Viberoptix has launched a new “fibre campus” at Newton Rigg near Penrith to train engineers in the specialist skills required to support the roll out of full fibre broadband networks to more than 60,000 hard-to-reach homes and businesses in Cumbria.
The Viberoptix Newton Rigg Fibre Campus is located within the former agricultural college and will be the nucleus to deliver the company’s role in Protect Gigabit, the UK Government’s flagship programme to introduce reliable, gigabit-capable broadband to rural communities.
The latest phase of this scheme, valued at £108m, was awarded to Fibrus and the infrastructure needs will be met by the team at Viberoptix.
The new fibre campus will house a specialist training academy, as well as several Viberoptix offices to base their growing workforce in the area.
In order to complete the expansion of the new full fibre network, the company plans to grow its team and will be providing additional employment opportunities in Cumbria for 300 to 400 people.
New recruits and apprentices will be welcome from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines, and full training will be provided through the academy.
Viberoptix aims to replicate the success of its training academy in Coalisland, Co Tyrone, but on an even larger scale with twice the capacity of the original facility.
The Newtown Rigg campus will allow Viberoptix to maintain apprenticeship programmes, while also continuing to provide ongoing training and development to experienced staff and contractors.
Viberoptix chief executive Naomhan McCrory said: “This is an exciting time for Viberoptix, as we prepare to open our new fibre campus and welcome new apprentices to the team in Cumbria.’’
Work is already under way at the site and it is set to open soon, with the first apprentices expected to start their courses this month.
