Two government departments have confirmed new second headquarters, with even more high-quality civil services jobs being brought to communities away from London.
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has confirmed that it will be establishing a new home in Salford, Greater Manchester, whilst the Department for Business and Trade will be opening up an office in Darlington. This move comes as part of the Places for Growth project that aims to make the civil service workforce more representative of the UK, with 22,000 government roles and 50% of all UK-based Senior Civil Service roles being moved out of London and into other areas.
Ahead of the decision to open a second headquarters in Salford, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology already has almost 200 members of staff working in Greater Manchester. The decision was made with considerations being placed on the fact that the region has historically played a key role in the shaping of innovation in the UK, as well as being renowned for its industrial legacy.
Speaking about the decision to open the department’s second headquarters in Salford, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Michelle Donelan, said:
“Greater Manchester is steeped in a legacy of technological progress, rooted in the Industrial Revolution and long home to scientific pioneers like Alan Turing and Ernest Rutherford.
“By establishing our second headquarters here, we not only tap into a pool of exceptional talent but also ensure that policymakers responsible for the growth of science and technology live and work alongside a dynamic community of sci-tech leaders.
“It is important that the people we serve are placed at the heart of government and that policymakers represent the diversity of our communities. That is why the Places for Growth commitment is so vital in helping to ensure that we can grow our economy and deliver on the Prime Minister’s priorities.”
Darlington Economic Campus will be home to the Department for Business and Trade’s second headquarters, with more than 1,400 civil servants being housed in a new sustainable building that is expected to be completed in 2026. Once completed, the campus will also play host to teams from:
- The Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy
- The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
- The Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport
- The Office for National Statistics
- The Competition and Markets Authority
Mayor of Tees Valley, Ben Houchen, commented on the decision:
“This is hugely significant news for Darlington and supports our vision that Treasury North would just be the start of establishing our region as a key location for multiple government departments.
“It cements our ambitions to bring hundreds more high-quality civil service jobs – so our talented workforce has the chance to stay local and go far in a top career.
“It also means knock-on benefit for the town and our wider region as more staff spend their money here and boost our economy.
“What’s more, we’ll have the ear of even more decision-makers to ensure the voices of Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool are heard and listened to.”
This is not the first time that a major government department has made its home in Darlington, as it was selected to host Treasury North for its 2021 launch, yet as more civil servants make the move to Darlington, around £30 million is set to be generated for the local economy for every 1,000 roles, with this coming thanks to increased footfall and staff spending.
Image credit: iStock
