read the case study.

 

Build Space is LightSpeed's preferential supplier, and we have been working with them very successfully since May 2021. Having tried and tested many recruitment agencies in the market, all desperate to work with us, Build Space proved to be leagues ahead of all the rest. Both professional and responsive, they certainly understand the fibre market. Additionally, after taking references from all staff that we recruited via Build Space, all confirmed that the candidate experience was exemplary and by far the best  they had experienced. So that made the decision to select Build Space a "no-brainer."
- Mara Cabrelli, Chief People Officer, LightSpeed Broadband
 

Overview 

LightSpeed Broadband is backed by £115 million with the opportunity to raise £300m. Managed by a highly experienced team of broadband experts including Deputy Chairman, Steve Haines; Chief Customer Officer, Joanne King and Chief Technology Officer, Jeremy Steventon Barnes who combined have many years' experience in the telecoms industry, including with BT Group and TalkTalk. LightSpeed's mission is to contribute to digital equality in Britain by 'unlocking the full digital potential' of underserved towns in the UK, focusing initially on the East of England, by providing a full fibre gigabit broadband that is fast, fun stress-free and sustainable, and to become a market leading internet service provider. 

LightSpeed are currently building in 32 towns across the East of England. It started the roll-out of its network in April 2021 in ten towns across South Lincolnshire and West Norfolk - Spalding, Stamford, Boston, King's Lynn, Bourne, Market Deeping, Long Sutton, Holbeach, Skegness, Sleaford. The build has since expanded across a further 22 towns in Norfolk (8), Suffolk (2), Essex (10), Cambridgeshire (1) and Rutland (1). 

As a business, LightSpeed has grown exponentially over the last 12 months. From a standing start they now have a headcount more than 100 employees, over 50% (60 jobs} of which are based in the East of England. LightSpeed are on track to reach 200,000 homes across the region by the end of 2022, and to reach 1 million homes by 2026. 

 

Unique challenges 

A stratospheric growth plan
The scale of LightSpeed's growth is staggering and, as such, presents a unique challenge for hiring processes as they required an immense amount of hires over a short period of time. By streamlining their hiring process with our outsource, in house strategy, we were able to deliver top quality candidates time and again to meet their demand.

Untouched geographical patches
LightSpeed's geographical focus is the East of England, with a base in Spalding and Lincolnshire - an area which previously had little to no infrastructure for telecoms. As such, Build Space were faced with the task of building their team from the ground up, which we were able to take head on with the help of our next-gen technology and deep-rooted industry connections.

A brand new start up
As a new competitor in the comms space, LightSpeed needed to develop their employer brand and promote their workplace culture. Build Space on boarded as a brand champion. We worked with LightSpeed on dual marketing campaigns, salary banding and benefit packages to ensure they stood out to candidates. We conducted a salary benchmarking exercise management inclusive of an exhaustive market overview from which we found LightSpeed were underpaying in the marketplace, and worked with them to set new salary bands. Take up of candidates since has been much faster.

 

Our service level offering 

 

 

Hiring Statistics

LightSpeed Broadband started recruiting in March 2021 and Build Space has been working with LightSpeed since May 2021. And in July, Build Space became their official talent partner, managing all of their team hires on an exclusive basis.