Lifeline telecoms workers
Sir,
I would like to thank all the telecommunications workers in Scotland, many of whom have been designated key workers, for how they’ve responded to the coronavirus outbreak.
They are providing essential support to the NHS and keeping all of us connected during this difficult time. From the engineers going out to keep our broadband and mobile networks connected, to the vital contact centre staff helping customers when they need it most, they deserve recognition.
My colleagues, working with the Scottish Government and NHS, worked quickly to provide the temporary NHS Louisa Jordan hospital in Glasgow with communications. They are doing the same to support other temporary NHS services across Scotland.
Our people have worked around the clock with health boards across the country to offer new, technical solutions to help front line health workers get on with their jobs during this crisis.
Our front line staff in contact centres across Scotland – including Aberdeen, Dundee, Glasgow and Greenock – have risen to this unprecedented challenge.
We’ve received a huge surge of customers asking for faster connections to help with home working, home schooling and running their businesses remotely.
These colleagues – most of whom can now work from home when they want to – have performed a critical role keeping our customers, including front line health workers and vulnerable people, connected.
The people in our two 999 contact centres in Scotland are also playing a critical role, answering lifesaving emergency calls.
I couldn’t be more proud of how my colleagues have responded to these challenges and their desire to help us all through this crisis.