Mayor signs landmark agreement with the BBC

The BBC has today signed a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and Create Central, as part of its Across the UK strategy.

The landmark agreement sets out a significant expansion of BBC production investment to further support creative growth in the West Midlands, working with WMCA, Create Central and local partners to promote the region as a centre of creative excellence to the wider industry.

It will ensure BBC network television production spend in the West Midlands almost doubles from £24m to £40m a year by the end of 2027.

Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands said: “The BBC’s investment is vital because our TV and creative industries are fast becoming powerhouses of our regional economy. Hits like Peaky Blinders put the West Midlands on the world stage and brought our first major studio.

“This partnership means we can provide backing at all levels, priming local people to seize new opportunities, while making it easier than ever for blockbuster productions to film here.”

BBC Director-General, Tim Davie said: “This is another transformative moment for the creative industries in the West Midlands. The MOU will significantly boost investment in skills, opportunity and talent for local people, as well as stories from the region in BBC programmes.

“Our agreement with the WMCA and Create Central deepens our partnership with the West Midlands to secure its place as a world-class centre for film and TV production."

Chair of Create Central, Ed Shedd said: "This next phase of our partnership with the BBC and WMCA is another huge boost for the West Midlands’ creative content sector. By increasing both the number of productions here, in the region, and building crucial local infrastructure, skills and workforce, we’re not only strengthening the industry but also creating real jobs and opportunities for local creative talent.

“Together we will build a thriving production base that supports businesses, embraces emerging technologies and new platforms, attracts ground-breaking projects and ensures the West Midlands is recognised as one of the UK’s most exciting places to make content."

The BBC is already relocating its regional Midlands HQ to the new Tea Factory site in Digbeth, and has relocated a number of key TV productions there.

Recent analysis commissioned by the BBC shows that the Corporation’s additional investment in the West Midlands, since 2021, will bring an additional £282m of economic benefit to the region by 2031. This economic impact will grow further following today’s agreement.

The agreement with the BBC to bring more TV productions to the region will benefit local creatives like Simone Radway, from Erdington, who was at the MoU signing today.

Simone, 42, worked in photography and fashion before getting into the TV industry after signing up to one of the WMCA-funded bootcamps run by Create Central.

That led to work experience and then a paid job on the set of This Town and then ITV drama Joan – both of which were filmed in the West Midlands. She has finished working in the costume department on a film shot at the world-famous Pinewood Studios.

Simone said: “I’d never even thought about working in TV until I saw an advert for a creative careers fair where I signed up for a bootcamp. Without the opportunity to go on a placement on This Town I don’t think I would have got a foot in the door.

“There’s lots of crew based in Birmingham and the West Midlands who like me they all want to work on fantastic shows that are produced here. So we’ll all be looking forward to the opportunities this will bring.”

As part of the agreement, BBC Studioworks and Digbeth Loc Studios have joined forces through a new commercial and operational agreement.

This partnership brings together BBC Studioworks’ operational expertise with the world-class creative hub now open at Digbeth Loc to cement Birmingham as one of the UK’s most dynamic homes for storytelling.

The BBC has also announced new dramas The Hairdresser Mysteries and Detection Club which will be produced in the West Midlands, with The Hairdresser Mysteries - developed with support from the WMCA's IP Content Fund - filmed in the region.

Images of the new Digbeth Loc based MasterChef studio have also been released.

In today’s MOU the BBC is committing to:

• Building the mix of scripted output in the region, and strengthening its presence in unscripted alongside MasterChef, Great British Menu and Garden Rescue.
• Continuing to work with the WMCA, ScreenSkills and other partners to invest in skills and talent development, as well as partner with creative organisations on apprenticeships and traineeships.
• BBC Studios will set up a new purpose-built production base in Digbeth after leaving the Drama Village, for use by BBC Studios and third-party commissions and programmes.
• Extending the number of opportunities for regional producers to meet and develop relationships with BBC commissioning colleagues, as we expand our commissioner footprint in the region.
• BBC Public Service and BBC Commercial will work with local partners and organisations in Digbeth, Birmingham and the West Midlands to grow the impact of its presence and investments, as well as opportunities for local communities.

In today’s MOU the WMCA is committing to invest a minimum of £5m per annum in creative industries infrastructure between April 2025 and March 2028 for activities including:

• Establishing a production fund worth £2m per year for the West Midlands to encourage more production activity in the region.
• Funding a new region-wide production services office, Production Central, delivered by West Midlands Growth Company, with the resources to unlock production business and wider opportunities for the region.
• Investing in intellectual property being developed by creative businesses based in the region and supporting entrepreneurs to thrive and scale.
• Developing and investing in the Skills Accelerator programme, to support a growing production talent pipeline for the region, which reflects the diversity of the West Midlands including socio-economically.
• Working with regional local authorities and other partners to fund and deliver increased supply of production spaces and infrastructure, as well as incentives to set up and expand in the region.
• Working with partners to support plans to grow Digbeth as an engaging, safe, and well-connected place.

Notes to editors

The BBC’s partnership with WMCA and Create Central is a key part of the BBC’s Across the UK strategy to grow creative investment and decision-making across the UK and ensure that the UK’s nations and regions are better reflected and represented across its programmes and services.

Today’s agreement builds on the success of the BBC’s first MOU with WMCA and Create Central that has been delivered in full.

As part of its Across the UK strategy, the BBC has relocated key TV productions and teams to the West Midlands such as Silent Witness and MasterChef to Digbeth, as well as relocating programmes and teams to Birmingham including BBC Asian Network, weekday peak programming on BBC 1Xtra, new programming for Radio 1 Anthems as well as BBC News teams including BBC Newsbeat and BBC Verify teams.

Alongside the BBC, creative partners and key suppliers have increased their presence and investment in Digbeth and the West Midlands. This includes Banijay Group (Shine, Kudos Knight), Spun Gold TV, Full Fat, and Clear Cut.

BBC presence in the West Midlands region includes some of its most successful and iconic programmes, such as The Archers which celebrates its 75th anniversary with special commissioning next year.

Overall, the BBC has around 600 roles based in the West Midlands.

In June 2025, the West Midlands was named as one of six priority regions for the Creative Places Growth Fund, as part of the UK Government’s wider Creative Industries Sector Plan.