BT to extend fibre broadband rollout with north-west recruits

Network provider BT has announced it will be creating up to 130 jobs for engineers in the north-west of England, in order to extend its nationwide fibre broadband rollout even further.

Currently, BT has brought the high-speed technology to more than 19 million residential and commercial properties throughout the UK, but is planning to expand on this, requiring new members of staff to help it to do so.

With regard to the north-west, the telecommunications business is particularly looking to recruit in Northwich, Macclesfield, Whitehaven, Wilmslow, Kendal and Barrow in Furness, but BT will be looking for 1,600 new engineers from across the UK overall.

Additionally, the firm is interested in employing more female engineers and is also looking to ex-members of the Armed Forces to increase its own ranks.

BT's expansion plans have been hailed by Prime Minister David Cameron, who said: "I am delighted that BT is launching this major recruitment drive for 1,600 engineers across the UK, providing financial security for families and delivering a world-class infrastructure for Britain."

The new employees will work for BT's network business, which is known as Openreach, and is the division responsible for the firm's extensive fibre broadband rollout.