Accessing support networks has been more important than ever for many local businesses and a key to helping smaller companies survive the economic crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
BT hasn't been shy about offering its support to smaller firms, and the telecommunications and technology business is determined to make a difference within the communities it serves.
Last year it offered support packages to thousands of SMEs in the West Midlands to become better positioned for recovery and growth following the pandemic, as well as navigate a post-Brexit landscape.
BT’s Small Business Support Scheme included helping fund ultrafast business connections to firms that have been struggling throughout lockdown, as well as offering free resources such as mentoring, marketing tools, digital skills and mental health support.
And that's not all.
While many employers have temporarily scaled back or even ceased taking on apprentices, BT has an impressive recruitment scheme that will continue in Birmingham this year, employing more than 50 apprentices and graduates during its September 2021 intake.
The news comes as part of plans to recruit more than 400 school and university leavers across the Ƶ this year in a diverse range of sectors, including engineering, customer service, applied research, and cyber-security.
With such a strong passion to promote growth within the region's businesses and upskill their workers, it's no surprise that BT Group is supporting the this year by sponsoring the Small Employer of the Year category.
The much-anticipated awards are back for another year. The annual ceremony will create huge fanfare to celebrate the best and brightest learners, recruiters and trainers who have been working with their teams to drive company success across the city and wider region.
Nominations for the awards are now open and close on Friday, September 17, 2021. After judging takes place, the glittering award ceremony will be held on Thursday, November 11, 2021. For more details and to nominate, see the
Sarah Walker, Director of BT’s Enterprise business in the Midlands, said: “As one of the Ƶ’s biggest employers of apprentices, and a supporter of small businesses, we’re really pleased to be sponsoring the Small Employer of the Year category in the Greater Birmingham Apprenticeship Awards.
“As a business we know what value apprentices can bring. They can learn skills on the job, bring creativity and fresh thinking to an organisation, and reflect the values of the company they work for. BT has had an apprenticeship programme for more than 60 years, and many senior managers started their career as apprentices.
“This year, despite the Covid-19 pandemic, we have committed to recruiting more apprentices. It’s great we’re able to recognise the efforts of small firms in the Birmingham area in this space through these awards, and we applaud them for the fantastic work they have achieved.”
BT is also a member of the West Midlands Combined Authority Apprenticeship Levy Transfer Fund scheme - meaning it contributes hundreds of thousands of pounds in unspent apprenticeship levy funds to help cover training costs for apprentices at local SMEs.
Later this year, BT will be opening its new regional hub at Three Snowhill, Birmingham. The building is expected to eventually accommodate over 3,000 colleagues and offer state of the art facilities for those based there.
Driving recruitment and future opportunities
As well as providing the opportunity for 45 graduates and six apprentices in Birmingham to join later this year, BT will also be offering roles spread out across several Ƶ locations - including Belfast, Bristol, Cardiff, Dundee, Edinburgh, Ipswich, London and Manchester.
BT has recruited more than 1,600 apprentices and graduates over the past 24 months.
The figures are in addition to Openreach’s recent plans to create more than 2,500 full-time jobs in its service and network build divisions, as well as an estimated 2,800 positions in its Ƶ supply chain.
Together, BT and Openreach are currently delivering a wide range of apprenticeships, with over 4,000 colleagues working towards their qualifications.
Alongside its apprenticeship and graduate scheme opportunities, BT is also investing in several initiatives to support young jobseekers.
These include BT’s 'Work Ready' training scheme which has already helped thousands of young people kickstart their careers - providing opportunities for young people who aren't in employment, education or training and preparing them for the world of work.
The scheme is just one part of BT’s ambition, which aims to help 25m people in the Ƶ develop the skills they need to make the most of life in the digital world.
Helping local businesses recover
It's no surprise that small firms have been struggling the most during the pandemic, ongoing lockdowns have meant losing touch with regular customers and it's been difficult to make ends meet.
BT’s Small Business Support Scheme has been focusing on boosting three major concerns for SMEs - connectivity, cash flow and confidence in the following ways:
Boosting connectivity
BT has helped SMEs fund the cost of installing an ultrafast business connection (know as an Ethernet line) by reducing the cost by up to £2,500 per customer.
The incentive has helped firms such as firms graphic design agencies and production houses gain access to Gigabit speeds of up to 10Gbps, so they can send and receive rich media files that are vital to their work.
BT has even launched the Ƶ’s only converged fibre broadband, mobile and digital phone line bundle for micro-businesses, which represent 91 per cent of all businesses in the Ƶ.
By combining three powerful connections in one service, the 'Halo' package helps businesses stay better connected inside and outside of the workplace, so that they never miss an important call or a sale.
BT has partnered with Square to bring a new digital payment solution to help its SME customers go cashless.
Better cashflow
With many small businesses citing cashflow as their number one concern, BT is committing to pay its small business suppliers within 30 days of being invoiced.
The telecommunications company has also been assisting small businesses in financial distress during the peak of the pandemic as well, by helping them find a flexible option for paying their bill.
This will continue over the coming months, with BT continuing to support customers who are struggling with aspects of their bill as a result of financial hardships.
Building confidence
BT has introduced a new mentoring scheme for small businesses, to provide them with free access to its expertise across strategy, marketing, sales, and more.
The company is supporting businesses via - a free non-profit platform uniting digital experts with leaders of small businesses and charities.
BT’s ambition is to reach 1m small business owners and their employees with digital skills by 2025.
The company has already helped 278,000 small business owners and their employees with digital skills training through its 'Skills for Tomorrow' programme and has released new learning content on crucial topics, including how to prevent cyber-attacks and using social media to reach new customers.
BT has also recently announced a new collaboration with Google to bring free additional digital skills learning content and business mentoring sessions to small firms.
BT is acutely aware that now is an extremely worrying and uncertain time for small businesses, so it has provided its customers with access to wellbeing advice and expertise on how to boost their mental and physical health. This has been delivered through a and webinar specifically designed for small businesses.
Commenting on the details of the new support package, Ms Walker said: “At BT, we can use our technology, scale and expertise to help small businesses kick-start recovery and growth by boosting their connectivity, cashflow and confidence.
"So, we’ve listened to the needs of small businesses and are stepping up to deliver a support scheme which should have something for everyone - whether you’re a sole trader, tech-start up, micro business or a larger firm.”
