Member Article

BT create 80 engineering jobs across the North East

Around 80 engineering jobs have been created by BT’s Openreach business as part of a major national expansion programme.

The company is looking for recruits in Durham, Darlington, Stockton-on-Tees and parts of Northumberland including Morpeth and Bedlington.

Engineers will work on Openreach’s fibre broadband rollout, helping to install new lines and fix faults.

Nearly 1,600 roles have been created nationally, and BT says it is keen to recruit more female engineers and ex-service men and women.

David Cameron said: “Supporting business, creating jobs and providing a better future for hardworking people is a crucial part of our long-term economic plan.

“So I am delighted that BT is launching this major recruitment drive for 1,600 engineers across the UK, providing financial security for families and delivering a world class infrastructure for Britain.”

Farooq Hakim, BT’s North East regional director, said: “BT is leading the economic recovery of the North East as one of the region’s largest investors.

“Not only are we building a superfast broadband network, which is giving a major boost to the region’s households and businesses, we are creating highly skilled local jobs offering exciting careers, such as those announced today.

“Working with our partners in the public sector we are determined to ensure that the North East is in the best position possible to take full advantage of the superfast broadband revolution. The region should be really positive about its future. Exciting times lie ahead for both BT and the North East.

“The opportunities for businesses to grow and for households to benefit from enhanced on-line learning and entertainment are immense.”

Joe Garner, chief executive of Openreach, said: “These new recruits will be a welcome boost to that effort, joining an already world class team. We want to attract the best in the country to a career in engineering.

“We are also keen to recruit women – as I’m keen to dispel the myth that being an engineer is an exclusively male vocation.”

Recruitment for the new roles is already underway in parts of the country, and people interested in applying for the roles should visit the BT careers page here.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .