BT completes first phase of multi-million pound Yorkshire office refurbishment

A British telecommunications company has completed the first phase of its multi-million pound refurbishment in plans to safeguard its future.

The first phase of works to modernise BT’s Doncaster Contact Centre on Wilmington Drive has been completed, with the new workplace set to accommodate more than 1,000 staff - 400 more than are currently based at the centre.

The company’s contact centre first opened in 1997 and BT has said that it hopes that this refurbishment will safeguard its long-term future.

Upon completion of the refurbishment, the office will be one of the first BT offices to open as part of its ‘Better Workplace Programme’.

The programme is the largest workplace improvement and consolidation scheme of its type ever undertaken in the UK.

It will see BT reduce its number of UK locations from around 300 to 30.

Contact centre workers have continued to operate in the Doncaster building whilst refurbishments have taken place, and BT has ensured throughout that social distancing rules apply inside the contact centre, as well as following Public Health England’s latest Covid-19 guidelines.

Nick Lane, managing director for consumer customer services at BT, said: “Throughout the refurbishment, some of our colleagues have chosen to remain on site while others have worked from home. Everyone has done a fantastic job ensuring our customers have been able to stay connected with family and friends during the Covid-19 pandemic.”

He continued: “We are fully committed to Doncaster and the wider Yorkshire region and we cannot wait for our colleagues to be among the first to benefit from one of our future fit workplaces. Although it’s the same building, the capacity will be significantly increased. We plan to recruit further roles next year, providing new job opportunities in Doncaster.”

Damian Allen, CEO Doncaster Council, said: “It is undoubtedly a great vote of confidence that the company is planning to increase the number of staff they have based here. The centre makes a vital contribution to our local economy and community and I look forward to seeing the new centre when it is completed next year.”

Liz Needleman, BT Group regional lead for the north of England, said: “Doncaster is an important town for BT and a strategically important site for us in the region. This is a bold and ambitious programme for BT and we are committed to this major investment for Doncaster even in these challenging times.”

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