Page 37 - SAMENA Trends - November-December 2019

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

BT Agrees Sale of Spanish Arm

BT reached an agreement to sell its wholesale agreement, BT will continue to company “a more agile and customer-
operations in Spain to private equity have access to the Spanish infrastructure focused business”. In August, BT was
company Portobello Capital, as part of and the company will retain offices in reportedly in talks to sell its Republic of
plans to cut down its Global Services Madrid and Barcelona. BT’s Spanish Ireland corporate business to Mayfair
division and refocus on core operations. In arm provides networking services to 600 Equity Partners for more than £300 million.
a statement, BT said the deal involves the enterprises, and generated around £230 Assets in the Netherlands and Italy are
sale of 5,600km of optical fiber networks million in revenue during the operator’s also reportedly up for sale as part of a £1.1
and three data centers, with completion fiscal 2018/19, covering the period to billion cost cutting program implemented
expected during the first half of 2020 end-March. Bas Burger, CEO of BT Global by CEO Philip Jansen.
following regulatory approval. Through a Services, said the deal would make the

BT Launches New Support for SMEs in Scotland

Small and medium sized businesses marketing plan; how to use data analytics fastest growing sector in Scotland to 2024,
in Glasgow are being given the chance to find new insights; and how to ensure in terms of GVA – growing more than twice
to learn vital digital skills for free. BT is greater visibility online. Event leaders also as fast as the economy overall. This digital
working with Google Digital Garage to covered areas such as growing a business skills gap is costing the UK economy an
deliver the training. The sessions are part internationally and utilizing social media estimated £63bn a year, according to BT’s
of BT’s Skills for Tomorrow initiative - a to reach new customers. This comes off latest Digital Impact and Sustainability
major new program designed to empower the back of BT’s latest research tapping Report. Chris Sims, Managing Director,
10 million people by giving them the skills into SME opportunities and challenges, SME, BT, said: “In this digital era, the fact
they need to flourish for the digital future. heading into the New Year. Almost 30 per is, every SME needs to be a technology
BT has collaborated with leading digital cent of SMEs agree that acquiring the right business to succeed. But, as our research
skills organizations to collate the best digital skills in business and enhancing indicates, many SMEs struggle to keep up
courses and information, in one easy to online presence is a key challenge in the with the pace of technology. We believe
navigate place, with these free resources next 12 months. And, almost 40 per cent of that the key to closing the digital divide is
available to anyone. Everyone is included - Scottish SMEs believe that BT should play in empowering SMEs with the right tools to
from school children to older people; from a role in providing digital skills training. radically improve operations and cement
young adults looking for employment; Scotland faces a digital skills gap, which is business success.” Akash Chopra, co-
to SMEs looking for growth. At BT’s first having a profound impact on the country. founder of Vuabl, who attended the event
Scottish Skills for Tomorrow training The rapid pace of change is leaving people said: “Today’s event provided a useful
event for SMEs held at Glasgow Science behind – as many as 11.3m UK adults and taster of the digital skills any business
Centre, hundreds of businesses received 10% of the UK workforce lack basic digital needs and it’s great that BT is helping
expert advice on how to build a digital skills. The tech sector is forecast to be the businesses take advantage of the latest
technology. Our virtual reality property
company, Vuabl, brings a fully immersive
3D experience to property hunters and
our growth depends on us reaching our
target markets around the world.” Another
attendee, Pamela Kennedy, owner of Adore
Baby who design and make Christening
wear for babies all over the world, said:
“Being a small e-commerce business,
keeping up-to-date with current digital
marketing trends is vital to the continuing
success of our company. The speakers
were great and had a wealth of knowledge,
leaving me excited to implement some
of the many ideas.” The event coincides
with BT’s new services and commitments
to Scottish businesses, including free
upgrades to superfast fiber broadband and
a new team of specialist Tech Experts for
small business customers. This team will

37 NOVEMBER 2019