Communities across the West Midlands are set to benefit from new high‑skilled career opportunities after the government announced plans to establish a Transport and Infrastructure Campus in the region.
The new campus will harness local expertise to strengthen public investment and improve infrastructure delivery, bringing together transport, property, housing and transformation specialists from across government departments.
By uniting expertise from the Department for Transport, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and the Cabinet Office, the campus will accelerate major infrastructure projects and support the delivery of the government’s National Infrastructure Strategy.
The strategy commits to investing at least £725 billion in public infrastructure over the next decade, including transport, housing and public services.
The West Midlands is already home to more than 35,000 civil servants, making it one of the largest government employment hubs outside London. The new campus builds on this strength, creating opportunities for people to develop high‑value careers without leaving the region.
This move follows the successful model of existing government campuses, including the Darlington Economic Campus, which has already delivered around 1,000 high‑skilled jobs.
The National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority will lead the development of the campus. A senior civil servant, based in Birmingham, will be appointed as Project Director, working closely with local partners and government departments to grow the campus and spread opportunity across the West Midlands.
By bringing departments together around shared priorities, as well as working alongside local government and frontline workers, the campus aims to support national renewal and improve delivery outcomes.
The new campus will play a key role in supporting the delivery of major government priorities, including:
- The construction of 1.5 million new homes
- The fast‑tracking of 150 major infrastructure projects
- Improved coordination of transport, housing and public investment
Anna Turley, Cabinet Officer Minister, commented:
“The West Midlands is Britain’s transport heartland, and this new campus will harness that regional strength to accelerate the infrastructure projects that communities need.
“I am a firm believer that the best ideas often come from those on the frontline. By moving decision-making out of Whitehall and into the West Midlands, we are ensuring decisions are informed by local expertise and deliver real, tangible benefits for every part of the UK.”
The announcement also complements the recent launch of a new management apprenticeship scheme based in Birmingham. The scheme enables people to progress through the civil service to the most senior levels without needing to relocate away from the West Midlands.
Since March 2020, more than 3,200 civil service roles have been relocated to the West Midlands through the Places for Growth programme, including nearly 1,800 roles in Birmingham.
The programme aims to bring the civil service closer to the communities it serves. Currently, 34% of UK‑based Senior Civil Servants are located outside London, with a target for 50% of Senior Civil Service and Fast Stream roles to be based outside the capital by 2030.
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