BT Openreach is on a recruitment drive, hoping to bring on board an additional 500 engineers to boost its customer service delivery, fibre broadband deployments and the building of high speed links for businesses.
In a similar recruitment campaign run earlier in the year, the company received 26,000 applications - more than 16 per role - and hopes to have the same reception this time around.
Joe Garner, CEO of BT Openreach, said: "Our fibre broadband rollout is making a really positive contribution to the lives and business of people right across Britain. We are seeing strong demand for our superfast fibre service, as well as our ultra high-speed business services like Ethernet.
"We are recruiting more people so that we can continue to build our network rapidly, and serve our customers better. Broadband growth is great for our customers and for Britain. These new engineers will help ensure that Openreach continues to meet and exceed the rising demands of our customers in an internet age."
The majority of the new engineers will work in London, Surrey and Aberdeen and will be recruited to deliver improved levels of customer service.
The company is currently ahead of service level targets set by Ofcom for new installations and repairs, but wants to exceed them further with the help of its new recruits.
The other new starters will be responsible for speeding up delivery of broadband in homes and businesses around the country. One big focus is the installation of high-speed Ethernet in medium to large businesses and some of the engineers will be maintaining these connections to enhance the company's customer service record.
Culture Secretary Sajid Javid said: "BT's creation of 500 full-time engineering jobs is tremendous news. Government is taking superfast broadband to 95 per cent of the UK by 2017, and it's vital that a skilled workforce is in place to cope with the resulting increase in demand."
-
The UK government wants quantum technology out of the lab and in the hands of enterprisesNews The UK government has unveiled plans to invest £121 million in quantum computing projects in an effort to drive real-world applications and adoption rates.
-
Netgear WBE710 reviewReviews The compact WBE710 delivers great cloud management features and a good turn of Wi-Fi 7 speed – but it does have a premium price tag
-
BT offers to invest up to £600m to provide universal high-speed broadbandNews The company's offer would replace new regulation proposed by the government
-
Ofcom caps BT's Openreach prices
News Regulator limits the amount that rivals can be charged for leasing the company's superfast broadband
-
BT finally lets go of OpenreachNews Legal separation of fibre network includes transfer of 32,000 staff
-
BT admits it must improve as Openreach spin-off loomsNews BT should improve its customer service, says chairman Michael Rake
-
Former business minister backs calls to split up BTNews Anna Soubry slammed the work BT has done to bring superfast broadband to the nation
-
Ofcom: BT's Openreach must be a separate company
Analysis Regulator wants to distance Openreach from BT control
-
TalkTalk slams Ofcom's decision to leave BT in control of OpenreachNews Ofcom outlines tougher measures to hold BT to account, but maintains status quo
-
TalkTalk: BT-EE merger will lead to 25% price hikesIn-depth Rivals fear for the future of telecoms after CMA approves £12.5bn BT-EE deal
