SOM Development Centres

SOM Development Centres

We updated members last week to express our disappointment at the outcome of the SOM Development Centres, and have now met with Openreach to discuss the issue.



Our initial support for this scheme was based on the positive focus on development, and on the information we were given at the time.  As is our usual practice, we entered into discussions in good faith, but we now believe our members have been badly let down by this process.

We’ve now written formally to Openreach to express these concerns and pressed them for an acknowledgement of how this process has fallen short of our expectations. We are awaiting a formal response and are committing to publication of that exchange of correspondence.

We remain committed to good industrial relations with Openreach, but this does mean that our approach to any future exercises of this nature will be tempered by the outcome of this programme and we’ve made this point very clearly.

Our letter has also covered the following points:

  • We’ve pushed for an appeals process. Openreach have not accepted this point but have acknowledged that individuals have the right to have specific elements of their case reviewed. Prospect will support any member in this. We’re therefore advising affected SOM members to contact our Helpdesk to discuss this. We will support any members who feel the process has not been followed consistently, or who feel particular personal circumstances have not been taken into account during the process.
  • We’ve asked for more information on the options facing those now seeking redeployment. We want there to be clarity on the options available to people. In addition, we’ve asked for information regarding vacancies across Openreach and in the wider BT Group.
  • We’ve flagged concerns about the diversity profile of the SOMs deemed not to have reached the standard, (particularly in relation to age) and have asked for further information on this point.
  • We’ve shared feedback from members which suggest the communications from the company were not clear about the seriousness or possible implications of these Development Centres.

We hope this provides members with some clarity. In the meantime we will continue to support individual members affected by this outcome as best we can, and advise any members in this position who’ve not yet done so to contact us as soon as possible.