Newcastle is set for a Government jobs boost amid moves to drive regional growth as well as civil service career progression.
Newcastle and Darlington are among 13 locations where more civil service jobs will be moved in a shake up to shift roles out of the capital and into the regions, as it strives to develop and deliver policy closer to the communities. The move – announced by Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden – is forecast to deliver £729m worth of economic benefit to the 13 growth areas by 2030.
Mr McFadden said: “To deliver our Plan for Change, we are taking more decision-making out of Whitehall and moving it closer to communities all across the Ƶ. By relocating thousands of civil service roles we will not only save taxpayers money, we will make this Government one that better reflects the country it serves. We will also be making sure that Government jobs support economic growth throughout the country.
“As we radically reform the state, we are going to make it much easier for talented people everywhere to join the civil service and help us rebuild Britain.”
At the moment, 17,970 civil service roles are based on Tyneside, with five major Government departments having a presence in the area. More than 32,100 full time equivalent roles are based in the North East.
Work is currently under way on the construction of Pilgrim’s Quarter, part of the wider Pilgrim Street development in Newcastle city centre, a huge building which will become a Government Hub for HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in the North East. As the largest office ever to be launched in the city, it will provide office accommodation for approximately 9,000 HMRC staff and is scheduled to be handed over by the developer for tenant fit-out this October.
Meanwhile, construction teams are now working on the creation of Pilgrim Place 1 + 2 – new multimillion-pound office buildings set close to Bank House in Pilgrim Street. Property agents announced earlier this year that a major pre-letting deal has been struck with DWP, which will take over Pilgrim Place 1 to create a DWP Service and Support Centre, which is planned to open in 2027. The adjacent Pilgrim Place 2 building will serve up 90,000sqft of space and is currently being developed and marketed as speculative Grade A office accommodation.
Newcastle, Darlington and Tyneside are featured on a list published today including Aberdeen, Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Sheffield, York and Greater Manchester. Following the new announcement, Government departments will now submit plans for how many roles they plan to move to each of the locations as part of the spending review.
The Cabinet Office said the changes are being introduced to allow “talented young people from across the Ƶ” the ability to progress straight from school or university into the civil service and rise all the way up to the most senior roles, without ever having worked in Whitehall.
To ensure those based outside of London have equal professional growth and development opportunities, 50% of Ƶ-based senior civil servants will be based in regional offices by 2030. The plan will be supported by a new approach to the Fast Stream programme, which is the civil service graduate scheme, with at least 50% of placements offered outside of London.
Henri Murison, chief executive of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, said: “I support the work of those across government, including the Government Property Agency, to deliver a new digital and AI campus in Manchester. Creating jobs and opportunities for careers to be built in Leeds, Newcastle upon Tyne, York, Sheffield and Darlington is also to be welcomed.
“We have long advocated that getting civil servants more opportunities outside Whitehall in local government will bring huge benefits. The individuals will gain new perspective on working in delivery and joining up across silos to improve outcomes, and local authorities will have access to additional talent and their experience of central government.”
