Telecoms firm ‘worth £150m to region’

The figure is three times greater than previous estimates for the company’s contribution to the East Yorkshire economy.

The report by DTZ Consulting, which was commissioned by KC, found that the firm spent more than two-thirds (68 per cent) of its total outlay with local suppliers in 2010 – double the industry average.

The firm said this shows it was more strongly integrated into the local community than many businesses across the UK. A total of 94 per cent of its employees are local residents.

KC’s commercial and finance director Sean Royce said: “As the main telecoms provider in the region, our infrastructure and services have long provided the arteries for local businesses. What this report confirms is that our community-centric approach means we are playing a key role in the region’s prosperity and that we’re making a major contribution to Hull and East Yorkshire’s bottom line.”

The study found that KC supports more than 1,400 full-time jobs in the region through direct employment, buying from locally based suppliers, and through employee spending.

Mr Royce added: “We’re very proud of our origins in the region and our ethos of supporting local businesses. This comes from a passionate belief that major firms have a responsibility to the areas they operate in. In everything we do, from investing in our network through to the way we manage our supply chain, our ambition is to be a significant driving force for regeneration in Hull and East Yorkshire.”

Associate director with DTZ Consulting Russell Whyte added: “KC looks to be very closely integrated with the local supply chain, spending twice as much with local businesses as we would have expected from a company that size.”