BT apprentices to help roll out fibre broadband in Wales

Growing demand for fibre optic broadband in Wales has persuaded BT to sign up its largest ever intake of apprentices.

The trainees will join up with the telecoms giant's 1,500-strong workforce to roll out and maintain the country's next-generation access infrastructure.

In order to get up to speed, the apprentices will embark on a three-year programme that will give them the necessary skills to become customer service engineers.

Deploying super-fast broadband will be the top priority for these new employees.

Bryony Mullins, a 22-year-old recruit from Cardiff, said her grandfather worked as an engineer for BT, which helped her to gain an interest in the subject.

"Having lived here all my life I now look forward to providing the communications infrastructure for Wales which will help to make our nation more prosperous," she added.

Last month, BT announced more than 5,000 homes and businesses served by the Hengoed exchange in Powys will be able to connect to the company's fibre broadband service in the near future.