By Sohaib Shams
BT Group has shed another 18,000 jobs since the end of March as part of an ongoing cost‑cutting programme that helped lift pre‑tax profits 12% year‑on‑year to £1.1 billion in the six months to September 30. The telecoms giant’s total workforce fell from 108,000 to 90,000 over the half‑year to the end of March, an 11% drop driven largely by reduced staffing needs in its Openreach division.
Workforce reduction driven by Openreach changes
Most of the job losses stem from fewer roles required across Openreach as the company lowers resources following the peak of its fibre network build. The restructuring is part of a drive to slash billions of pounds in costs by 2030. BT said in May it was raising its cost‑savings target by a further £700 million and extending the restructuring programme to the end of March 2030, aiming for a workforce of about 75,000 by then, down from 130,000 including contractors in 2024.
TalkTalk rescue protects jobs and customers
Last month BT rescued telecoms firm TalkTalk from administration for £400 million, safeguarding 900 jobs at TalkTalk’s Salford base and securing telecoms supply to 2.5 million households and vital public‑service customers such as hospitals and schools. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy invoked a Public Interest Intervention Notice, ordering a speedy Competition and Markets Authority investigation with a reporting deadline of October 19. BT must ring‑fence TalkTalk and run it separately while regulators assess the deal.
Cost‑saving targets extended to 2030
The company’s cost‑savings target has been lowered to about £3.5 billion a year to account for the separation of its international business, down from £3.7 billion previously. When the international arm is spun out into a joint venture with US mobile firm Verizon, BT expects to retain roughly 65,000 to 70,000 workers.
International joint venture with Verizon
Chief executive Allison Kirkby said the UK‑centric strategy and transformation were delivering, with £312 million of annualised savings achieved in the first half. She added that the proposed international joint venture with Verizon is progressing at pace and that the TalkTalk acquisition protects millions of customers while creating value for stakeholders.
