was leading the major corporate section within BT Enterprise’s Major & Public Sector division, where she was responsible for managing projects including BT’s strategy to improve passenger connectivity across the UK Rail Network.

BT has invested significantly in the Midlands and North of England with the recent announcement of future workplaces in Birmingham, Manchester and Doncaster and 5G mobile services launching in a number of cities and towns in the Midlands including Wolverhampton, Coventry, Nottingham and Leicester, as well as places such as Newcastle, Sunderland, Leeds and Liverpool in the North of England. BT also recently launched a £20.3 million partnership with Leeds City Council which will make Leeds the largest gigabit and ‘5G capable’ city outside of London.

Sarah said the focus now was to help businesses survive the economic impact of the coronavirus situation, but in the longer term she wanted BT to play a key role in both regions’ future prosperity.

She said: “BT’s values align with the strategic plan for the Midlands and the North of England; with a focus on skills, technology and transport within these regions, we have a great opportunity to support the social and economic growth objectives, bringing our public and private sectors closer than ever using the power of technology to enrich the industries and communities that we serve.”

Sarah added that new research from BT Skills for Tomorrow and Small Business Britain has found that small enterprises across the Midlands and North of England are moving more of their services online for survival as the sector looks to take its first steps towards recovery.

The research – which polled over 1,000 firms in Small Business Britain’s UK community - found many across the sector are actively embracing digital tools to power recovery. Out of the small businesses surveyed, two fifths (42 per cent) have moved online due to the pandemic; over a third (37 per cent) are planning for less face to face contact in the future; and a similar number (39 per cent) now view digital skills and tools as a key focus area.

Sarah said: “The right online presence could make a huge difference to a small business, such as helping them to reach a global audience or a new customer base. It’s important that we continue to support small businesses to develop and enhance their digital skills, so they are in the best position for recovery.

BT is also supporting the growth of its mid-market and larger corporate customers in both regions by helping them to accelerate the adoption of digital technologies such as full fibre, 5G, cloud services and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions. These technologies are fueling customers’ digital transformation and will help to boost the performance of their business by making them faster, smarter and more agile.

Welcoming Sarah’s appointment, Dean Terry, MD corporate and public sector of BT’s Enterprise unit, said: “I look forward to working with Sarah in her new role. Her experience of working in senior sales positions within BT and her understanding of the business needs of our corporate and public sector partners in the Midlands and North of England will be a huge asset in her new role.”

Air quality data is being collected every minute from Internet of Things (IoT) modular sensors which can send data over the InLinks’ ultrafast integrated Wi-Fi. Data is then available via BT’s data hub for analysis by a group of researchers and scientists, led by the University of Birmingham, to help monitor air pollution in the area.

InLinkUK from BT is a state-of-the-art digital “hub” that replaces traditional payphones on the streets of Birmingham and across the UK. The InLink units provide a range of free digital services to the local community including free ultrafast Wi-Fi, free phone calls, free mobile device charging, community news and easy access to the emergency services.

Utilising the InLinks for air quality monitoring avoids the need for additional street clutter, with the Wi-Fi providing a reliable way to transmit the information in real time.

The data provided by the InLinks will complement results from other air quality monitoring equipment used in the WM-Air – West Midlands Air Quality Improvement Programme.

Air pollution in the West Midlands affects around 2.8 million people, reducing life expectancy by up to six months and costing the economy up to £860 million a year, according to recent reports.

Professor William Bloss, of the University of Birmingham, leads the WM-Air project.

He said: “There is a pressing need for more detailed measurements across cities such as Birmingham to deliver clean air science. It’s important for us to understand the levels of air pollution in the city as it can have a huge impact on the health and wellbeing of people who live and work here.

“We are exploring use of the new BT sensors alongside a number of initiatives we already have in place to measure air pollution and improve air quality.”

Neil Scoresby, General Manager Payphones and InLinkUK at BT, said the company was excited to be supporting initiatives to measure air pollution in Birmingham.

“By collecting air quality data at multiple points and more often, it is possible for WM-Air to gain a much better understanding of air pollution in real time via the BT data hub.

“This is a great example of how BT is working with communities in cities like Birmingham to explore how the IoT capability of the InLinks can support a range of smart city initiatives.”

Birmingham, along with Bradford, are the first cities in the UK to use the air quality monitoring via the InLinks. Other cities are set to benefit over the coming months.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Case study

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ENDS

Notes to Editors

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Notes

Stem Returners

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

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

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

‘The Economic Impact of BT Group plc in the UK’ report, by Hatch Regeneris, shows that the communications company generated a nearly £2bn (£1,963 million) contribution – expressed as “Gross Value Added” (GVA)* – to the Midlands economy during the 2017/18 financial year.

The report estimates that the equivalent of 24,900 full-time jobs in the Midlands are supported through BT’s direct employment, its spending with contractors and suppliers and the spending of its employees.

BT Group directly employs 11,090 people in the Midlands. It’s estimated that BT Group supports one in every 130 employees working in the Midlands’ private sector, reinforcing its position as one of the region’s leading employers.

The Group also spent nearly £431 million with suppliers based in the Midlands.

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.

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

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

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

Giles Ellerton, Regional Director, BT Group, Midlands and East Anglia, said: “Few companies play as important a role in the Midlands as BT Group. Not only does BT connect friends, families and businesses across the UK, but we also put premium fuel in the tank of the nation’s economy. The report shows that BT generates £1 in every £115 of wealth in the Midlands.

“We’re proud to be one of the region’s largest private sector employers and investors. Our investments, including the latest 5G mobile technology through our mobile network EE, will ensure the UK continues to be one of the world’s best-connected economies. Birmingham and Coventry will be one of the first cities to enjoy 5G in the UK in 2019, in the run up to the Commonwealth Games and Capital City of Culture.

“With 11,090 people directly employed in the region, spending their salaries in local businesses, as well as regularly volunteering on activities such as our Barefoot tech literacy programme in schools, our people are at the heart of nearly every community.”

Richard Blackmore, Regional Director for CBI East Midlands, said: “BT is a major employer in the Midlands and has a big impact on the economy and jobs. It is good news to see this significant presence continuing.

“BT Group’s investment in the area not only means a boost to the local economy, but also to skills and high quality jobs, including recruiting apprentices and graduates right across the region.

“BT’s investment in the fastest networks and latest technology is also vital for the region, helping to drive productivity growth for the Midlands Engine. Better fixed and mobile connectivity is essential for our businesses and for improving quality of life in all our communities.”

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

The report highlights that, across the Midlands in 2017/18, BT Group:

Directly employed a total of 11,090 people (FTE, including contractors) and supported an estimated 24,900 full-time jobs

Spent £431 million with suppliers based in the Midlands

Generated £1,963 million total GVA impact (including indirect and induced effects)

Supported £1 in every £115 of GVA in the Midlands economy and 1 in every 130 employees working in the region’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.