Government brings forward
target to relocate 22,000 roles out of London from 2030 to 2027 -
demonstrating the success of the Places for Growth programme and
bringing positive change for communities more
quickly.
New commitments for the
north of England, Scotland and Wales, building on the commitment
to Levelling Up and spreading opportunity across the
country.
Second headquarters
locations for three government departments announced in Aberdeen,
Darlington and Greater Manchester and over 300 hundred government
roles will be located in Wrexham.
The Government is bringing forward
its target to relocate 22,000 roles out of London from 2030 to
2027.
It comes as new figures today show
that 16,061 roles have already been moved out of London,
exceeding our commitment to relocate 15,000 roles by 2025 and
underlining the success of the Places for Growth
programme.
Under new plans, it’s also being
unveiled that Aberdeen, Darlington and Greater Manchester are to
host second headquarters for major departments – building on the
Prime Minister’s leadership in establishing Darlington as the
Treasury’s second headquarters as he takes the long-term
decisions to change this country for the
better.
The move, announced today, also
comes as it is confirmed that Wrexham will benefit from 300 extra
roles, which underlines the Government’s commitment to Levelling
up and spreading opportunity across the
country.
The Government’s Places for Growth
programme is helping grow the economy across the whole UK, with
estimates showing that £30 million in economic benefits are
generated per 1,000 roles relocated, due to increased footfall
and spending from staff.
Minister for the Cabinet Office
said:
“We are taking the long term
decisions to move government roles out of London so more people
from our great towns and cities can play a direct role in
changing this country for the better.
“We have already gone above and
beyond our targets, bringing the best talent from every corner of
the UK into government roles, to make our civil service more
efficient and representative of the wider
public.”
The announcements today include new
second headquarters for the Department of Business and Trade in
Darlington, and the Department for Science, Innovation and
Technology in Greater Manchester.
To further strengthen the Union and
place key decision making roles in every corner of the UK,
Aberdeen has been chosen as the location of a second headquarters
of the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero, in addition to
Salford.
Previously, under the Government’s
Aberdeen City Regional Deal, it was agreed that £90 million of
funding would be directed toward the city’s Net Zero Technology
Centre, which is working to help decarbonise the oil and gas
industry.
Scottish Secretary said:
“It’s great news that the UK
Government’s Department for Energy and Net Zero is opening a
second headquarters in Aberdeen.
“It demonstrates clearly the UK
Government’s commitment to the North East of Scotland and to our
oil and gas and renewables sectors. They both have a vital role
in ensuring our energy security and assisting with our transition
to net zero. The UK Government will continue to support these
industries."
Wrexham is also set to benefit from
a fresh drive in Civil Service growth from
today.
The Department for Work and
Pensions is committed to recruitment to fill 270 new roles which
will be based in Wrexham, as well the Ministry of Justice who
have committed to place 50 roles in Wrexham rather than
London.
Welsh Secretary David TC Davies
said:
“More than 300 jobs moving to
Wrexham is fantastic news for the economy of north east Wales. It
shows once again the UK Government’s commitment to improving how
services are delivered to the public while bringing greater
opportunity and jobs to areas across the
country.
“There are already more than 30,000
UK Government civil servants working in Wales and we will
continue to relocate government roles outside London as part of
our commitment to level up the UK.”
Secretary of State for Science,
Innovation and Technology 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.”
Energy Minister said:
“The announcement of a second
headquarters for our Department in Aberdeen underlines the
importance of North East Scotland in our Net Zero
transition.
“An Aberdeen base puts those
working in the department closer to those working in the crucial
oil gas and renewables industries – both the companies and the
tens of thousands of their workers who play a vital role in our
energy supply – and I am delighted to see this happen.”
