Virgin Media creates 400 jobs ahead of network expansion

Virgin Media has announced that it is planning to create more than 400 new graduate, intern, and apprenticeship roles over the course of 2021.

The new hires will assist the company in building and maintaining its gigabit infrastructure, as well as continuing to expand its network to connect new homes and businesses as part of its ‘Project Lightning’ programme. The telecoms giant is planning to roll out gigabit speeds across its entire network of more than 15 million homes by the end of 2021.

The 400 new roles are to be created in a wide range of areas, from network engineering operations and construction, to finance, marketing, project management, and sales.

Interns will be able to gain experience in finance as well as technology & innovation, while those recently out of education will be able to benefit from graduate schemes in sectors such as commercial, product & marketing, Virgin Media Business, and sales.

As for the apprentices, they will be able to choose from data analyst and scientist roles, as well as software developer and fibre engineer positions. All apprenticeship roles will be on the basis of permanent contracts with the prospect of developing their careers within the company.

In order to coincide with National Apprenticeship Week (8-14 February), Virgin Media has launched 26 roles which are available now in London, Reading, Liverpool, Manchester, Peterborough, Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Leicester, Watford, and Gateshead.

The telecoms giant will continue to expand its hirings to 400 roles over the course of 2021, marking a 163% increase since last year which, due to the financial crisis created by the pandemic, proved to be an exceptionally difficult time for those trying to break into the industry.

Virgin Media CEO Lutz Schüler said that investing in a future workforce is important to the business.

“Our industry-leading gigabit broadband rollout and network expansion means that we are hiring quicker than ever in a diverse and exciting range of roles fit for the country’s top talent. 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,” he added.