Virgin Media supports fibre broadband rollout with recruitment drive

Virgin Media is supporting the rollout of fibre optic broadband by looking to take on more than 100 new engineering apprentices.

The cable company is searching for 120 people to enrol in its apprenticeship scheme, which is now in its fourth year and has already seen 530 graduates win jobs.

Young people - particularly school-leavers - are being targeted by the initiative, which will teach them how to install services, diagnose faults and carry out maintenance work to Virgin Media's fibre optic broadband network.

Graduates will receive the company's own National Vocational Qualification in Communication Technology.

Paul Buttery, Virgin Media's chief customer and networks officer, said: "We're particularly proud that we're able to provide so many young people with a much needed start in these challenging economic times."

In the three months to December 31st 2011, a further 133,000 customers signed up for Virgin Media's fibre broadband services offering speeds of 30Mbps or higher.