New research from Three UK shows that 49 per cent of young people do not have access to adequate technology at home.

The survey of 700 11-17 year olds found the digital divide is leaving millions of young people behind, with 33pc not having access to a laptop or computer.

Those surveyed were worried about how having no access to basic tech could impact their future. Of those without a laptop or computer, 71pc find it difficult to apply to jobs or complete schoolwork, while 50pc were worried about the effect on future employment.

Research revealed that 27pc of young people want to access the latest technology outside of school and college, so Three UK has launched a pilot campaign to supercharge three youth clubs.

Located in Leeds and Birmingham, Three will provide high speed Wi-Fi and Lenovo tablets to The Hamara Centre,  Hall Green Youth, and the Shard End Youth Centre.

Access to tech has been identified as a key benefit to youth clubs, with 75pc of those attending youth clubs hope their club can provide access to technology. 

Elaine Carey, Chief Commercial Officer said: “Access to technology and connectivity has never been more important for young people across the UK. It has become an integral part of their day-to-day life, from aiding them in their studies, to providing them with a creative outlet or simply in communicating with their friends out of school.

“However, the digital divide very much remains. That’s why we wanted to look at how we could support young people who might not have access to the tech they need at home. We’re really excited about partnering with the Hamara Centre, Hall Green and Shard End on this initiative; both in providing them with connectivity and technology and in supporting the incredible work that they are already doing for the local community.”

Three UK has switched on its 5G network in 86 new UK locations including tourist hotspots and rural and coastal areas. 

Three has doubled the number of 5G sites in the last year to 3,200 and hotspots such as North Devon, Torbay and Great Yarmouth are some areas that have benefited from tourists using their devices to enjoy holidays.

Its recent report ‘Appy Holidays’ reveals that 58 per cent of Brits who go on holiday would be less likely to choose accommodation with poor mobile phone network coverage and 42 pc would decide not to visit a place for the same reason.

Of the 2000 surveyed, 68 per cent of Brits said mobile connectivity is important when thinking about booking a trip, with 24 pc unlikely to visit a holiday destination if reviews said the area had poor coverage.

Three UK chief commercial officer Elaine Carey said: “Whether it’s a coastal trip to the seaside, a quiet cottage getaway, or a city break, there is an expectation from holidaymakers that they will be able to stay in touch with friends and family, make use of online review and booking platforms, and post about their trip on social media.”

Good connectivity contributes to £3.4 billion per year in new revenue for British tourist businesses and Three’s ongoing network investment will help support the staycation industry. 

Carey added: “We are committed to playing our part to ensure we continue to provide excellent coverage for all.

“That’s why we’re investing £2m every day in the network to rollout the UK’s fastest 5G network which now covers more than 56 pc of the UK’s population.”

Three has developed its Reconnected programme with new partnerships to support Ukrainian refugees displaced due to war, unemployment and social mobility.

Reconnected will allow customers to donate their old phones which Three, in partnership with Genuine Solutions, repackages with unlimited data, texts and calls for six months.

These devices will go to Ukrainians seeking refuge in the UK, and those seeking employment, disadvantaged students and other vulnerable groups facing digital exclusion can also benefit for this scheme.

The programme focuses on three parents who can help tackle key issues of society today: Good Things Foundation, Business in the Community, and LetsLocalise.

Three chief commercial officer Elaine Carey said: “So many of us take our phones and our connectivity for granted. We must remember that there are more than a million households in the UK that do not have this luxury. 

“Our Reconnected programme is all about ensuring disadvantaged people can get connected quickly and easily.” 

Genuine Solutions director Gurjit Dhillon added: “We’re encouraging people not only to donate their old ones when they upgrade, but to dig out smartphones hidden away in drawers and ensure they are either donated to one of our key charities – or refurbished or recycled. 

“This way we can ensure your phone either goes to someone in critical need of it, can be given a new lease of life, or be sustainably recycled.” 

Three UK and Cellhire have announced new support for Ukrainians as a way for them to stay connected in Ukraine and elsewhere.

Three UK will provide Ukrainian refugees arriving in the UK with a free 30-day preloaded Pay as You Go SIM card, including unlimited domestic calls, texts and data within the UK.

Preloaded SIMs are available for free to Ukrainian refugees in the UK via Three’s 311 stores.

Three UK and Ireland chief commercial officer Elaine Carey said: “As a mobile network, the best way we can support is to ensure refugees arriving in the UK from the conflict and customers currently in Ukraine can stay connected to the people who matter to them.”

Support for journalists and customers

Cellhire will use its eSIM based mobile network ‘eSIMsmart’ to provide mobile connectivity over-the-air to journalists and news media customers in Ukraine.

Cellhire group CEO Martyn Stevens said: “The eSIM based mobile connectivity is essential to ensuring individuals are contactable and have a communications lifeline.

“Cellhire is supporting many companies, broadcasters and media journalists that are already on the ground or heading to Ukraine to report and broadcast on the situation.

“Our eSIM solution is an essential lifeline in these crucial times, keeping users on the ground connected.”

Three UK has announced that its retail staff will receive new hourly salary rates exceeding the real National Living Wage.

Employees hourly rates will be set at £10.13 nationwide and £11.40 in London which also surpasses the London Living Wage.

The pay increase applies to all staff regardless of age, and performance-related bonuses will still be paid as well as benefits such as private medical insurance, free flu vaccines and retail discounts.

Three UK’s chief commercial officer Elaine Carey said: “Our retail staff are at the core of our business and I am delighted to announce this increase in base salary as a reward for their continued hard work, particularly throughout the pandemic.

“Now more than ever, good mobile connectivity is critical to how we all live and work, so it’s right that we reward the people who serve our customers day in, day out.

“I’d like to thank all of my colleagues for their continuing contributions to our business and our goal of delivering better connectivity, every day for every customer.”

Three UK are currently recruiting with over 100 retail jobs available across the country, particularly in Central London, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow.

Three UK has announced it is providing unlimited data upgrades for disadvantaged school children in England following nationwide school closures.

The move has been made to help support school children with their studies as studies are carried out remotely from home.

The operators’ data offer comes hours after UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the  immediate closures of schools in England, with the coronavirus pandemic worsening.

Schools are entitled to request the data upgrades if a child has no internet access at home, through the Department of Education’s ‘Get Help With Technology’ programme.

This unlimited data will be applied until the end of the school year in July.

Three UK chief commercial officer Elaine Carey said: “Education is crucial for everyone in society and it is vital no child misses out. Three UK wants to support those families that need access to connectivity to support their child’s learning needs during the pandemic.”

During the pandemic Three UK has also zero-rated access to NHS websites and video consultations, and offered free unlimited data upgrades to NHS frontline staff.

Three has chosen software and services provider Amdocs to be its lead Systems Integrator for the growth of its B2B services offerings.

The multi-year deal will see Amdocs build an omni-channel digital business system that will enable Three to offer its enterprise customers scalable services.

It will also see some of Amdocs’ services incorporated into Three’s existing enterprise offerings, as well as the development of a mobile application for businesses to have a consumer-like digital experience.

This builds on Amdocs’ work with Three Ireland last year, which saw it modernise the MNO’s IT infrastructure and operational management, as well as further improve the digital customer experience.

“We have an ambitious plan for the growth of our enterprise operations, building on the successful launch of our SME offer, Three Means Business, in 2019,” said Three’s chief commercial officer Elaine Carey.

“This partnership with Amdocs will enable us to create modern and innovative solutions that will challenge the status quo and meet the evolving needs of UK businesses. We’re looking forward to working alongside them to provide world-class experiences and exciting new services at speed to B2B customers.”

Amdocs CMO Gary Miles added: “Organisations that focus on customer experience outperform the market by a significant margin. We look forward to working closely alongside Three as it grows its enterprise customer base, delivering exciting new customer experiences.”

Vodafone and Three have outlined their plans for reopening their retail stores on June 15.

Following the announcements from EE/BT and O2, all four MNOs have now outlined their plans to resume retail post-lockdown.

Vodafone will initially open 65 English stores from June 15, followed by a further 300 the week after. It will keep some of its inner London stores closed because of the need for staff to take public transport to reach them.

Vodafone’s stores will have built-in perspex screens at customer service points, and have alcohol hand gel at the entrances. The number of customers inside a store will be limited to maintain social distancing inside.

Additionally, staff will work in set shift patterns so they always work with the same colleagues, and be given a personal stylus to avoid touching with their hands.

Store layouts have been reimagined to allow for better social distancing. One such measurement is the removal of display devices to reduce surface contamination risk.

Staff who cannot avoid taking public transport, or who live with someone in the at-risk category for Covid-19, will still be able to work from home.

Three, meanwhile will reopen more than 250 stores across England on June 15, while its Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish stores will reopen at a later date. Three’s stores will operate on reduced hours of 10:00 to 16:00.

They will also have reduced staff numbers, social distancing floor stickers, and perspex screens at till points, as well as hand sanitiser for customers to use when entering and leaving.

Three UK has confirmed Elaine Carey as its new chief commercial officer for the UK and Ireland.

Carey has worked for Three since 2007, and has been the CCO in Ireland for the past seven years.

She started her new role in March and is tasked with leading the customer and marketing teams across both businesses.

During this time she has helped Three grow its market share from one per cent up to 36 per cent.

Carey was also part of the team that oversaw the acquisition of O2 in Ireland.

She will be working closely with recently appointed CEO Robert Finnegan.

Carey will also look to drive closer ties between the UK and Irish teams for greater collaboration.

Finnegan said: “Elaine’s commercial acumen and drive for results will ensure both organisations benefit from her leadership.

“Her depth of experience as well as her extensive sector knowledge will be invaluable as we take Three Ireland and Three UK forward.”

5G growth

Carey’s brief will be to grow the business, in particular around leveraging Three’s 5G investment.

The operator has the largest amount of 5G spectrum out of all four MNOs.

Commenting on her new role Carey said: “The next few years represent a huge opportunity to grow our UK business, so I am delighted to be taking on the challenge.

“I’m looking forward to bringing Three UK’s customer and marketing teams closer together, using insight and intelligence to develop propositions and campaigns that will really matter for our customers.”