Wannabe engineers have been trying their hand at broadband wiring techniques in a recruitment drive run by Tower Hamlets Council’s jobs training service.

East London Advertiser: Hyperoptic engineer shows potential recruits how to wire up fibre optics. Picture: Kois MiahHyperoptic engineer shows potential recruits how to wire up fibre optics. Picture: Kois Miah (Image: Kois Miah)

The authority’s ‘work path’ employment programme has been helping the Hyperoptic fibre optic broadband company which needs recruits to expand its network.

Interest came from 40 people looking for work or wanting to change careers who met the company’s engineers and tried the work.

Interviews and practical tests were held for those interested in pursuing a career in fibre optics.

East London Advertiser: Practical demo... wannabe engineers try their hand at fibre optics wiring. Picture: Kois MiahPractical demo... wannabe engineers try their hand at fibre optics wiring. Picture: Kois Miah (Image: Kois Miah)

“These are the kind of opportunities we should be encouraging people to pursue,” Mayor John Biggs said. “Fibre optics is at the cutting edge of technology in a sector that is only going to grow.”

The company has now taken on 15 recruits to help the rollout of its network across London’s East End and plans to offer free “digital inclusion” training from the Bancroft Estate in Mile End all next month.

Hyperoptic was given ‘best urban network enterprise’ award by the industry in 2012 and later began expanding its network to reach 75,000 homes across Britain, reaching as far as Newcastle and Glasgow.