BT generated £379 million for the Kent economy in the past year, according to an independent report published today.

The report, by Regeneris Consulting, says the communications company supports more than 3,800 jobs in Kent through direct employment, the spending of employees and spending with contractors and suppliers.

In employment terms, BT’s impact in the South East for 2014 to 2015 was larger than the region’s insurance sector and around £1.5 billion was spent with regional suppliers.

Its Gross Value Added contribution – the value of goods and services it produced in the area – stood at £379 million in the county, which grew to £3.1 billion across the South East.

Tim Fanning, associate director at Regeneris Consulting, said: “Our analysis confirms the sheer scale and reach of BT’s ongoing economic contribution to the South East and the UK as a whole.

"At the UK level, £1 in every £80 of wealth created is attributable to BT – this is one of the single largest contributions to the UK economy by any firm...” - Tim Fanning, Regeneris Consulting

“BT makes a contribution to every community across the UK. At the UK level, £1 in every £80 of wealth created is attributable to BT – this is one of the single largest contributions to the UK economy by any firm.”

Dave Axam, BT’s regional director for the South East, said: “There are few organisations in the South East that have a larger impact on the day-to-day life and future prospects of the region than BT.

“We are one of the region’s largest private sector employers and investors – our investment in fibre broadband in the South East alone amounts to hundreds of millions of pounds - and the services that we provide are a vital part of every community.

“The facts and figures shown in this report highlight the full extent of BT’s contribution to the local economy as we go about the daily business of keeping people connected and introducing new technologies, which are creating fresh opportunities and transforming lives."

The report, named Social Study 2015 – The Economic Impact of BT in the United Kingdom, comes as BT invests more than £3 billion in the roll-out of fibre broadband in the UK through its Openreach commercial programme.

It has been criticised by the likes of Sky, which says its monopoly on extending broadband across the country has given it an unfair advantage when bidding for major TV contracts to show sport.

In the year to the end of March, BT Group’s revenues reached nearly £18 billion, with pre-tax profits of £2.6 billion.

Nationally, BT’s total GVA contribution was £18 billion. It supports 217,000 jobs directly and indirectly and last year spent £6.5 billion with UK-based suppliers.