More than 5,000 engineering jobs up for grabs as full fibre network expands - and 341 are in the south east

Openreach has created the job vacancies after seeing huge demand for its full fibre broadband programme, which aims to reach 20 million homes and businesses by the mid-to-late 2020s.

Engineers are now delivering connectivity to 40,000 homes and businesses every week, or the equivalent of a home every 15 seconds.

Of the 5,300 new UK-based engineering jobs, at least 341 are in the south east including Hampshire.

Regional director, Connie Dixon, said: ‘As a major employer and infrastructure builder, we believe Openreach can play a leading role in helping the UK to build back better and greener.

‘Our full fibre network build is going faster than ever and we’re now looking for people across the south east to build a career with Openreach and help us upgrade broadband connections and continue improving service levels throughout the region.

‘We’re also investing in our supply chain, which will support the creation of thousands of jobs based all over the UK.’

The expansion includes more than 2,500 full-time jobs in Openreach’s service and network build divisions, as well as an estimated 2,800 positions in its UK supply chain, through partners such as Kelly Group, Kier, MJ Quinn and Telent* 1 .

Full fibre build is already underway in dozens of locations across the south east, including Newbury, Gerrards Cross, Worthing, Basingstoke, Banbury, Cowes, Ramsgate, Epsom and Brighton.

Openreach already employs more than 34,500 people, including more than 25,000 engineers who build, maintain and connect customers to its nationwide broadband network. Of these, more than 4,800 live and/or work in the south east.

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Over the last two years, Openreach has created more than 6,500 trainee engineering roles to support its build programme and to deliver improved customer service.

The new trainee apprenticeship roles will be filled during 2021 and come with a starting salary of £21,845 and recruits can be earning up to £28,353 following 12 months of specialist training to achieve an NVQ level 2, in one of Openreach’s training centres.

This year, Openreach placed 15th in The Sunday Times 25 Best Big Companies To Work For.

To apply go to openreach.com/careers/trainee-engineer-roles