BT steps up apprenticeship scheme

200 more positions offered as BT focuses on rolling out fibre broadband via Openreach

BT will increase its apprenticeship intake from 221 positions to 421 in 2010

BT has confirmed that it will effectively double its intake of apprentices this year, after seeing unprecedented demand for its scheme.

A BT spokesperson confirmed that it will add another 200 places to the 221 placements that the firm currently has on offer.

The company said that it attracted almost 24,000 applicants for its 221 positions in 2010. Last year, the scheme attracted just 9,000 applicants and two years ago there were 11,000 applicants.

The new wave of apprentices will be focused on helping BT with its fibre broadband rollout and they will be recruited by Openreach, BT’s local access network business.

“We’re now doubling our intake of apprentices this autumn given the number of strong applications we received and the fact we’re keen to train young people to help us deliver fibre broadband over the next few years,” said a BT spokesperson.

“This second wave of recruitment will see Openreach recruit more than 200 further people by Christmas, which I’m sure will be very welcome news in the current climate.”

BT said that the fibre rollout is already well under way, with more than two million premises now having access to fibre broadband. That number will increase to four million by the end of 2010, with BT planning to pass 10 million premises in 2012 and two-thirds of UK premises – about 16.5 million – by 2015.