A report has forecast that the BBC’s commitment to the West Midlands will bring an additional £282m in gross value added (GVA) to the region in the decade to 2031 - this represents an increase of 44% on what otherwise would have been the case.
The independent study done by BOP Consulting in partnership with City-REDI outlines that this growth is driven by the BBC’s decision to invest more in the West Midlands creatively. Since the launch of the Across the UK programme and signing the West Midlands Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in 2021, the BBC has delivered its original commitments in full to the region.
Over recent months, BBC primetime TV shows Silent Witness and MasterChef have gone into pre-production from new bases in Digbeth. BBC Radio 1Xtra has relocated shows and BBC Asian Network has begun consolidating the network entirely in the city by April 2025. Three shows for the new BBC Radio 1 Anthems stream on BBC Sounds will also be made in Birmingham.
With the final episode of daytime drama Doctors having aired, all of the funding will be reinvested into new programming in the region and supporting the retention and development of scripted skills. BBC Studios Drama Productions, who produce titles including Silent Witness, Shakespeare and Hathaway, Father Brown and Sister Boniface are setting up a regional hub and post-production facility in Digbeth.
These investments are part of the BBC’s commitment to transform its impact across the Midlands, whilst the decision to move the BBC Midlands HQ to a new state of the art broadcast centre at The Tea Factory in Digbeth reflects the ambition to accelerate the growth of a new creative cluster in the Midlands, which has brought together a wide range of creative and commercial investors.
Digbeth is rich with industrial and creative heritage, and already home to 500 creative organisations in its unique Victorian warehouses and famous railway arches. Now it is rapidly transforming into a buzzing creative quarter and centre for TV and film production, fuelled by BBC activity, alongside creative partners.
The BBC’s renewed commitment to the region is estimated to generate 910 additional full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs supported by the broadcaster in the region – a 94% increase on the baseline.
As the additional BBC investment strengthens the West Midlands creative cluster, this could drive the creation of an additional 224 firms helping to support a further 7,603 FTE jobs in the region. By 2031 this could lead to 18% more creative sector jobs in the West Midlands, and by 2040, employment opportunities in the creative sector have the potential to double.
The BBC’s increased investment in the region has already helped grow the West Midlands creative cluster – Birmingham is now the second largest UK hub for Banijay Group with Shine and Kudos Knight setting up regional bases after receiving BBC commissions, and with other suppliers like Spun Gold and Full Fat TV also located in Digbeth. Spun Gold have produced Policing Paradise and are now making series 11 of Garden Rescue for the BBC – all from their base in Digbeth.
The BBC has also announced commissioning executive Mark Harrison will have a permanent role based in the Midlands. Mark will lead on commissioning for events and current affairs, Midlands and the North.
Tim Davie, BBC director-genera,l said: “This report highlights the scale of the opportunity for both the BBC and the region in the years ahead. We believe in making world-class content from Digbeth, putting the people and the place at the epicentre of the creative industries while reflecting their stories. We will continue to work closely with our partners and the authorities across the sector to keep pace with our ambition to unlock the full potential of the West Midlands.”
Mayor of the West Midlands and WMCA chair, Richard Parker, said: “I want the West Midlands to become the beating heart of the UK’s creative economy, and the BBC’s commitment to our region is a powerful step toward that vision. We’re dedicated to equipping local people with the skills they need for exciting roles in film, TV, gaming, and other creative industries, opening doors to meaningful careers.
"This region has always been a home for innovators and changemakers, and our young, diverse population is brimming with creative thinkers ready to make their mark. The BBC’s investment, along with continued support for the creative arts, will bring even more global attention to the West Midlands and highlight the remarkable talent our communities have to offer.”
The BBC is actively working with partners in the Midlands, including the West Midlands Combined Authority and Create Central to grow its investment over the coming years and increase its economic impact further. This report sets out a blueprint for growth, with further support required from public and private investment.
