Around 1,400 jobs – including 1,000 apprenticeships – are on their way to the West Midlands following the biggest single investment in the UK digital economy for 10 years.

Virgin Media is creating a total of 6,000 jobs across the country under the £3 billion plans, with the entire apprenticeship intake trained at Virgin’s Birmingham headquarters in Eagle Court, Sheldon.

The company, which is owned by US firm Liberty Global, has described the five-year plan as the single biggest investment in broadband digital infrastructure in the UK for more than a decade.

The expansion will see a total of 1,400 jobs created in the West Midlands, including the 1,000 apprentices who will all train at the company’s Sheldon facility.

Virgin Media spokeswoman Dana Hashem said: “There will be 1,400 jobs across the Midlands in total and 1,000 apprentices will be trained at our facility in Eagle Court.

“They will be trained for a variety of roles, including technicians, planners and network engineers.”

The jobs boom was hailed by Prime Minister David Cameron who said: “I welcome this substantial investment from Virgin Media which is a vote of confidence in our long-term economic plan to support business and create jobs by building a superfast nation backed by world-class infrastructure.

“These 6,000 new jobs and apprenticeships will mean financial security and economic peace of mind for thousands more hard-working families across the country. This additional private investment will create more opportunities for people and businesses, further boosting our digital economy and helping secure a brighter future for Britain.”

Tom Mockridge, Virgin Media Chief Executive Officer, said: “Millions of homes and businesses will soon be able to benefit for the first time from broadband speeds at least twice as fast as those available from the other major providers.”

The Virgin Media facility at Sheldon was opened in October 2012 following a multi-million pound investment to create a centre of excellence in customer service operations.