BT has confirmed that it will open its new Manchester office to employees in late 2023.
The New Bailey site is situated close to the city’s Spinningfields business district. BT says that it will have capacity for up to 2,000 employees, more than four times the number currently based in Manchester.
“In the coming months, most colleagues will continue to work from home but when government and public health guidance confirms it’s safe to return to the workplace, BT wants to ensure it has inspiring environments to work in,” the telco said in a statement.
“BT is proceeding with this multi-million investment in Manchester as it strongly believes that brilliant office environments, combined with a more flexible approach to home working, will play a vital role in its future.”
BT has also prepared a temporary office at 125 Deansgate for its northwest employees that want to work in a socially distanced office environment.
BT’s managing director of property and facilities services Graeme Paton said: “Our new buildings will bring our people together in an impressive and modern environment, transforming the way we work.
“Excitingly, they will become strategic locations for BT in the UK with a considerable increase in the number of colleagues based in this city. We hope our colleagues will be inspired by the new spaces, which will give them the tools and environment to be able to thrive. Our building at New Bailey will boast panoramic views over the River Irwell and across the city, as well as incorporating outstanding design features including a rooftop garden and exceptional communal spaces.”
BT regional lead for the north of England Liz Needleman added that the new office space would make BT one of the area’s largest employers.
In opening an office in Manchester, BT is following in the footsteps of tech giants Huawei, who opened an office in Salford last October, and Amazon, who opened a 90,000 square-foot site in January, creating up to 600 jobs. BT currently employs more than 7,000 people in the northwest of England.
