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BT'S £369 million boost for
Merseyside economy
BT generated a massive £369 million for
the Merseyside economy in the past year, according to an independent report.
The report, by Regeneris Consulting, also shows that the communications company
supports more than 22,300 jobs in the North West; of which nearly 5,000 are in
Merseyside; through direct employment, its spending with contractors and
suppliers and the spending of employees.
In addition, 1 in every 4 employees working in the IT and communications sector
in the Liverpool City Region is directly employed by BT.
In employment terms, BT's impact in 2014 to 2015 was larger than the region's
automotive manufacturing sector. Around £510 million was spent with regional
suppliers.
The overall beneficial financial impact of BT activities is expressed as a "Gross
Value Added" (GVA)** contribution. For the North West the BT GVA totalled
£1.64 billion; a rise of £310 million since 2013; equivalent to £1 in every
£85 of the region's total GVA, of which £369 million was in Merseyside.
Tim Fanning, associate director at Regeneris Consulting, said:- "Our
analysis confirms the sheer scale and reach of BT's ongoing economic
contribution to the Merseyside and the UK as a whole. BT makes a contribution to
every community across the UK. At the UK level, £1 in every £80 of wealth
created is attributable to BT; this is 1 of the single largest contributions to
the UK economy by any firm."
Mike Blackburn, BT's regional director for the North West, said:- "There
are few organisations in the North West that have a larger impact on the day to
day life and future prospects of the region than BT. We are 1 of the region's
largest private sector employers and investors; our investment in fibre
broadband in the North West alone amounts to hundreds of millions of pounds; and
the services that we provide are a vital part of every community. The facts and
figures shown in this report highlight the full extent of BT's contribution to
the Merseyside economy as we go about the daily business of keeping people
connected and introducing new technologies, which are creating fresh
opportunities and transforming lives. Aside from the company's activities, the
report also draws attention to the positive ways BT people are contributing to
the communities where they live and work, whether they are a volunteer for a
worthy cause or a local shopper."
Social Study 2015; The Economic Impact of BT in the United Kingdom' analyses
the key role BT people play in economic, business and community life across the
English regions, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
It highlights the positive contributions made by BT through the salaries and
wages of employees and contractors, and the beneficial impact of its procurement
and overall expenditure around the UK.
The report highlights that BT in the North West:-
► Is responsible for the employment of 9,450 people; 7,500 direct employees and
1,950 contractors; of which more than 2,500 are in Merseyside; with a total
employment income of £297 million.
► Provides work for a further 12,860 people through BT's spending with businesses
that supply its equipment and services, and the spending of employees; more than
2,400 of these in Merseyside.
► Committed more than £1.4m to community, charity and
voluntary programmes, spread around many regional communities in 2014/15.
► Has enabled 77% of its employees to work flexibly.
BT is investing more than £3 billion in the roll out of fibre broadband in the
UK through its own commercial programme and by working with the Government and
local authorities in broadband partnerships to extend next generation broadband
even more widely; especially to more rural and remote communities.
In the North West, BT is the major private sector partner in broadband
partnerships in Merseyside, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and
Cumbria. Through these partnerships and the company's commercial roll out, BT
has already made fibre broadband available to more than 2.8 million North West
homes and businesses; and this number is continuing to grow rapidly.
The report also highlights how BT is consistently one of the country's leading
investors in innovation with spending on research and development in the 2014/15
financial year reaching £502 million. Among the latest developments, the company
has started trials of ultrafast G.fast broadband, which is already delivering
download speeds up to 330 megabits per second (Mbps).
This new technology will be rolled out to 10 million UK homes and businesses by
the end of 2020 and the majority of premises within a decade.
Volunteering is also a core element of BT's strategy. Last year, BT people in
the North West contributed more than 4,000 volunteering days to worthy causes,
amounting to in-kind support of more than £1.3 million. Across the UK, the
figure is 50,500 days, worth more than £15 million.
In addition, MyDonate; BT's commission free online fund raising service; has
helped to raise more than £2.4m for charities across the North West.
Mike Blackburn added:- "It's evident BT people throughout the Merseyside
and the North West really want to make a positive contribution to the
communities in which they live and work. Every day BT employees help millions of
people to communicate, do business, be entertained and stay informed."
UK wide, BT's total GVA contribution is assessed at £18 billion. The company
supports 217,000 jobs directly and indirectly and last year spent £6.5 billion
with UK based suppliers. As a result of the full economic impact of BT, the firm
supports £1 in every £80 of GVA in the UK economy and one in every 110 UK
employees.
The full report is available at:-
BT.Com/Reports
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