BBC investment to boost West Midlands by £282m
A new report has revealed that the BBC’s investment in the West Midlands is set to generate an additional £282m in the region by 2031, marking a 44% increase in growth.
Since launching the “Across the UK” programme and signing a Memorandum of Understanding in 2021, the BBC has been keeping its promises by focusing on creative investment in the region.
Recent moves include the relocation of BBC Radio 1Xtra and BBC Asian Network shows to Birmingham, along with new productions like Silent Witness and MasterChef based in Digbeth.
BBC Studios Drama Productions, known for shows like Silent Witness, Shakespeare and Hathaway, Father Brown, and Sister Boniface, is also establishing a regional hub and post-production facility in Digbeth.
Peaky Blinders creator, Steven Knight has set up regional bases in Digbeth following BBC commissions, alongside other suppliers like Spun Gold and Full Fat TV.
Spun Gold, known for producing Policing Paradise, is currently working on series 11 of Garden Rescue for the BBC, all from their Digbeth location.
The BBC has also confirmed that Mark Harrison, commissioning executive, will take on a permanent role in the Midlands.
Harrison will oversee commissioning for Events and Current Affairs across the Midlands and the North.
The BBC’s increased investment in the region is expected to create 910 additional full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs, representing a 94% increase from the baseline.
It could also lead to the establishment of 224 new businesses, supporting an additional 7,603 FTE jobs.
By 2031, this could result in an 18% rise in creative sector jobs across the region, with the potential for these employment opportunities to double by 2040.
Tim Davie, BBC director-general said: “This report highlights the scale of the opportunity for both the BBC and the region in the years ahead. We believe in making world-class content from Digbeth, putting the people and the place at the epicentre of the creative industries while reflecting their stories. We will continue to work closely with our partners and the authorities across the sector to keep pace with our ambition to unlock the full potential of the West Midlands.”
