TELECOMMUNICATIONS giants BT last week announced that subsidiary branch Openreach has enjoyed a major recruitment drive in the South West to improve customer service across the region.

BT’s local network business, Outreach’s latest drive has included hiring 165 engineers and 17 apprentices in the region to help install new lines and fix faults more quickly.

The new recruits are also working on rolling out fibre broadband to more households and businesses beyond the more than two million premises in the South West, which already have access to the high speed technology.

The recent recruitment is part of a nationwide initiative, which has seen Openreach employ 5,000 engineers and more than 700 apprentices across the UK in the last three years.

Jon Reynolds, BT regional director for the South West, said: “This latest recruitment represents another major investment by BT in the South West as a leading employer and provider of essential services.

“New recruits are now embarking on exciting careers in a fast-moving industry, which is making a major contribution to the future success of the South West.

“Already, they are working hard to ensure that local households and businesses get the best possible service whether they have ordered the latest new technology, such as superfast fibre broadband, or simply reported a fault.

“Given our focus on service, we’ve recruited people who can connect with customers and give them a very good experience they’ll remember.

"In return, they have the opportunity of a fantastic career in a company that’s at the forefront of building the UK’s connected future.”