BT scraps graduate recruitment scheme

BT has axed its graduate recruitment scheme and said there was no certainty when it might start hiring again, according to the Guardian.

The communications giant is one of the first high-profile companies to scrap its graduate intake scheme, blaming the economic climate for its decision.

The news came as business group the CBI and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development called on the government to do more to prevent youth unemployment soaring out of control.

BT is the UK's ninth-largest employer and has 147,000 workers.

The BBC reported that a BT spokesman said: "In light of the current economic environment and headcount pressures, BT has taken the decision to cease graduate recruitment activity and are no longer running a graduate recruitment programme.

"At the present time, there is no timeline for re-entry."

A survey by the Association of Graduate Recruiters released last month found that the number of graduate vacancies in the UK had fallen by 24.9% this year.