BT creates 20 new jobs in Oswestry
Twenty new jobs have been created in Oswestry by telecommunications giant BT to work on its Openreach network.
The expansion takes the number of new jobs created in the West Midlands region since the spring to around 160.
BT is hiring more engineers to connect homes and businesses to high-speed broadband.
Mike Cook, BT's regional director for the West Midlands, said: "For the second time in less than six months we are able to announce a boost to our engineering workforce in the West Midlands. This latest recruitment provides further evidence of our commitment to the region and to our customers. We are one of the largest investors in the West Midlands, both as a major employer and a provider of essential communications."
It is part of a campaign to recruit 1,600 engineers nationwide, which received 26,000 applications. About half of the intake will work on new installations and repairs, with the remainder connecting housing developments and installing ultra-fast broadband for business.
The majority of the new roles are permanent, direct jobs for Openreach employees, while a proportion are fixed term contracts of 18 months.
Joe Garner, chief executive of Openreach, said: "We are recruiting more people so that we can continue to build our network rapidly, and serve our customers better. Broadband growth is great for our customers and for Britain. These new engineers will help ensure that Openreach continues to meet and exceed the rising demands of our customers in an internet age."
Of those hired so far across the UK, more than 200 roles have been filled by ex-armed forces personnel, underlining Openreach's ongoing commitment to supporting ex-service men and women. The campaign has also boosted the number of female engineers at Openreach following an increase in applications from women who are keen to enter the world of engineering.
Culture Secretary Sajid Javid said: "BT's creation of these full time engineering jobs is tremendous news. Government is taking superfast broadband to 95 per cent of the UK by 2017, and it's vital that a skilled workforce is in place to cope with the resulting increase in demand."
