BT apprenticeship intake doubles

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BT has doubled its apprenticeship intake following unprecedented interest in the firm’s scheme.

In August it emerged 24,000 applications had been sent into BT for 221 positions, up from 9,000 in 2009.

BT has now increased its apprenticeship intake to over 400, having received a significant number of strong applications.

“This second wave of recruitment will see Openreach recruit more than 200 further people by Christmas which … will be very welcome news in the current climate,” BT said in a statement.

The company has also increased the number of available places to help with its fibre broadband pledge over the next few years.

BT hopes to have two-thirds of UK premises covered by next-generation services by 2015 and said it wants to work with public sector bodies to help propagate fibre broadband across the country.

Earlier this month, the Government announced the BBC will help fund superfast broadband deployment as well.

The news of the intake increase comes on the formal 50th anniversary of BT’s apprenticeship scheme, although the communications firm pointed out it has been recruiting apprentices since the 1860s.

BT apprentices typically start on salaries between £12,000 and £15,000 and successful candidates will specialise in either IT, telecoms, electrical systems or customer service and will study for a BTEC or foundation degree.

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