BT Group adds more than £1.7bn to the North West economy and supports almost 20,000 jobs, according to an independent report.
The Economic Impact of BT Group in the UK report, by consultancy firm Hatch, has calculated that the communications and technology giant generated more than £24bn in gross value added (GVA) to the UK economy during the last financial year, including £1.71bn in the North West.
The report also estimated that about 19,800 full-time jobs in the North West are supported by the group through direct and indirect effects.
The firm also spent £410m with suppliers based in the North West, with the majority spent in the telecommunications industry.
In the North West, the group directly employs 8,280 people, with a further 1,440 hired as contractors.
The report comes after the group announced plans for significant multimillion-pound investments to move staff into new offices in Manchester and Warrington.
Last week BT also unveiled plans to recruit dozens more apprentices and graduates in the North of England for its September 2021 intake while Openreach, the digital network business, announced in December that it would create 255 new full time engineering roles across North West this year.
Liz Needleman, BT Group head of public affairs for North of England, said: “I’m immensely proud of the contribution our colleagues make in supporting the North West economy.
“At an important time for our region, our spending on people, networks and suppliers, provides a vital economic boost.
“The wider impact of that spending helps to sustain communities and small businesses right across the North West.
“In the past year, having good connectivity has become more important than ever as we’ve all had to work, learn, and spend more leisure time online.
“Despite these challenges, our dedicated and determined colleagues have ensured EE’s 5G network has been extended to cover 125 towns and cities, including Manchester, Salford and Rochdale, built out Openreach’s full-fibre network to reach 4.1 million premises and EE’s 4G network now reaches 85 per cent of the UK.
“I know these significant investments will help to underpin the country’s economic recovery post-Covid.”
Tim Fanning, director at Hatch, added: “Our analysis underlines how vast BT Group’s contribution is to the UK economy as a whole as well as to individual communities in the nations and regions.
“Its presence across the country generates significant further activity and investment, supporting many thousands of jobs.”
