Glasgow chosen as location for new Channel 4 creative hub as Leeds gets HQ nod

GLASGOW will be the location of one of two new creative hubs for Channel 4, it has been announced.

The broadcaster also revealed that Leeds would be the home of its new national headquarters, with Bristol the other hub.

Channel 4’s Chief Executive, Alex Mahon and the Channel 4 Board have today confirmed that Leeds will be the location of its new National HQ and Bristol and Glasgow will be the locations of its two new Creative Hubs. #4AlltheUK pic.twitter.com/Sb937NwBNh

— Channel 4 Press (@C4Press) October 31, 2018

Leeds, Greater Manchester and Birmingham were all in the running to host the new HQ, having been selected from a longlist that had included Glasgow.

Despite missing out being shortlisted for the headquarters, Glasgow will be welcoming Channel 4 to the city in the near future at the new creative hub.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “Channel 4’s announcement that Glasgow will host one of its new creative hubs is fantastic news for Scotland’s screen sector and creative industries.

“The enthusiasm, excitement and support behind Glasgow’s successful bid for the hub is testament to the city’s thriving creative community, as well as Stuart Cosgrove and Glasgow City Council’s tireless work to attract this new investment from Channel 4 to Glasgow.

“As home to one of the most vibrant cultural scenes in Scotland, BBC Scotland, STV and more than 120 production companies – l am pleased Channel 4 has recognised Glasgow is the ideal location for one of their new hubs. I look forward to seeing plans for the new base in Glasgow develop.”

MP Stewart McDonald tweeted: “Fantastic news! Glasgow will make a fine home for Channel 4’s creative hubs.

“Excellent work by Susan Aitken, Stuart Cosgrove and the team at Glasgow City Council. It was a bold bid that was rooted in ambition for our city. Bravo!”

Good news for Glasgow – well done to @Detroit67Book and the team. Congrats to Leeds and Bristol too. https://t.co/X9IVVOPPYh

— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) October 31, 2018

Scottish Greens Culture and Media spokesman Ross Greer MSP, who sits on Holyrood’s Culture Committee, said: “This is excellent news and well deserved given Glasgow’s world famous creative economy.

“Along with investment in the new BBC Scotland channel, it’s clear that Scotland has an opportunity to build a reputation for high-quality TV and film production.

“The next step is the Scottish Government and their agencies stepping up to the plate to deliver the studio capacity and support the screen sector needs to take full advantage of these investments.”

DELIGHTED to confirm that Channel 4 will site one of its new creative hubs in Glasgow! Just been told the news & can’t stop grinning. So many people have made this success happen but special thanks must go the unstoppable @Detroit67Book. Glasgow’s ready for @Glasgow4C4! pic.twitter.com/2k38D3zNyO

— Susan Aitken (@SusaninLangside) October 31, 2018

Channel 4 chief executive Alex Mahon said: “Glasgow has a well-established production sector across multiple genres, and locating a Creative Hub in the city will give Channel 4 the opportunity to tap into the rich cultural diversity of Scotland and also allow us to exploit the city’s strong connectivity with Belfast and the Northern Ireland production sector.”

The three new locations are part of Channel 4’s 4 All the UK strategy, which was first announced in March and will mark the biggest change to the structure of the organisation in its 35-year history.

Ms Mahon added: “Diversity and inclusion have always been at the heart of Channel 4’s mission and the launch of our 4 All the UK plan is the biggest and most exciting change in the organisation’s 35-year history – as we open up Channel 4 to people from across the UK and supercharge the impact we have in all parts of the country.

“We will be spending up to £250m more on programming produced in the Nations and Regions and to catalyse that spend I’m delighted to confirm that we will be establishing a new National HQ in Leeds and new Creative Hubs in Bristol and Glasgow.

“We undertook a rigorous process over the last seven months and the high calibre of all the pitches meant those were incredibly difficult decisions to make.

“However, I know that Leeds, Bristol and Glasgow will best deliver our objectives to grow the production sector across the UK, build the pipeline of creative talent outside London and support our increased investment in programming produced across the Nations and Regions.

“Leeds put forward a compelling and ambitious strategy for how they could work alongside Channel 4 to further build the strong independent production sector in the city and develop new diverse talent from across the region.

“Locating our National HQ in Leeds enables us to capitalise on a strong and fast-growing independent production sector in cities across the North of England – and also has the potential to unlock growth in the North East and East of the country, an area without a major presence from other national broadcasters.”

Channel 4 announced its intention to move staff out of London to three new bases after the Government said the broadcaster will remain publicly owned, but faced being relocated.

The channel warned at the time that forcing it to move outside of London “would be highly damaging”.

It has since said that 300 Channel 4 jobs, including key creative decision-makers with significant spending power, will be based in hubs outside of the capital in the biggest change to its structure in its 35-year history, but it will still keep its Horseferry Road headquarters in London.

The new national HQ has been described as “a broad-based centre”, which will include commissioning, production and digital content.

The creative hubs will begin with a focus on programme commissioning, but will welcome a broader talent base later on.

The first-round pitch process was launched in April, with more than 30 submissions entered.

The second stage process involved Channel 4 visiting each of the 13 shortlisted cities and regions for a presentation and discussion.

When it was whittled down to the final six, the channel entered into detailed discussions with the selected cities in a process which will be led by Jonathan Allan, Channel 4 executive board member and chief commercial officer.