- More than 3,000 jobs and apprenticeships have been created through the UK Government’s Project Gigabit, according to new figures from broadband suppliers.
- The programme is helping deliver the Prime Minister’s mission for growth in every postcode - opening up career opportunities while bringing faster broadband to communities too often left behind.
- Telecoms Minister Ian Murray met apprentices in Hull on Thursday learning the skills to upgrade Britain’s broadband network.
More than 3,000 jobs and apprenticeships have been created in England through the government’s rollout of faster, more reliable broadband, new figures from broadband suppliers reveal.
From jobs on the ground in the most rural parts of the country, to office-based roles in finance, operations and other professions, new figures from broadband suppliers released today show the government’s national broadband upgrade is supporting skilled roles across the telecoms sector – driving forward the government’s mission for growth in every postcode.
As part of the dozens of contracts awarded under Project Gigabit, the UK government’s multi-billion-pound rollout to areas that would otherwise be left behind, many suppliers are expected to deliver wider benefits for local communities alongside better connectivity. This can include creating jobs and apprenticeships, investing in local projects and supporting environmental initiatives.
The roles created range from fibre engineers, technicians, and network planners to project managers and customer support teams learning practical skills such as installing cables, climbing poles and using specialist equipment safely.
By opening up paid training and skilled career routes in local areas, Project Gigabit supports the government’s wider work to help more young people into employment or education, empower communities to improve the places they live, and ensure the benefits of growth are shared across the UK.
The impact of those apprenticeships was on show in Hull, where UK Telecoms Minister Ian Murray met trainees at Quickline’s Training and Innovation Centre learning the hands-on skills needed to deliver faster, more reliable broadband.
UK Telecoms Minister, Ian Murray, said:
“Behind every new broadband connection are engineers, apprentices and local teams learning the skills to give communities the fast, reliable connections they need for modern life.
“This is a government which is opening up rewarding careers while delivering the next-generation broadband that homes and businesses need.
“Through Project Gigabit we are doing two jobs at once: creating skilled opportunities and upgrading communities with the connectivity they need to grow – helping make sure growth and opportunity reaches every postcode.”
After joining Quickline’s first engineering apprenticeship cohort in October 2024, Mohammed Ameen secured a permanent role as fibre installation engineer within six months. He completed extensive training and gained hands-on experience while supporting the delivery of fast, reliable broadband to local communities in rural Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.
Through apprenticeships, young people like Mohammad are gaining valuable skills, qualifications and hands-on experience, while earning an income and building the foundations for long-term careers. In turn, these opportunities can increase financial independence, open new possibilities for locals and support growth in their communities. The benefits are already being seen across the country, with 460 roles created through the programme based in the East Midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber.
Ryan Lupton, Splicer Calber Apprentice, said:
“My previous occupation was a customer assistant for Tesco, which mainly involved working on self-service. I’m excited to be working for Quickline and look forward to hopefully having a career with them. I’m enjoying the physical nature of the job. I am one who doesn’t like to be sat around all day and working with the lads always makes the job fun.”
Mark Bowden, CEO of Quickline, said:
“We were delighted to welcome the Minister to Quickline and give him the opportunity to see first-hand the positive impact Project Gigabit is having, not only by bringing better broadband to rural communities, but by creating skilled jobs, apprenticeships and long-term career opportunities.
“At Quickline, we’re proud to be playing a major part in that. We’re investing in people as well as infrastructure, developing the skills and talent we need for the future while delivering fast, reliable broadband to homes and businesses across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire that have too often been left behind.
“Project Gigabit is showing what can be achieved when investment in connectivity also delivers wider economic and social benefits for the communities it serves, and that’s something we’re very proud to be part of.”
Notes to Editors
The roles referenced in this announcement are in England only. The UK government receives jobs and apprenticeships data from Project Gigabit broadband suppliers where they have contractual social value commitments and must report on them. The true number may be higher and include roles in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, as suppliers may create additional jobs and apprenticeships that are not required to be reported.
Project Gigabit contract delivery data is submitted monthly by suppliers to BDUK in incremental reports. BDUK conducts a series of data quality checks on these reports and only approved data is used to calculate the total figure.
Project Gigabit
Project Gigabit is the UK government’s rollout of lightning-fast, reliable broadband across the UK. The programme targets homes and businesses that are not included in broadband companies’ commercial plans, reaching parts of the country that would otherwise miss out.
Project Gigabit is crucial to the government’s mission to kickstart economic growth. It will create and support thousands of high-paid, high-skilled jobs. It is fuelling our innovators and wealth creators and enabling anyone to start up and run a business of any size from anywhere in the UK.
It will also accelerate the government’s work to break down barriers to opportunity across the UK. Our rollout will enable people to shop, bank and access public services without endless loading screens and enjoy cutting-edge tech from virtual reality to ultra-HD streaming – regardless of where they live or work.
UK government gigabit programmes have already helped upgrade more than 1.46 million premises across the UK through government support, largely in rural areas where gigabit coverage is lower.
About Quickline
Quickline is a rural broadband provider focused on connecting communities that are often underserved by larger telecoms companies, delivering fast and reliable internet to homes and businesses across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.