MORE than 170 have been employed across Somerset as part of a drive by BT to improve customer service.

Openreach, BT’s local network business, has hired 165 new engineers and 17 apprentices in the South West to help install new lines and fix faults faster.

Communities where the latest Openreach recruits are based include Taunton, Yeovil, Wellington, Weston-super-Mare, Crewkerne, Wells and Bath.

More than 130 engineers and apprentices were hired in the region last year.

They are part of a nationwide initiative, which has seen Openreach employ 5,000 engineers and more than 700 apprentices across the UK in the last three years.

Clive Selley, chief executive of Openreach, said: “Improving the service that we provide to customers is my number one priority, and these new engineering recruits will be helping us connect more people on time and fix faults faster.

“Openreach is already rolling out superfast fibre broadband and is helping the Government achieve its aim of reaching 95 per cent of UK premises by the end of 2017. As we take the UK beyond superfast, many of these engineers will also be helping us get ultrafast speeds to up to 12 million homes by the end of 2020.

“We’re making big investments to build and maintain our network, but we recognise there’s much more to do and we want to attract the very best people to help us on that journey.”

BT’s latest results have shown that 84 per cent of faults are fixed within two working days and 93 per cent of new lines are installed on time.

Jon Reynolds, BT regional director for the South West, said: “This latest recruitment represents another major investment by BT in the South West as a leading employer and provider of essential services.

“New recruits are now embarking on exciting careers in a fast-moving industry, which is making a major contribution to the future success of the South West. Already, they are working hard to ensure that local households and businesses get the best possible service whether they have ordered the latest new technology, such as superfast fibre broadband, or simply reported a fault.

“Given our focus on service, we’ve recruited people who can connect with customers and give them a very good experience they’ll remember. In return, they have the opportunity of a fantastic career in a company that’s at the forefront of building the UK’s connected future.”