UK cable operator Virgin Media is to hire more than 400 new employees in graduate, intern and apprenticeship roles this year. The company says that this marks a 163 per cent increase from 2020.
New roles will be available throughout the business, including in operations, finance, marketing, project management, sales, construction and network engineering. There will be around 20 different apprenticeship streams on offer in order to ensure that there are opportunities for all individuals and skill sets.
Qualifications range from Level 2 (the equivalent of five GCSEs) to degree and masters level. All apprentice roles continue to be permanent contracts, providing certainty for apprentices as they develop their careers within the company. This is on top of the 494 apprentices, graduates and interns, taken on by the company in the last two years.
The investment will also be critical in helping Virgin Media build and maintain its fibre network infrastructure and develop new services. The firm aims to roll out gigabit speeds across its network of more than 15 million homes by the end of this year.
Lutz Schüler, chief executive officer at Virgin Media, commented: ‘Investing in our future workforce is at the heart of our business and, year on year, we have doubled the number of opportunities available. Through permanent contracts, on-the-job training and additional qualification opportunities, we are giving hundreds of people the opportunity to develop the skills they need to thrive throughout their career.’
Apprenticeships and Skills Minister Gillian Keegan also commented: ‘I know first-hand the life changing opportunities an apprenticeship can bring - and it’s great to see Virgin Media continuing to invest in apprentices. These apprenticeships offer exciting roles at a range of levels, from a delivery and ops project manager to fibre engineer, highlighting the huge variety of opportunities available to anyone across the country looking to get ahead.’
