BT Group adds £690m to Northern Ireland economy

BT Group’s activities reportedly contributed £690 million to Northern Ireland’s wider economy and supported more than 7,300 jobs in 2021, according to a report by consultancy firm Hatch. The study analysed the spending of BT Group employees and suppliers, including EE, BT, Plusnet, and Openreach, and the subsequent economic impact across the UK. The report revealed that the UK’s largest telecommunications company directly contributed an estimated £420 million to Northern Ireland’s economy during the 2021/22 financial year. Additionally, the company’s employees and supply chain spending boosted the economy by a total of £690 million.

The report also highlighted BT Group’s presence across Northern Ireland and its investment in the rollout of full-fibre broadband and 5G. Furthermore, the report underscored BT Group’s commitment to improving its workplaces, as it is currently undertaking one of the UK’s largest workplace improvement schemes, known as the Better Workplace Programme. The programme will reduce BT Group’s locations from around 300 to approximately 30, creating modern workspaces in the process.

BT Group’s spending with suppliers based in Northern Ireland reached £140 million, with the company’s combined activities supporting 7,340 jobs in the area. The report showcases BT Group’s broad range of activities across the UK, from employees volunteering to help care home residents to teams protecting customers and the country from cyber threats.

Philip Jansen, BT Group’s CEO, emphasised the company’s crucial role in Northern Ireland’s economy and its commitment to power its future. Jansen said that BT Group’s investment in next-generation full-fibre and mobile connectivity across the UK is creating new jobs, economic growth, and innovation across every region and nation. The CEO added that the new state-of-the-art offices would enable colleagues to collaborate better and serve customers more effectively.

BT Group currently employs over 3,200 people in Northern Ireland and serves customers in every corner of the UK. With the ongoing expansion of full-fibre broadband and 5G, the company’s impact on the economy is set to continue to grow in the years ahead.