Plans to move more government jobs out of London to Birmingham and other regional hubs welcomed by civic leaders
Plan to move more civil service jobs to city of Birmingham(Image: Nick Wilkinson/Birmingham Live)
Birmingham has been named as one of 13 locations where more Civil Service jobs will be moved to as part of a government shake up.
Government roles will be shifted outside of London to towns and cities across the country, including Birmingham, in the latest promise to ‘level up’ opportunity.
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden, said: “To deliver our Plan for Change, we are taking more decision-making out of Whitehall and moving it closer to communities all across the UK.
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“By relocating thousands of Civil Service roles we will not only save taxpayer money, we will make this Government one that better reflects the country it serves.
“We will also be making sure that Government jobs support economic growth throughout the country. As we radically reform the state, we are going to make it much easier for talented people everywhere to join the Civil Service and help us rebuild Britain.”
Currently, 13,330 civil service roles are based in Birmingham along with over 34,000 full time equivalent roles across the West Midlands. Some 14 major Government departments have a presence in the region, with more to follow under the plan.
The moves will be detailed in the Government spending review, due next month. The plan is to locate 50% of senior civil servant jobs to regional offices by 2030, and set up an apprenticeship scheme alongside.
Plans to decentralise the civil service and move more offices and jobs into the regions were first announced in 2020 as part of then PM Boris Johnson’s levelling up agenda.
Councillor John Cotton, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said of the Government’s approach: “This is a vote of confidence in Birmingham which will create jobs and help our young and talented population to build careers in the civil service.
“It is great to have a government that cares about all regions of the country, and we will work with the government to ensure that the apprenticeship pilot benefits people in every community of Birmingham.”
Mayor of the West Midlands, Richard Parker, said: “Bringing more Civil Service jobs to Birmingham is good news for our city and for our communities. It means more opportunities for local people to build good careers at the heart of government, without having to leave the region.
“This is part of a wider shift – one I really support – to make government more connected to the places and people it serves. When policy is shaped in this way it stands a better chance of tackling the real issues that impact on real lives.
“Birmingham is already home to thousands of public servants doing vital work. This move will build on that to grow the economy, create jobs and open up new routes into fantastic careers – especially for young people.”