EE to recruit 250 new Apprentices for award-winning Apprenticeship Programme

EE on target to reach 1,300 apprentices pledge
250 new roles in Customer Service, retail and corporate divisions as the company continues to enhance core digital skills
Investment in raising awareness of the benefits of apprenticeships in the community to increase through City and Guild Connect Programme

Friday 6 March 2015 – EE, the UK’s most advanced digital communications company, has announced it will be recruiting over 250 apprentices in 2015, which will bring the total number of people recruited through its award winning scheme to over one thousand and put EE on target to reach its pledge to hire 1,300 apprentices.

Since the scheme launched in 2012, EE has invested in over 800 apprentices UK-wide on a variety of frameworks, from intermediate apprenticeships in contact centre operations to advanced apprenticeships in marketing.

This year, EE’s apprenticeship opportunities span across all core business divisions, with 150 based in Customer Service, 100 in retail and 23 in head office roles. EE is also now offering 12-month permanent contracts with bonus entitlements from day one.

Patrick Bradley, Chief HR Officer for EE said: “The success of our Apprenticeship Scheme has exceeded all expectations. Quite simply it is a win-win. Young people benefit from learning new skills on the job, our business benefits from dedicated and hard-working staff and our customers benefit from the very best service. That’s why I’m absolutely delighted to announce plans to expand the scheme further. The feedback we receive from most importantly the apprentices themselves, but also fellow employees and independent organisations, makes me very proud of the programme.”

In addition to recruiting a further 250 apprentices, changes to the EE scheme will include:

Fast-track induction programme
Immediate entry into the bonus scheme

Candidates can apply for consideration via EE’s refreshed Careers page, which will detail all the positions available from April, as well as success stories from existing and former EE apprentices.

All EE apprentices have the opportunity to study toward qualifications including NVQ Levels 2-3 in their chosen area of expertise. The company also plans to expand to offer advanced apprenticeships up to NVQ Levels 4 as part of a number of roles for the first time later this year.

EE apprentices support local community

For the first time EE apprentices have also entered into the National Brathay Challenge and are using the skills they’ve developed through the scheme to help raise money for St Teresa’s Hospice, and also support local colleges and schools in raising awareness of the benefits of becoming an apprentice. The next round of visits will take place during National Apprenticeship Week, March 9 to 15.

Rachel Bell, Customer Service Advisor Apprentice at EE and team captain for the Brathay Challenge said: "I joined the EE Apprenticeship Programme just over a year ago, and haven’t looked back since. I’ve learned so much at work and am really enjoying the chance to give something back to the community, it feels like we’re making a real difference. We’re committed and passionate about what we do and I’m also looking forward to sharing my experiences with other young people in the North East, to help them learn about their career options and the benefits of being an apprentice."

Working closely with City and Guild, EE is also announcing five new apprenticeship ambassadors from across the business, who will be attending schools and colleges up and down the country. They will speak to young people about their career options, giving them the opportunity to ask questions about their experiences as apprentices in one of the UK’s leading digital communications companies.

Skills Minister Nick Boles said, “I am delighted that EE is to create 250 new apprenticeships this year. Apprenticeships make absolute business sense while providing life changing opportunities for young people across the country.”

For more information, please visit http://jobs.ee.co.uk

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Notes to editors

EE’s Apprenticeship Programme is the winner of the BITC Inspiring Young Talent Award 2014

http://www.bitc.org.uk/our-resources/case-studies/ee-ee-apprenticeship-programme

For more information, please contact the EE press team on:

ee@nelsonbostock.com

0845 373 7070

About EE

EE is the largest and most advanced digital communications company in Britain, delivering mobile and fixed communications services to consumers, businesses, government and the wholesale market. EE has approximately 15,000 employees and 580 retail stores, and serves more than 30 million customers across its mobile, fixed and wholesale businesses.

EE runs the UK's biggest, fastest and most reliable mobile network, pioneering the UK's first superfast 4G mobile service in October 2012. EE's 4G coverage today reaches 85% of the UK population. EE’s 2G coverage reaches 99% of the population while 3G reaches 98%. EE's superfast fibre broadband service covers 54% of the UK population, and ADSL broadband service covers 98.7% of the population.

In the last few years, EE has received extensive independent recognition including being ranked the UK's best overall network by RootMetrics®, Best network at the 2014 Mobile News Awards, Fastest Network at the 2013 uSwitch Awards, Best Network at the 2014 Mobile Choice Consumer Awards and What Mobile Awards 2013, Network Innovation at the 2013 Recombu awards and Best Network for Business at the 2013 Mobile Industry awards.

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