BT adds £655m to NI economy and supports over 7,000 jobs

The Economic Impact of BT Group in the UK report, by consultancy firm Hatch, calculates that the communications and technology company generated more than £24 billion in gross value added (GVA) to the UK economy during the last financial year, including £655 million in Northern Ireland alone.

The report estimates that around 7,270 full-time jobs in Northern Ireland are supported by BT Group through direct and indirect effects. The firm also spent £155 million with suppliers based in Northern Ireland, including those in construction and telecommunications industries.

BT Group has broadband and mobile networks spanning from the Scilly Isles to Shetland, built and maintained by some of the 82,800 direct employees it has in the UK. In Northern Ireland, the firm directly employs 2,900 people, with a further 436 employed as contractors.

The company is currently modernising its business, including investing in the UK’s largest workplace consolidation and modernisation programme, as it moves from 300 locations to around 30 as part of its Better Workplace programme. The firm also plans to invest in the refurbishment of its flagship Belfast office at Riverside Tower, providing a future-fit workplace of the future for thousands of colleagues. More announcements are expected later this year.

Last week BT unveiled plans to recruit more apprentices and graduates in Northern Ireland for its September 2021 intake. Meanwhile, Openreach, the digital network business, part of BT Group, announced that it plans to hire more than 100 new apprentice engineers in Northern Ireland before the end of March this year.

Mark Dames, BT Group head of public affairs for Northern Ireland, said: “I’m immensely proud of the contribution our colleagues make in supporting the Northern Ireland economy. At an important time for our region, our spending on people, networks and suppliers, provides a vital economic boost. The wider impact of that spending helps to sustain communities and small businesses right across Northern Ireland.

“In the past year, having good connectivity has become more important than ever as we’ve all had to work, learn, and spend more leisure time online. Despite these challenges, our dedicated and determined colleagues have ensured EE’s 5G network has been extended to cover 125 towns and cities across the UK and we have become the first communications company in the UK and Ireland to build and manage a live 5G Private Network to help digitally transform the port at Belfast harbour.

“The company has now built out Openreach’s full-fibre network to reach 4.1 million premises and EE’s 4G network now reaches 85 per cent of the UK. I know these significant investments will help to underpin the country’s economic recovery post-Covid.”

Employees from across BT Group, which includes Openreach, EE and Plusnet, have played a key role in keeping the country connected during the pandemic. The company has provided critical support to the NHS, SMEs via its Small Business Support Scheme and school children by providing unlimited broadband and mobile data, free and mobile data, free BT Wi-Fi vouchers and zero rating access to two of the most popular online education sites.

BT’s Consumer contact centres now handle 100% of customer calls in the UK, at centres from Enniskillen to Dundee. Since customer service for BT, EE and Plusnet customers was brought back to the UK and Ireland last year, more than 34 million calls have been handled.

Angela McGowan, Regional Director, CBI explained: “This latest research demonstrates the extent to which BT continues to have a massive impact on our local economy and jobs. It’s great to see this significant presence in Northern Ireland.

“BT Group’s investment in the area not only means a boost to the local economy, but also to skills and high quality jobs, including recruiting apprentices and graduates. BT’s investment in the fastest networks and latest technology is also vital for the region as well as the fact that they are a large purchaser for local supply chains. BT’s success is based on smart investments in both technology and people.”

Tim Fanning, Director at Hatch, added: “Our analysis underlines how vast BT Group’s contribution is to the UK economy as a whole as well as to individual communities in the nations and regions. Its presence across the country generates significant further activity and investment, supporting many thousands of jobs.”

Summary of results for year 2019/20 – Northern Ireland:

• 2,900 employees directly working for BT Group, and 436 contractors (Full Time Equivalent – FTE) in Northern Ireland

• 7,270 total FTE jobs supported (including indirect and induced effects) in Northern Ireland

• £115 million total income of BT Group employees (including contractors)

• £155 million spend with suppliers based in Northern Ireland

• £655 million total GVA impact associated with BT Group activities (including indirect and induced effects) in Northern Ireland

• BT Group employed 1 in every 4 in the IT and Communications sector and directly employed 1 in every 170 employees in the private sector across Northern Ireland

• BT Group directly created £1 in every £110 of GVA in Northern Ireland

• As a result of the full economic impact of BT Group, the firm supported £1 in every £60 of GVA in the Northern Ireland economy and 1 in every 80 employees working in the Northern Ireland economy.

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