EE To Take On More Apprentices And Hold ‘Techy Tea Parties’ To Improve Digital Skills

EE plans to increase its original target of taking on 500 new apprentices by the end of 2015 to 1,300, while it will also hold a national ‘Techy Tea Party Day’ on 9 September as part of its plans to boost youth employment and tackle digital exclusion across the UK.

In its second annual responsibility report, the mobile operator reiterated the commitment it made last year to improve the digital skills of one million people

EE said in the past year, one in five customers who interacted with the company online or in-store felt their digital skills had been enhanced, while 136,000 e-safety advice brochures have been distributed and 160,000 visits to its digital skills consumer and business websites have been recorded.

EE digital skills

The company added that 1,069 people had attended digital skills sessions with EE employee volunteers, of which 95 percent had learned about technology. EE says its Techy Tea Parties have been awarded the Prime Minister’s Big Society reward and that it plans to build on the success of the scheme by holding a national day of similar events.

Techy Tea Parties will be held in all of EE’s stores, offices and contact centres, while the operator will also work with its charity and corporate partners and will make resources available so that anyone can host an event, which will teach basic online skills, how to send texts and emails and safety advice.

“Having a positive impact on the communities around us is key to our business. It’s one of the reasons that we pioneered 4G for Britain,” explains Olaf Swantee, EE CEO. “For us to continue to build this infrastructure, and deliver further benefits to the UK, we want people up and down the country to join us, stay with us, and for our communities to be prosperous. Delivering this will not only be beneficial for our company – but for the country and the people and businesses of Britain too.”

This commitment extends to the environment as well. During 2013, EE reduced carbon emissions by nine percent and waste to landfill by 45 percent compared to 2012. It now plans to reduce emissions by 30 percent compared to 2010, while it is keeping the same target of reducing waste by half compared to 2011.

Earlier this month, Vodafone said it was going to open 150 shops and create 1,400 jobs as part of a £1 billion investment in its network and associated services during 2014.

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