CityFibre to create up to 10,000 jobs for national full fibre roll out

National digital infrastructure platform, CityFibre, has announced a three-year recruitment and training programme to provide up to 10,000 people with jobs upgrading the UK’s digital infrastructure to full fibre.

The Government has made the nationwide deployment of full fibre by 2025 a key target, delivering the fasted and most dependable digital connectivity and broadband services to household across the UK.

The initiative will underpin the UK’s long-term economic recovery from the coronavirus crisis by enabling access to ultra-fast digital connectivity for all.

The recruitment campaign will target workers of all abilities, from the unemployed through to qualified construction and telecoms workers.

Jobs will be created within CityFibre’s growing pool of network construction partners, delivering a £4 billion roll out of full fibre capabilities across more than 100 towns and cities.

CityFibre is looking to attract those made unemployed as a result of the coronavirus crisis as well as women and people from BAME backgrounds, both of which a typically under-represented in the construction industry.

The company is working with the Department of Work and Pensions, the Construction Industry Training Board, the Career Transition Partnership and the Women’s Engineering Society on the scheme.

Recruitment campaigns to identify the first wave of trainees will begin later this month.

Steve Holliday, Chairman at CityFibre said: “We’re delighted to launch our training and recruitment programme creating up to 10,000 jobs in such a critical and vibrant sector.

“The programme will reach deep into our society to include some of those most in need of opportunity. Ultimately, it will ensure the skilled workforce is in place to get the job done and at the same time provide up-skilling and well-paid jobs across more than 100 towns and cities.

“In the wake of coronavirus, delivering the Government’s target of full fibre nationwide by 2025 could not be more important.

“Of all the infrastructure projects and industrial policies under consideration, full fibre will have the biggest impact in the shortest time, and for the least public money.

“It will help ensure that the UK not only recovers economically, but that it swiftly transitions to a greener, smarter and fairer economy in which to thrive.”

Digital Secretary, Oliver Dowden, added: “Our £5 billion commitment to bring faster, gigabit-speed internet to the whole country is key to ensuring everyone is better connected, creating jobs and powering the UK’s economic recovery from coronavirus.

“We’re working closely with firms like CityFibre and I warmly welcome their commitment to building a highly-skilled and diverse telecoms workforce which will boost growth right across the UK.”