Openreach has announced a recruitment drive across Scotland creating 40 jobs in the Highlands and Islands and 25 in the north-east.
In 2022, more than 500 positions will be filled as part of Openreach’s multi-billion pound investment in its broadband network.
The recruitment drive will also train 390 apprentices to help expand the full-fibre broadband network that will reach over 25 million homes by December 2026.
Over 500,000 homes in Scotland are connected to the network however, no homes in the Highlands have yet received access to superfast broadband through the R100 programme.
Openreach is looking for people from across Scotland, including 40 people for the Highlands and 25 in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.
The telecoms giant also wants more women to join the company following a record year of female recruitment.
In 2021 a record 17% of trainee recruits within Openreach were female which, is triple from 2020.
While the workforce is majority male, the company has used more gender-neutral language in its job adverts to attract more female employees.
Openreach already has over 3,700 workers across Scotland, employing the nation’s largest telecoms team and the new jobs are likely to make it a more diverse team.
‘Apprenticeships are a key’
Employment Minister Richard Lochhead and Moray MSP said: “Accessing fast and reliable broadband has never been so important.
“Building on the early success of our Young Person’s Guarantee and our ongoing significant investment in education, employability and skills, these additional 500 high-quality jobs being created by Openreach will increase opportunities across Scotland.
“Apprenticeships are a key way for all employers to continue to invest in their workforce, providing core skills the economy needs now and in the future.”
Several of Openreach’s new employees come from different backgrounds which, were affected by the pandemic and their role gives them a new work opportunity.
Natasha Carswell, from Carnwath in Lanark, joined Openreach last year after a career as a hairdresser.
She said: “During the pandemic, I lost my dad, which made me decide to take life into my own hands and make it a little more exciting.
“I want to do something that excites me and is different every day. People do get surprised to see a female engineer at the door.
“I absolutely love when I have a senior customer and doing one extra wee thing, like helping them set up the phone, can make their day and leave you with a warm fuzzy feeling.”