- Communities Secretary confirms dual headquarters in
Wolverhampton
- First Government Department to have Ministers working outside
of Whitehall
- Move to the Midlands will increase jobs in the region to over
500
- Move forms part of wider plans to move roles out of
Westminster and to have more representation outside of London
In a key milestone for the Government’s levelling up agenda,
Communities Secretary Rt Hon MP today (Saturday 20 February) confirmed that the
Government will create a second headquarters in Wolverhampton
with at least 500 Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local
Government (MHCLG) Group roles set to be based across the West
Midlands by 2025 – with further increases planned by 2030.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG)
is leading the way and the new HQ in Wolverhampton will include
the presence of ministers – making it the first such ministerial
office outside of London with a regular ministerial presence.
Senior civil servants will also be based in Wolverhampton,
ensuring this becomes a centre for policy development and
decision making.
This historic move signals a culture change in civil service to
give a stronger voice to communities in our mission to level up
opportunity and prosperity across the regions. This is a
significant increase on the 300 roles currently in the region and
is part of plans to have at least 800 roles outside of London by
2030 – including 50 per cent of the most senior positions. This
will ensure that more local voices are reflected in the creation
of Government policy.
These moves will help provide an economic boost to these areas,
bring a greater variety of voices and experiences into the Civil
Service and provide improved career paths outside of Whitehall.
Recruitment is already underway, with 40 roles already relocated
to the region in the last 12 months. A further increase in the
number of roles is set to occur by 2030.
MHCLG will be working in partnership with other Government
Departments to improve collaborative working and develop greater
career options outside London so we retain talented civil
servants based outside of London. We expect to announce the new
building for the headquarters in the Spring.
Communities Secretary said:
“As Communities Secretary, I am determined to spread opportunity
and prosperity to every part of our nation. That is why I am
delighted to be taking the historic step of moving significant
numbers of senior roles out of Whitehall and creating the first
ever ministerial office outside of Westminster in Wolverhampton –
increasing the jobs in the Midlands to over 500.
“With a dual headquarters in Wolverhampton my department will not
only change where we work but how we work, signalling the end of
the Whitehall knows best approach. All of us at the department
are looking forward to having the opportunity to work there.
“This Government knows that by having more local voices at the
heart of our policy development and delivery, we will support our
communities more effectively, and we will continue to develop
greater career options in Government outside of London.
“In choosing the city of Wolverhampton we are also backing our
great smaller cities, some of which have been neglected for too
long. We want to raise their stature, encourage civic pride and
commercial success.”
ENDS
Further Information:
- MHCLG will be working in partnership with other Government
Departments to improve collaborative working and develop greater
career options outside London
- Further information on the building in Wolverhampton that
will house the new second HQ in the region will be announced
later this year.
