Openreach to hire 3,500 engineers to expand UK’s broadband infrastructure

More than 500 roles will be created in London

Openreach’s network serves about 30 million British homes and businesses (Getty)

BT’s Openreach division has announced that it is hiring 3,500 new trainee engineers over the next year to help expand broadband infrastructure across the UK.

The company said this was the largest recruitment drive in its history and forms part of a wider initiative to roll out superfast fibre broadband.

More than 500 roles will be created in London, making the capital the largest beneficiary of the hiring spree. The rest of the jobs will be distributed across 10 service delivery regions.

“This digital infrastructure will be welcomed by families and business across the country, and these new highly skilled jobs will be a boost to our talented workforce as we build an economy fit for the future,” said Chancellor Philip Hammond.

Clive Selley, chief executive of Openreach, said that the engineers would play “a vital role in the future success and prosperity of the UK”.

“I’m confident that our twin investment in people and infrastructure will help the UK achieve the societal and economic benefits that come from better, more reliable, faster broadband services,” he added.

Openreach currently employs 22,200 field engineers. Last year it hired over 1,800. Its network serves about 30 million British homes and businesses.