British Telecoms has announced the creation of 1,000 new jobs as it opens its first major regional hub outside of London.
The new hub, at Three Snowhill in Birmingham city centre, welcomed back staff this week and will one day host around 3,500 employees.
The office is one of several new hubs planned as the company plans to condense its workspaces from the 300 buildings it currently occupies, to 30.
A BT spokesperson confirmed there are currently very few staff working in their Worcester offices and that they expect this new hub to attract lots of interest.
They said: “We have a small number of offices in Worcester where typically we have one or two office-based staff. That’s not hugely sustainable.
“Many of our offices are exchange buildings which will continue to keep local communities connected and engineers will continue to visit.
“If you look at the new Midlands hub with its glass panels, built-in gym, and 17th story views. That is what we’re aiming for moving forward.
“We’d expect there will be interest from across the region in these new and exciting job opportunities.”
Across the West Midlands BT Group employs 5,470 people and is responsible for generating £1 in every £180 produced in the region, according to business consultancy Hatch.
The firm generated one and a half billion pounds to the West Midlands economy during the 2019/20 financial year, in terms of gross value added.
Andy Street, the Conservative West Midlands mayor, said: “Not only is it a huge sign of confidence in the West Midlands that a company of BT’s size and stature is investing in and committing to our region, but it is also brilliant news for people’s livelihoods with around 1,000 new jobs to be created.”
BT director for colleague experience, Elaine Bergin, is based at the new hub and acknowledged the shift to remote working.
She said: “We recognise colleagues need the opportunity to work flexibly, and we can enable that through hybrid working.
“However, particularly for younger individuals and those joining BT for the first time, the opportunity to learn those soft skills and form positive relationships by working together in the office is invaluable.”
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