BBC set to create nearly 200 jobs at its new Birmingham talent centre
ALMOST 200 new jobs are set to be created at the BBC in Birmingham as its Mailbox base becomes home to the corporation’s new skills and talent centre.
The BBC Academy, the BBC’s centre for in-house and industry wide training, will move to the city in 2015, alongside the core of the BBC’s HR and Internal Communications.
The academy offers training and development for the UK broadcast industry and will also work with local companies to increase the talent base in Birmingham and the wider West Midlands.
In total, it will move 190 roles to Birmingham by the end of 2015. This is an increase of 100 roles on the 90 announced last year – the BBC’s earlier announcement included roles in a Digital Innovation Unit for Digbeth, the Space digital arts partnership, BBC Trainee and apprenticeship schemes.
Tony Hall, Director-General, said: “Birmingham is a great city, with a history of creativity and innovation. I can’t think of a better place to base the BBC Academy. Its role is to nurture the broadcast stars, programmer makers, and talent of tomorrow. It also provides training and development for the entire UK broadcasting sector.
“The centre for BBC recruitment for the whole of the UK will also be based alongside the academy, in one of the UK’s most diverse cities. This is good news for Birmingham and good news for the BBC – it’s a perfect partnership.”
The announcement has been welcomed by the Greater Birmingham & Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP).
Alongside the Creative City Partnership, the GBSLEP has been working to promote to the strength of digital and creative industries in the region.
Anita Bhalla, GBSLEP board director, said: “The GBSLEP has made no secret of its commitment to working alongside the BBC to strengthen and enhance the BBC’s presence and activity in Birmingham.
“We have been working to present our case to the BBC and show how our creative, digital and cultural industries can benefit the corporation, recognising the mutual benefits of a strong presence in the city.
“The announcement about the BBC Academy is the latest in a series of positive steps that demonstrate the progress that is being made.”
Elsewhere, BT has revealed that it will create 140 new posts in the West Midlands in connection with the roll-out of its high-speed fibre optic broadband.
