BBC move ‘to bring mouth-watering opportunities’
Lobby group the CBI says the BBC’s move to MediaCityUK, in Salford, could create “mouth-watering opportunities” for creative businesses throughout the North West.
The BBC’s director-general, Mark Thompson, told the CBI’s North West conference on Thursday that the BBC was committed to supporting the whole creative sector.
He said the BBC’s decision to move six departments to Salford, including BBC Breakfast, Children’s, and Radio 5 Live, could help create thousands of jobs in the region.
And Mr Thompson said that, despite mockery from London media, the move to the North had been popular with BBC staff.
Support agencies working with the creative sector, including ACME, in Merseyside, have urged firms in Liverpool to ensure they try to win contracts with the BBC and with other MediaCity tenants, including ITV.
Damian Waters, CBI North West regional director, said: “Mark Thompson gave a passionate and entertaining speech which showed the business community the depth of commitment the BBC has to the move north.
“The CBI believes the move is one of the most significant moments for our regional economy in a generation, and Mark’s speech captured that terrific sense of opportunity and expectation.
“Businesses are now hugely excited by the mouth-watering opportunities this move will create for our region, our economy and local businesses. Having the BBC in Salford will be a huge wealth and job creator for the North West.
“The region’s creative firms, in particular, stand to benefit enormously and they already generate £16bn and employ 320,000 people. So the arrival of the BBC is going to add huge weight to an already dynamic sector.”
In his speech, Mr Thompson said MediaCity would “involve independent producers not just from the North West, but from the whole North.”
The BBC’s research and development arm, Future Media and Technology, is among those moving to MediaCity.
That, said Mr Thompson, showed the BBC was looking to tap into the creativity and innovation of North West firms.
The BBC should, Mr Thompson said, be a “catalyst for the creative industries”.
He pointed to the BBC’s new Pacific Quay studio complex in Glasgow, and its Roath Lock drama centre in Cardiff, as examples of how the BBC is creating creative hubs across the country.
Mr Thompson said the BBC was keen to invest its licence fee income across the UK. The creative sector in London is, he said, big enough not to need a stimulus from the BBC, but other cities could benefit from the Corporation’s clout.
Mr Thompson said the BBC was at its best when covering great communal events, such as the Manchester International Festival and “Liverpool during its great year as European Capital of Culture”.
He added: “The BBC is not new to the area, but it has arrived in good heart and more strength than ever before.
“We are keen to renew old friendships and partnerships, but we are keen to forge new friendships and partnerships.”
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