BT to recruit 50 people in West on to its training programme

BT is planning to hire more than 50 people in Bristol this year as the company builds and extends its 5G network.

The telecoms giant said it would recruit 32 graduates and 19 apprentices to its training programme, starting in September. The new hires will join divisions including engineering, customer service, applied research, and cyber security.

BT said Bristol would become a “key location” for the company, which employs around 7,000 people in the South West. Last year, the company announced plans to move into a new multimillion-pound office in the centre of the city in 2022.

The Assembly Bristol building – part of the Bristol Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone next to Temple Meads station – will house more than 2,000 staff.

Alison Wilcox, group HR director for 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 said the move is part of a nationwide push to hire more than 400 graduates and apprentices across the country this year. The company has already recruited more than 1,600 apprentices and graduates over the past 24 months.