- Virgin Media’s ultrafast broadband network connects 91% of premises in Stockton
- 500+ members of staff are based at Virgin Media’s Preston Farm facility with over 70 new apprentices recruited in 2019
- Virgin Media will roll-out gigabit broadband speeds to all connected premises by 2021 and is bringing faster connections to new housing developments across the Borough
Virgin Media has pledged its continued investment and network expansion in Stockton-on-Tees in a meeting with Councillor Bob Cook at its Preston Farm office.
The UK’s leading ultrafast broadband provider has more than 500 members of staff based at its Preston Farm office – one of its key four regional hubs in the UK – and Cllr Cook was informed about the company’s 70 new apprentices that have been recruited over the past year.
The site was opened in 1996 and underwent a recent refurbishment which was completed in February this year. A range of staff are based in Stockton including teams dedicated to customer retentions, sales and installs, business and those supporting its broadband expansion programme across the UK.
Virgin Media’s ultrafast broadband network in Stockton
To date, Virgin Media has connected more than 75,000 premises in Stockton to its network – including the first Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) rollout which took place in Ingleby Barwick – which means that 91% of all premises in the area can benefit from its ultrafast broadband speeds of 516Mbps and its leading TV service.
The company has worked with Stockton based contract partners, such as Doocey North East, as part of its expansion and provides connectivity to the Council through Xentrall Shared Services.
Virgin Media has enabled better connectivity to new development sites across the borough including Wynyard Park and is in discussions with other developers to ensure that all new homes in the area are being connected to faster broadband connections.
Colin Brown, Director of Build for the North East at Virgin Media, said: “Virgin Media is proud of its investment and footprint in Stockton. Our state-of-the-art office is home to 500 members of highly-skilled staff who are essential to our day-to-day operations. We’re fully committed to expanding our reach in the area as we connect more homes and businesses to our ultrafast broadband network.”
Councillor Bob Cook, Leader of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, added: “It’s always good to get out and visit companies of all sizes in the Borough, and Virgin Media is one of the biggest employers in the area. As a former apprentice myself, it was really positive to hear about the work Virgin Media are doing to train and develop dozens of new apprentices and to improve broadband connectivity across the Tees Valley.”
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Jamie Clarke, Virgin Media – 0333 000 2984, press@virginmedia.co.uk
Twitter: @VirginMediaCorp
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