More new civil servant roles set for West Midlands, ministers announce
More civil service roles are set to move to the West Midlands as part of plans to shift government focus out of London.
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has announced plans to create 175 new roles in Birmingham, on top of 150 roles already based in the city.
It follows the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government's (MHCLG) announcement earlier this year that it will open a new headquarters in Wolverhampton, where up to 300 staff are expected to be based, while the Department for Transport is to open offices in Birmingham and Leeds.
Ministers say that almost 3,000 civil service job roles will be opened up outside London and the South East by 2025, with staffing numbers also set to be increased in Salford, Cardiff, Darlington and Preston.
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said: "We are doubling down on our commitment to level up every region of the UK, so that every part of the country can share in the UK’s future prosperity.
"Our policy developers and decision makers must reflect the communities they serve. Relocating these civil service roles will ensure central government hears the voice of local communities louder and clearer than ever before, while creating hubs of economic opportunity and growth across the UK."
The move has been welcomed by West Midlands Mayor Andy Street, who said: "BEIS is now the third Government department to commit to a significant relocation of staff to the West Midlands, and I am delighted that the Business Secretary and his team have followed in the footsteps of the Department for Transport and MHCLG in showing such faith in our region.
“The West Midlands is already an economic powerhouse, but working with BEIS we have plans to bounce back even stronger from the pandemic, with huge growth in sectors such as life sciences, digital, and the electrification of the automotive industry.
"Having more staff from the department based here will be critical to making these plans happen, and ultimately creating thousands of new local jobs for people living in the region."
Wolverhampton Council leader Ian Brookfield recently revealed that MHCLG staff are set to take over two floors of the city's i9 building this summer.
