BT contribute £1.13bn to economy in Yorkshire and the Humber

BT generated £1.13bn for the Yorkshire and Humber economy in the past year, according to an independent report published today.

The report, by Regeneris Consulting, also shows that the communications company supports 15,400 jobs in Yorkshire and the Humber through direct employment, its spending with contractors and suppliers and the spending of employees.

In terms of employment, BT’s impact in 2014-15 was larger than the region’s civil engineering sector. Around £306m was spent with regional suppliers.

BT activities is expressed as a ‘Gross Value Added’ (GVA)* contribution, and for Yorkshire and the Humber, the BT GVA totalled £1.13bn – equivalent to £1 in every £90 of the region’s total GVA.

Tim Fanning, associate director at Regeneris Consulting, said: “Our analysis confirms the sheer scale and reach of BT’s ongoing economic contribution to Yorkshire and the Humber and the UK as a whole.

“BT makes a contribution to every community across the UK. At the UK level, £1 in £80 of wealth created is attributable to BT – this is one of the single largest contributions to the UK economy by any firm.”

Tom Keeney, BT’s regional director for Yorkshire and the Humber, added: “There are few organisations in Yorkshire and the Humber that have a larger impact on the day-to-day life and future prospects of the region than BT.

“We are one of the region’s largest private sector employers and investors – our investment in fibre broadband alone amounts to hundreds of millions of pounds - and the services that we provide are a vital part of every community.

“The facts and figures shown in this report highlight the full extent of BT’s contribution to the local economy as we go about the daily business of keeping people connected and introducing new technologies, which are creating fresh opportunities and transforming lives.

“Aside from the company’s activities, the report also draws attention to the positive ways BT people are contributing to the communities where they live and work, whether they are a volunteer for a worthy cause or a local shopper.”

‘Social Study 2015 – The Economic Impact of BT in the United Kingdom’ analyses the role BT and its employees play in economic, business and community life throughout the English regions, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The report highlights that BT in Yorkshire and the Humber:

• Is responsible for the employment of 6,583 people – 5730 direct employees and 853 contractors – with a total employment income of £217m;
• Provides work for a further 8,820 people through BT’s spending with businesses that supply its equipment and services, and the spending of employees;
• Committed nearly £1m to community, charity and voluntary programmes, spread around many regional communities in 2014/15;
• Has enabled 77% of its employees to work flexibly.

BT is investing more than £3bn in the roll-out of fibre broadband in the UK through its own commercial programme and by working with the Government and local authorities in broadband partnerships to extend next generation broadband even more widely – especially to more rural and remote communities.

In Yorkshire and the Humber, BT is the private sector partner in broadband partnerships in South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, East Riding and Northern Lincolnshire. Through these partnerships and the company’s commercial roll-out, BT has already made fibre broadband available to nearly 1.8 million homes and businesses in the region.

Nationwide, BT’s total GVA contribution is assessed at £18bn. The company supports 217,000 jobs directly and indirectly and last year spent £6.5bn with UK-based suppliers. As a result of the full economic impact of BT, the firm supports £1 in every £80 of GVA in the UK economy and one in every 110 UK employees.

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