The Department for Transport (DfT) has announced the creation of a second headquarters in Birmingham and a Northern hub in Leeds as part of a plan to create 650 roles in the cities by 2025.
The move is part of the government’s commitment to diversifying the Civil Service, ensuring decisions are rooted in the communities it serves.
It is a particularly important step for DfT, given the huge role it has to play in levelling up the UK through investment in vital transport infrastructure and services.
It is the latest step in the government’s drive to move 22,000 Civil Service roles from London to communities across the UK by 2030.
The Birmingham headquarters will include new ministerial offices, with ministers expected to spend a significant amount of time there as the government works to rebuild the UK.
The news of DfT creating a Northern hub in Leeds comes on the back of Chancellor, Rishi Sunak’s announcement during the Budget this month that the UK’s first-ever infrastructure bank will be based in the city.
Commenting, Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps said: “This is a historic move for the department and part of a significant wider culture change across Whitehall.
“Transport is absolutely vital to the local communities we serve and having hubs in major cities like Birmingham and Leeds will offer a fresh perspective on how we can better serve these areas.”
Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street added: “The West Midlands has undergone a transport revolution in recent years with the reopening of old railway lines, expanded tram routes and an upgraded green bus fleet, along with the rollout of e-scooters and a cycle hire scheme. The DfT will be right at home here and I look forward to welcoming the team to the best connected region in the UK.
“Along with the relocation of MHCLG (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government) to Wolverhampton, this is a major vote of confidence in the West Midlands and a huge jobs boost at what is an incredibly difficult economic time.
“I’m delighted that after months of making the case, we’ve won through and a second major government department will be calling the West Midlands home.”
DfT has already begun recruiting in Birmingham and Leeds, with 100 roles created so far and includes senior civil servant positions, which otherwise would have been based in London, with attracting senior figures to these locations key to the success of the initiative.
The government has also announced that half of senior Civil Service roles will be located outside of London by 2030.
