Project Gigabit has created more than 3,000 jobs and apprenticeships, government says
New figures from broadband suppliers show more than 3,000 jobs and apprenticeships have been created in England through Project Gigabit, as Telecoms Minister Ian Murray met trainees at Quickline's centre in Hull.
More than 3,000 jobs and apprenticeships have been created in England through the government’s Project Gigabit broadband rollout, according to new figures from broadband suppliers published on Friday.
The government said the national upgrade is supporting skilled roles across the telecoms sector, 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. The roles are part of dozens of Project Gigabit contracts awarded under the multi-billion-pound programme, which targets areas that would otherwise be left behind by commercial broadband builds.
Telecoms Minister Ian Murray met apprentices at Quickline’s Training and Innovation Centre in Hull on Thursday, where trainees are learning the hands-on skills needed to deliver faster broadband. Quickline’s chief executive, Mark Bowden, said the company was “delighted” to welcome the minister and show first-hand the impact the programme is having on rural communities and careers.
The announcement highlighted apprentice Mohammed Ameen, who joined Quickline’s first engineering apprenticeship cohort in October 2024 and secured a permanent role as a fibre installation engineer within six months. The government said 460 roles have been created through the programme in the East Midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber.
GOV.UK’s notes to editors say the figures cover England only: suppliers report jobs and apprenticeships where they have contractual social value commitments, and the true number may be higher including Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The government also said its gigabit programmes have helped upgrade more than 1.46 million premises across the UK through government support, largely in rural areas where coverage is lower.
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