BT creating 1,400 roles for apprentices and graduates

Telecoms giant BT is to create 1,400 new apprenticeship and graduate jobs under a fresh recruitment drive.

BT chief Gavin Patterson said firms need to 'support and train' young people

The company said the new employees will work in a range of jobs including cyber-security and software development as well as research.

The jobs will be spread across the country in cities including Glasgow, Belfast, Liverpool, London and Swansea.

Cyber-security is becoming increasingly important for businesses and governments around the world, with companies constantly looking for ways to tackle the problem.

BT chief executive Gavin Patterson said: “Technology is changing all the time and companies need to support and train young people to develop the skills required for successful careers in essential areas such as science, engineering and information technology.

“The UK has been ranked as the leading digital economy in the G20 for the past five years, and our investment in these people will help this continue.”

Many of the apprenticeship and graduate intake will be based at BT’s research campus near Ipswich in Suffolk. The jobs will be spread across BT, with its EE and Openreach divisions taking on large numbers.

Clive Selley, chief executive of Openreach, said: “It is vital that we invest in young people to ensure the UK remains a digital powerhouse. The new recruits will be at the heart of the company’s transformation.”

The 1,400 apprenticeship and graduate jobs are in addition to the 1,700 the company has created over the past two years.

UK skills minister Nick Boles welcomed the announcement, which will boost the government’s aim of creating three million more apprenticeships by 2020.

“These apprenticeships at BT will offer people the hands-on experience they need to succeed. I would encourage more businesses to follow their lead and hire apprentices.”