THE BBC is increasing the number of staff posts moving to Salford in 2011 by almost ten per cent, it announced today.
It means the total number of jobs transferring north to Media City will rise from just under 1,500 to over 1,620.
At least 130 extra posts are thought to be involved in the expansion of the BBC’s original plans – and even more could follow.
The additional jobs relate to staff in the BBC Future Media and Technology (FM&T) division and Radio Five Live.
BBC chief operating officer Caroline Thomson said: “As part of the BBC’s drive to become less London-centric and more deeply rooted in the whole of the UK, we will be moving a significant number of additional staff to the new media centre in Salford Quays.
“Salford is the future for the BBC. So I’m delighted to say that there will now be an even stronger presence for BBC Future Media and Technology in Salford than originally thought.
“This will include the central Future Media team that leads the development of the BBC’s offering across the internet, digital TV and mobiles, and also the Media Research and Innovation team.
“These are two of our most important businesses and, together with Future Media colleagues supporting programme-making areas based in Salford, it brings to over 500 the total of FM&T staff who will be based in Salford by 2011. All of this will strengthen Salford’s place as a true network centre.”
Boldest
FM&T director Ashley Highfield described it as “the boldest move we can make in helping to shift the centre of gravity of the BBC”.
The increase in the Radio Five Live move involves bringing more journalists to Salford and scrapping plans to retain a small news team in London. It also includes a number of BBC News staff working for the station and network news.
Ms Thomson added: “Radio Five Live news programmes will now join the rest of the radio station and there will be an increased national newsgathering presence with the creation of a news hub with additional correspondents.
“With a stronger BBC presence, there will be an even greater potential for Manchester, Salford and whole of the north of England to become a world class centre of media innovation and technology for the 21st century.”
The switch north of five departments – also including BBC Sport, Children’s BBC and BBC Learning – will cost some £250m.
But it will also enable the BBC to realise an estimated £300m through the sale of Television Centre in London by 2013.
In addition, some 800 existing BBC staff in Manchester will move to the mediacity:uk site when their current HQ in Oxford Road closes.
Last year BBC director general Mark Thompson told the MEN that he hoped to expand the overall number of staff posts being moved to Salford.
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BBC to increase staff in Salford
January 11, 2008
Artist's impression of Media City in Salford
Showing comments 1 to 6 and replies | View All
ebble (12/01/2008 at 01:53)
If the Manchester region is to thrive we must do without tax-financed public sector jobs like these. Regions that depend on such jobs are the most economically depressed in the UK. The BBC's move to Salford is a sign of failure for Manchester and its surrounding towns.
Kurt Stephens, Sale (12/01/2008 at 08:23)
With major investment like this and the Bank of New York hopefully the region can moving onwards and upwards in attracting more and more high quality investment.
Technobabble, Manchester (12/01/2008 at 19:19)
Of course it would be wonderful if businesses moved from the black hole that is London to Salford on their own recognisance. Unfortunately commercial companies are not interested in taking such steps on their own, and it’s up to public institutions to act as pathfinders precisely because they don’t have that financial imperative.
In this particular case where the BBC leads (with 1600 jobs no less) others will follow; there will be plenty of other private companies that support broadcasting who will want to (or need to) also move to Salford Quays, thus creating even more employment. I’ve read a figure somewhere that ultimately there could be 15,000 people employed at this mediacity complex, so maybe instead of knocking the project you might think about giving it a chance, because without the BBC involvement I really doubt it would have got off the drawing board.
Defiant, salford (14/01/2008 at 09:27)
Quays Mark, Salford Quays (14/01/2008 at 10:13)
The site now consists of 7 cranes with 8 and 9 on the way (crane bases in place). Most of the concrete cores of the new BBC building look to be in place or started, rising to 12-13 stories (maybe more) for the highest cores.
The land for the taller buildings off to the side of the main BBC building (right from the Lowry Centre side) is still being dug and prepared but more temporary cabins are in place off Broadway (the road that runs through the back of the Quays) presumably to house more MediaCIty:UK project staff and a contingent of the BBC (cameramen) looking at the latest articles across the internet.
The current phase of the build occupies 35-40 acres (next to the City Lofts flats) with other phases planned across the water on the Imperial War Museum side.
The overall site is something of the order of 200 acres but no visible signs of development has started outside the main phase 1 area currently. No doubt this will depend on discussions with other media companies being persuaded to join the MediaCity:UK estate.
For a photographic timeline for November / December and beyond (and pictures back to June of this year), go to Google and search on 'media city uk salford quays timeline q4'.
Judging be the pace of the development, there is a big push on to meet the 2010/11 date for the first phase completion.
Those currently thinking about a career in the media by way of a chosen degree (media studies, photography etc.) might be one of the 15,500 new jobs to be created between now and 2011 in the first phase of this build. Also, the price of properties (and especially flats) in the area will almost certainly rise as a result of the considerable development occuring in this location with new flats being built currently.
I have worked as an IT Manager in Salford Quays for 12 years and live in North Bolton. When I first came here, the skyline of the Quays area was relatively flat but now houses such buildings as The Designer Outlet (80 outlet stores), The iconic Lowry and Imperial War Museum Buildings and new flat developments which continue to be built in anticipation of the BBC move and general growth in this area.
Blue Ape With A Drum (14/01/2008 at 10:17)
The BBC is worth defending in many ways though,I can see why Murdoch hates it,as it is a public service, alternative to his dumbed down,rich man's plaything at Sky .