CityFibre and PQMS expand specialist network construction training partnership

CityFibre, the UK’s third national digital infrastructure platform, has extended its partnership with training specialist PQMS in support of its three-year recruitment and training programme to create up to 10,000 jobs constructing full fibre networks across the UK. PQMS, which currently provides specialised training for CityFibre’s build partner’s operatives in Coventry, will now significantly increase its capacity, launching new programmes across two additional sites in Bury and Pulborough.

PQMS courses include Streetworks (NRSWA) and accredited Physical Infrastructure Access (PIA), equipping trainees to deliver both new-build networks as well as utilising BT Openreach’s ducts and poles. In addition, CityFibre and PQMS have designed bespoke training modules specifically for CityFibre’s own PIA network architecture. Particular focus will be placed on Health and Safety training as well as the maintenance of the highest quality of standards.

To ensure the delivery of its £4 billion Gigabit City Investment Programme, CityFibre is supporting its build partners to grow their businesses with long-term contracts for whole-town or whole-city deployments. In addition, it is providing recruitment and training programmes through partners like PQMS to help ensure sufficient skilled construction workers are in place to deliver the huge expansion in concurrent rollouts targeting 8 million premises.

Richard Thorpe, Chief Delivery Officer at CityFibre said: “We are delighted to extend our partnership with PQMS who have proven themselves to be a valuable and ambitious partner in our drive to secure the capacity of our build programme. The training provided is a real opportunity to create a new generation of network construction workers, skilled in the deployment and maintenance of the digital networks of the future. We are already seeing graduates flourish in new roles and we look forward to thousands more joining our ranks and helping us to build a world class infrastructure for the UK.”

Liam Minehane, Chief Executive Officer at PQMS Training said: “PQMS are delighted to be supporting the development of CityFibre’s training programme and to have been awarded a preferred supplier agreement to deliver specialist training to both CityFibre’s staff and their construction partners.”

PQMS is owned by Hexatronic Group, a specialist supplier of fibre optic infrastructure components. Hexatronic is a strategic supplier to CityFibre of passive fibre optic solutions including fibre optic cables, duct, and other network components.

Henrik Larsson Lyon, CEO at Hexatronic Group, said: “We are delighted to further extend our successful partnership with CityFibre. Last year we signed an agreement to supply CityFibre with passive fibre optic solutions totalling £40m and we have been privileged to support them in the rollout of their training programme. By extending our provision of training services across new sites, we will help to ensure that CityFibre and their partners have the skilled workforce at their disposal to keep the build programme moving at pace and that every metre of new network is build to the highest quality standards.”