BT announces major new recruitment of apprentices in West Midlands
More than two dozen apprentices are being recruited by BT at sites across the West Midlands, including its broadband hub at Walsall.
It is part of a nationwide recruitment campaign for 1,700 apprentices and graduates as the telecoms giant builds what it calls "tech literacy" in its workforce, which now takes in mobile phone firm EE..
BT is creating about 26 new apprenticeship jobs in the West Midlands, at Walsall, Birmingham, Coventry, Oswestry, Shrewsbury, Stoke-on-Trent and Worcester in a variety of roles, ranging from customer service, vehicle maintenance and finance to cyber security and software development.
Among its recent recruits is Amelia Cooper, aged 20, from Halesowen, now in the second year of her ICT apprenticeship, who, by joining BT, is following in the footsteps of her dad, Michael, and sister, Annabelle.
Amelia, who is based at BT’s broadband hub in Walsall, said: “With an apprenticeship you can earn and learn at the same time, and get a qualification. I have always enjoyed ICT, which is a bonus. I have learnt different things throughout my apprenticeship. There are new opportunities arising every day, and I have learned about different roles in the company.”
Apprenticeships and Skills Minister, Robert Halfon, welcomed the announcement. He said: “It is always good to talk about apprenticeships and the ladder of opportunity they give people to secure the career they want.
"By committing to injecting 1,700 new graduate and apprentice jobs into the UK, BT is offering a real chance to be trained by some of the best in their field. This is especially great news ahead of what will be the 10th annual National Apprenticeship Week where we will showcase the life-changing potential of apprenticeships for people up and down the country.”
Gavin Patterson, chief executive of BT, said: “Young people today need three basic skills – reading, writing, and tech know-how. BT is investing in the next generation, helping to train primary school teachers to teach computer science and recruiting large numbers of apprentices and graduates. This is the right thing for us to do if the UK is to remain a digital leader.
“It is an exciting time to join BT as it continues to invest in ultrafast broadband, 4G, television and sport. We are also preparing for future technologies, including 5G, and so we want to recruit the very best. Our apprenticeship and graduate roles will offer people the hands on experience they need to succeed.”
BT is one of the UK’s largest employers with 81,000 UK-based people. Openreach, BT’s local network business, will launch its own recruitment drive in due course.
