Potential transfer of BBC Pacific Quay to BBC Studioworks could mean job losses for Scottish Production sector

Recent reports have suggested the potential transfer of control of a BBC Scotland studio to the subsidiary BBC Studioworks, which could lead to potential job and skills losses in the sector.

 

News of the transfer of the BBC’s base in Glasgow has caused the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee at Holyrood to write to the director of BBC Scotland, Steve Carson, demanding that he appears before the Committee to explain the BBC’s actions.

Scottish workers in the broadcast industry would face job losses on a large scale and the sector would see a reduction of skills and training. There are wider concerns across the Scottish production sector that the transfer will also restrict access to the studios, as decisions over accessibility will be made from London.

The pandemic has hit the creative industries eight times as hard as the entire economy, resulting in large scale redundancies and a loss of skills and training in the sector. Shifting productions from Scotland to London only exacerbates this situation, as well as concentrating work and talent in the capital even more.

Upon being questioned by MSP Ross Greer, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon criticised the proposed transfer, and expressed that she would be happy to arrange a meeting with a Bectu representative to discuss how jobs in the sector would be saved. We are now organising that meeting and will report back on progress made.

The BBC, along with other public sector broadcasters, play an important role in supporting the Scottish screen industry, providing jobs and high-quality broadcasting. We must ensure that the jobs and skills of BBC workers in Scotland are protected, as well as those of our members in the Scottish production sector who would be affected.