West Midlands bids to be Channel 4's new home

While the region is 'ideally positioned to offer Channel 4 the best location for its headquarters outside London," the move could in turn generate £5 billion for the local economy between 2021 and 2030.

Culture Secretary Karen Bradley has launched a consultation on whether to move Channel 4 out of London to spread creative jobs across the UK, after ruling out privatisation.

The West Midlands, and Birmingham in particular, is seen as the front runner but rival bids have come in from Manchester, Leeds and even Sheffield and Bristol.

Submitting its case to the Government, the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) says a move to the region could bring "substantial economic and cultural benefits".

In turn it would benefit Channel 4 moving to "the youngest and most diverse region in the UK". Nearly half of Birmingham’s population is under 30 years old. The authority also points out that prime property rents are half those of London.

Andy Street, Mayor for the West Midlands, said: “If we are successful in persuading Channel 4 to relocate to the West Midlands, the impact on our region would be genuinely transformative.

“Not only would our creative and digital sectors receive a massive boost, but there would also be huge regeneration and investment benefits.

“The West Midlands offers the ideal opportunity for a relocated Channel 4. Our pitch is that Channel 4 could thrive here in the West Midlands and we stand ready to work in partnership with them to make a success of any move.”

The West Midlands already has the largest digital sector outside of London, employing around 25,000 people, and the bid highlights the area's transport links which will include HS2 from 2026.

Councillor Patrick Harley, leader of Dudley Council, said: “The arrival of Channel 4 will act as a catalyst to fuel the region’s flourishing creative sector and build on the vibrant talent-pool that exists in the West Midlands.

"The region’s skills-base, and strong institutional support for development in the creative and digital sector is unrivalled. This industry is already expected to be one of the region’s largest growth areas over the next decade, adding a further £2.2 billion GVA (gross value added) to the West Midlands economy.

"The region is therefore investing heavily in the next generation of creative and tech skills, making us poised to welcome Channel 4 and build our legacy as the UK’s innovation hub.”

He added: "Obviously I would be over the moon if they came to the Waterfront. It would coincide with the growth of DY5 (Dudley's newly launched enterprise zone) and the extension of the Midland Metro. But wherever they come to in the West Midlands, if it is Birmingham or Solihull, we would still feel the benefit."

Mr Harley was part of a delegation from the region who presented their case to Channel 4 executives in person on Monday. "They were certainly scribbling down a lot of notes. We'll just have to wait and see what the response is," he said.

Ninder Johal, board member of the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership, added: “The West Midlands continues to demonstrate its entrepreneurial credentials from home-grown start-ups to businesses choosing to move to and invest in the region.

"This track record in welcoming and supporting business, as well as in working collaboratively with partners from business to creative and digital sectors, demonstrates the West Midlands commitment to, and experience in, bringing organisations like Channel 4 to the region.”

Channel 4’s relocation to the region could directly generate £2.3 billion of gross value added (GVA) between 2021 and 2030, according to the Combined Authority's submission.

It would also create £2.7 billion of indirect GVA during the same period, by stimulating further development of the local creative cluster.

The WMCA’s Strategic Economic Plan aims to grow the region’s creative sector by £7 billion by 2030; the arrival of Channel 4 would generate a total of £5 billion.

The WMCA’s response was co-ordinated by the West Midlands Growth Company, and has involved collaboration across the region. The document was supported by the West Midlands’ three local LEPs – Greater Birmingham & Solihull, Black Country and Coventry & Warwickshire – along with its local authorities in Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Walsall, Sandwell, Solihull and the City of Wolverhampton.

KPMG and BOP Consulting were commissioned to help develop the response, which has also involved consultations with a wide range of stakeholders in industry, education, the media and the creative sector.