DIGITAL network provider Openreach is seeking to hire 33 trainee engineers in Worcestershire as part of its biggest ever recruitment drive.

The announcement follows news that Openreach will accelerate plans to build more ultrafast broadband across the country.

The 33 roles, part of 3,500 to be recruited across the UK during the next 12 months, will be located in Bromsgrove, Inkberrow, Kidderminster, Severn Stoke, Stourport and Worcester.

The trainees will join the UK’s largest team of telecom engineers working to expand, upgrade, maintain and install new services over Openreach’s national broadband network.

Clive Selley, chief executive of Openreach, said: “These trainee engineers will be playing a vital role in the future success and prosperity of the UK.

"Over the last year our 22,200 engineers have been the driving force behind government reaching its target of making superfast broadband available to more than 95 per cent of the country, whilst also improving our customer service performance."

“Every day, Openreach engineers are working in all weathers across the length and breadth of Britain, connecting homes and businesses and making sure people can access the high quality broadband services they need.

"We are already investing in upskilling our engineering team and today’s announcement of new jobs, including 33 in Worcestershire, underlines our commitment to make our Fibre First programme a reality - future-proofing Britain’s broadband network and supporting emerging mobile technologies like 5G.”