Openreach announces 500 new jobs after a record year for recruiting women, including a Scottish soccer player

Openreach has announced that it will create and fill around 500 additional jobs in Scotland in 2022, including around 390 apprenticeships, as it continues to invest billions of pounds in its broadband network, human resources and training in the UK. United.

The gigantic construction is on track to reach 25 million homes and businesses in the UK by December 2026 and has already reached more than half a million properties in Scotland.

The hiring spree is part of a wider recruitment campaign which will see the creation of 4,000 new jobs across the UK and is the largest in Openreach’s history – its workforce now exceeds 3,700 at across Scotland.

Openreach already employs the largest team of engineers and telecommunications professionals in the country and is committed to building a more diverse and inclusive team in a traditionally very white and male-dominated industry.

The new hires will be based in various locations across Scotland, working to build and connect customers to the company’s super-fast and ultra-reliable Full Fiber broadband network.

Locations and number of vacancies in Scotland

• Fife – 65
• Ayrshire – 65
• Edinburgh – 55
• Glasgow – 55
• Angus – 40
• Dundee – 40
• Highlands – 40
• Stirling – 30
• Scottish Borders – 30

Last year, 17% of the company’s engineering trainees in Scotland were women, more than triple the previous year.

Openreach said the boost was partly due to employing language experts to transform its job postings and descriptions, making them gender-neutral.

Alana Marshall, 34, from Dunfermline in Fife was a dog walker before deciding to change careers. Also a semi-professional footballer, she currently plays for the Spartans and has been capped six times for Scotland.

Alana said: “I’ve always been interested in engineering and wanted to have a good job for my daughter. I really like to get my hands dirty and with this job you certainly do. I’ve never had two days the same and haven’t come across anything I don’t like so far.

“I’ve had positive feedback from customers. I know I will face challenges in the future – I’m used to playing football. I would tell other women who are considering engineering to go for it, never doubt that you can’t or shouldn’t do a job like this. We are just as capable.

Natasha Carswell, 30, from Carnwath, Lanark, joined Openreach last year after a career as a hairstylist. She said: “During the pandemic I lost my dad which made me decide to take life into my own hands and make it a bit more exciting. I want to do something that I am passionate about and that is different every day.

“People are surprised to see an engineer at the door. I love it when I have a senior client and doing a little extra thing like helping them set up the phone can make their day and leave you feeling a little out of focus. warm .”

Clive Selley, CEO of Openreach, said: “Openreach is first and foremost a people-driven company, so I am proud that we continue to invest heavily in our people, having hired and trained over 8,000 new engineers over the past few years. last two years. , including over 800 across Scotland.

“We are rightly recognized as one of the best great companies to work for, and we are determined to remain so, so we have built state-of-the-art training schools where we can teach people the skills and the techniques they need for long, exciting and rewarding careers in engineering.

He continued: “We want to reflect the communities we serve and provide opportunities for people from all walks of life, so I am encouraged that we have recruited more women and minority groups this year compared to last year, but we we have a lot more to do in an industry that hasn’t been very diverse historically.

“These new hires will play a crucial role as we continue to improve services for our customers and build Scotland’s biggest and best broadband network.”

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Scottish Government Employment Minister Richard Lochhead said: “Access to fast and reliable broadband has never been more important. Building on the early success of our Youth Guarantee and our significant and continued investment in education, employability and skills, these 500 additional high-quality jobs created by Openreach will increase opportunities across Scotland. .

“Apprenticeships are an essential way for all employers to continue to invest in their workforce, providing the foundational skills the economy needs today and in the future. This is at the heart of the Scottish Government’s immediate priority to lead the country through the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic towards a recovery that protects and creates jobs and supports our young people.

The new trainee apprenticeship positions come with a starting salary of £21,845 and recruits can earn up to £28,353 after 12 months of specialist training to achieve an NVQ Level 2/SCQF Level 5 in one Openreach’s world-class training centers.

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