BT Group reveals plans to create 1,600 new jobs

BT Group on Monday unveiled plans to create 1,600 new engineering jobs as part of plans to roll out fibre broadband across the UK.BT's Openreach business said it expected a significant number of the new jobs to be filled by ex-servicemen and women.Openreach Chief Executive Joe Garner said he was looking to attract the best in the country to a career in engineering in an effort to improve customer service, install lines and fix problems more rapidly."We are also keen to recruit women - as I'm keen to dispel the myth that being an engineer is an exclusively male vocation," he said in a statement on the company's website."In fact we have many successful women engineers and it is my personal belief that recruiting more will also help our customer service agenda."Prime Minister David Cameron MP said creating jobs is a crucial part of the government's long-term economic plan. "So I am delighted that BT is launching this major recruitment drive for 1,600 engineers across the UK, providing financial security for families and delivering a world class infrastructure for Britain, he added. Openreach has hired more than 1,600 former servicemen and women over the past three years.BT's shares rose 0.96% to 369.90p at 14:00.RD