BT4ME - FAQs

Events Calendar

Frequently Asked Questions

1) What apprenticeships do you offer?
We currently offer apprenticeships in:
- Customer Design and Support
- Customer Engineering and Delivery
- Customer Service and Management
- Customer Vehicles and Logistics
- Software Engineering
To apply you must have a minimum of 5 GCSEs
A to C Grade (including English, Maths & IT) and be studying (or have
gained) a minimum of 2 'A' levels A to C Grade/NVQ equivalent.

Being part of our ever-growing software engineering teams will give you
the chance to get involved in the complete software development life cycle,
including application design, development, testing and support.

Being part of the BT software engineering community enables you to
take advantage of continuous professional development and learning,
ensuring your skills are kept up to date. For example, there are opportunities
to participate in technical conferences and master classes on a variety of new topics.

To thrive in software engineering, you’ll need to be excited about how technology will
shape our future. We will teach you how to write good software code and solve complex
problems, following industry best practices like test-driven development and continuous integration and testing. We’re looking for people who are technically innovative, willing to learn, enjoy working as part of a larger team and are excited by the challenge of achieving the seemingly impossible.

2) In which locations are you recruiting apprentices?
We recruit nationwide throughout the year so please ensure you complete your application.
We are looking to recruit NOW for the following roles and locations - Customer Design & Support Apprenticeships in Lincoln and Dundee. Software Engineering Apprenticeships in Ipswich – Apply Now.

3) What happens to my application once I have completed it?
Your application will remain on our system and will be reviewed if a suitable vacancy comes up in your area.

4) What qualifications do I need?
This depends on the vacancies we have on offer. A minimum of English Language and Maths at GCSE grade C or above plus at least 2 or 3 other GCSE subjects at the same grades. These must be stand alone qualifications not contained within other qualifications.

5) Do I need to list all my qualifications in the online form?
Yes we need to see all qualifications you have taken - type, subject, level, grade and year.

6) Can I apply if I only have a student visa or limited right to remain in the UK?
To be eligible for our Apprenticeship you need to have permanent right to work in the UK.

7) Can I retake the quizzes again?
No as this would be unfair to other applicants.

8) What is the difference between an advanced and a higher Apprenticeship?
The entry criteria for an advanced Apprenticeship is GCSE/Level 2. The Apprenticeship will then be at level 3 e.g. BTEC. A higher Apprenticeship requires all the criteria for an advanced Apprenticeship at level 2 but in addition 2 level 3 qualifications at grade C or above. The higher Apprenticeship will study for a level 4 qualification/foundation degree.

9) Are there any age restrictions?
The only age restriction is you need to be of at least minimum school leaving age when you start your Apprenticeship.

10) Do I have to have a driving licence?
For some of our Apprenticeships it is necessary for you to have a full manual motor vehicle UK driving licence before you start. Others you may be required to obtain one, at your own expense, within a year of you joining or your 17th birthday whichever is sooner and for some vacancies you won't need one at all.

11) What if I did not take my qualifications in the UK?
You will need to prove that your qualifications are the equivalent to UK ones. There are a number of companies who will provide a letter of comparability e.g. NARIC. The NARIC website can be found at www.NARIC.org.uk. Please note companies will make a charge for this service.

12) I only have a provisional statement of results, is this OK?
These are not acceptable. We can only accept the original certificates or a certified statement of results. Please check the certificates carefully. If you do not have the original certificates you will need to go the Examining Board to get copies. Please note each examining board will charge you for this service.

13) I am a current BT Employee can I still apply?
You will have to ask your Manager to contact the BT Apprentice Team to talk about internal opportunities.

14) I am a Contractor/Agency person with BT can I still apply?
As you are not directly employed by BT you can apply as normal.

15) I have received an email saying my scores were too low on the quizzes. What does this mean?
You have not met the required minimum standard set. We have set these levels in line with the standard required to achieve the BTEC and other academic programmes within the Apprenticeship.

16) Why do you only accept qualifications at grade C or above?
Due to the requirements of the Apprentice scheme you need to be educated to that level to be able to complete the Technical Certificate, NVQ elements of the scheme.

17) I am no longer interested in the Apprenticeship how do I remove my application?
You need to contact the Recruitment Team via email openreach.recruitment@bt.com who will make a note on your application and why you are no longer interested.

18) I have a criminal record which I didn't declare on my application, what should I do?
In the first instance you need to contact the Recruitment Team via email openreach.recruitment@bt.com if you are successful and are offered a job with BT you are required to complete a criminal record check. If this reveals a criminal record that you failed to declare it may result in disciplinary action including dismissal.

19) I have moved address since I applied how can I amend this?
You need to contact the Recruitment Team via email openreach.recruitment@bt.com who will make a note on your application.

20) I have been invited to a recruitment hub day. What does this involve?
At the hub day you will be assessed with a number of other applicants to see if you are suitable for a BT apprenticeship. Please note if you fail to bring the required paperwork you may well be sent away from the event and your application will be rejected.

21) What paperwork do I need to take to the recruitment hub day?
When you receive your invitation there will be a list of documents we require. Please note failure to supply these documents may mean exclusion from the event. Typically you will need to bring a full in date passport, your driving licence (the card and counterpart) a utility bill or bank statement proving your address in your name. Most importantly you need to bring evidence of all your qualifications this must be the original certificates NOT provisional statements of results.

22) I have been invited to a recruitment hub day but now can't attend what should I do?
You will need to call the telephone number provided to you, which will be shown on your recruitment hub day invite, to let them know. If you are still interested they may be able to put you on another day if there are more hubs in your area for the relevant Apprenticeships. There is no guarantee that we will be able to offer you another seat.

23) I can't find the venue for the recruitment hub, what can I do?
Please refer to the map that was attached to your invitation. If you are still unable to find it please ring the number provided to you, which is on your recruitment hub day invite and they will help you to find it.

24) I have been invited to a recruitment hub day but can't find all my paperwork. Should I still attend?
You will need to ring the number supplied to you on which is on your recruitment hub day invite, to explain. In most cases you will not be able to attend.

25) What is the dress code for the recruitment hub day?
The dress code is smart casual and we recommend trousers/ skirt/ shirt /blouse. Jeans, T-shirts and trainers are not acceptable. Remember you are presenting yourself to BT.

26) I haven't had a confirmation email with details of my recruitment hub day, what do I do?
If you have not received an email 3 days before the hub day then contact the Recruitment Team via email openreach.recruitment@bt.com and they will investigate and send one to you. Check in your Junk Email box before just in case.

27) How will I know the outcome of my recruitment hub - If I have been successful or not?
You may not hear anything for a few weeks if there are more hubs running in your area. Then you will either receive a phone or an email letting you know the outcome.

28) If I have not been successful how do I get feedback from my recruitment hub day?
You need to send an email to openreach.recruitment@bt.com to request your feedback. It needs to be titled Recruitment Hub Day Feedback and you need to put on it your full name, the date you attended a hub day and where it was. Please also note we will not give feedback until all the hub days are completed which may be quite some time later.

29) How do you select candidates for Recruitment Hub Days?
When a vacancy is identified we conduct a search of the local area. Each application is then rated against the type of job and how you scored in your online form. The best candidates are then invited to attend the hub. Your application plays a vital role in the selection process as we use your quiz scores, your qualifications and answer to the written question to mark you. To stand the best chance of being selected your application must be of the highest quality.

30) Will BT pay for my travel to the recruitment hub day?
No, all travel/parking costs have to be paid by applicants.

31) How long does the Apprenticeship last?
The duration is dependent on the type of job you are selected for. Please discuss this with your interviewer.

32) Can I continue my college course whilst doing the Apprenticeship?
The Apprenticeship is full time 36 hours per week Monday to Friday. You may be required to attend courses away from home.

33) What does the Apprenticeship involve?
The content varies on the type of Apprenticeship and type of job you are doing. Typically, you will complete a BTEC and an NVQ, plus all on job training both safety and technical.

34) What is the starting salary and how much does it go up?
Salary is dependent upon the type of role you are offered. You will need to discuss this with the person who interviews you and it will be clearly shown in any contract sent to you. Increases are determined by your performance against set milestones throughout the Apprenticeship.