TELECOMS group BT has declared that its annual economic contribution to Scotland exceeded £1 billion for the first time in its last financial year.

A report by Regeneris Consulting concluded that the contribution of BT’s operations to Scottish economic output, on the gross value added (GVA) basis, totalled £1.01bn in the year to March 2015.

The company noted that this was an improvement of £68m on the figure for the year to March 2013, the previous period for which economic contribution numbers were published.

BT declared that the latest figure showed that it was generating £1 of every £115 of Scotland’s economic output.

And BT noted that its annual GVA contribution to the Scottish economy had doubled since 2009/10.

The report also found that BT supported nearly 12,400 jobs in Scotland through direct employment, its spending with contractors and suppliers, and consumption by its staff.

The study notes that BT employs 6,930 people, comprising 6,235 direct staff and 695 contractors, with a total annual employment income of £224 million.

And it says that BT provides work for a further 5,480 people through its spending with businesses that supply its equipment and services, and the spending of employees.

Around £176m was spent by BT with Scottish suppliers in the year to March 2015, the report says. This was up by £52m on the figure for the year to March 2013.

The report says BT has enabled 77 per cent of its employees to work flexibly.

Regeneris found that, at a UK level, £1 in £80 of wealth created was attributable to BT.

BT Scotland director Brendan Dick said: “There are few organisations in Scotland that have a larger impact on the day-to-day life and future prospects of the nation than BT.

“We are one of Scotland’s largest private sector employers and investors – our investment in fibre broadband across the country amounts to hundreds of millions of pounds - and the services that we provide are a vital part of every community.”

He added: “The facts and figures shown in this report highlight the full extent of BT’s contribution to the Scottish economy as we go about the daily business of keeping people connected and introducing new technologies, which are creating fresh opportunities and transforming lives.

“It’s fantastic news that we are now a £1bn business in Scotland and that our impact has continued to grow in the last couple of years, reflecting our ongoing commitment to Scotland and its digital capabilities.”