BBC ‘Across the UK’: Devil will be in the detail of

18 March 2021

Bectu, the largest union in the BBC, has responded to ‘Across the UK’, the BBC’s new blueprint for the future.

BBC Broadcasting House, London

BBC Director General Tim Davie, has today announced a new six year plan to move the BBC’s creative and journalistic centre away from London.

Responding to the blueprint, Bectu National Secretary Noel McClean said:

“One of the greatest benefits of public service broadcasting is the opportunity to tell the stories of all peoples across the nations and regions of the UK. It is good to see the BBC wanting to build on its strong local offering and prioritise getting closer to communities across the nations and regions of the UK.

“Our immediate concern is the impact on people, our members. As ever, the devil will be in the detail and Bectu will be going through the proposals with a fine tooth comb to ensure that workers are properly supported through these changes and that the need for redundancies is minimised.”

Key announcements within the blueprint:

  • At least 60% of network TV commissions by spend made away from London.
  • 50% of network radio and music spend outside London by 2027/28.
  • Half of UK ‘story teams’ will be based outside of London. For example, the Climate and Science news team will move to Cardiff, the Technology reporting team will move to Glasgow, while Learning and Identity will move to Leeds.
  • Newsnight, PM and the Today programme will be presented regularly from across the UK.
  • Salford will be the main base for BBC digital and technology teams; supported by digital teams across the UK.
  • More than 100 digital engineering jobs  will be created outside of London to support News product development and online editorial teams.
  • BBC broadcast centre in Belfast will be upgraded and BBC Studios bases in Bristol, Cardiff and Glasgow will be expanded.
  • In Radio, Newsbeat and Asian Network will be based in Birmingham, Radio 3 and 6 Music will be “rooted” in Salford, The Concert Orchestra will be rebased outside the M25, and Radio 4 will move a number of factual strands out of London
  • New Digital Community Reporters to enhance the BBC’s regional online news provision.
  • BBC Local Radio will do more in more parts of the country – including up to six new opt-out services in communities like Bradford, Sunderland and Wolverhampton along with new BBC local bulletins for over 50 areas on BBC Sounds.
  • Supporting 1,000 apprentices in any year across the UK and piloting an Apprentice Training Agency in the West Midlands.
  • Renewal of creative partnerships with Northern Ireland Screen and Creative Scotland, and a new partnership with Creative Wales and focus on the North and Midlands in England.