Telecoms company BT has signed a ten-year, �306 million contract with consulting firm Accenture. The new deal extends Accenture's previous contract to provide HR services to BT employees and pensioners in the UK. This new human resources contract greatly expands BT's personnel services to its global workforce.

Starting August 2005, Accenture will expand its service coverage, and provide more HR services -- recruitment, pensions, payroll administration, and health & safety -- to BT employees in 38 countries.

alex Wilson, BT's human resources director, said, "Accenture HR Services has a proven track record of consistently high quality service and a true partnership approach. These were key factors in its selection, along with its unmatched ability to deliver HR services on a global basis." He added, "This agreement will allow our staff to concentrate even more on the strategic role of HR management to our growing global business."

David Clinton, president of Accenture HR Services, said, "This is a tremendous vote of confidence in the industry, in the business value of outsourcing, and in Accenture's ability to deliver a consistent level of global support to multinational clients aiming to achieve high performance in their businesses."