A new report on the BBC’s economic impact shows that the broadcaster has played a key role in developing MediaCityUK as a creative and digital cluster.
The independent report produced by KPMG states that the station “makes a significant economic contribution in all countries and regions of the UK” and has played a role in maintaining Salford as a “creative and digital cluster”.
The BBC set up its base in MediaCityUK, Salford, in 2010. The report shows employment growth of 142% in the Salford industry from 6,310 employees in 2010 to 15,275 employees in 2019.
The BBC directly caused 34% of the growth during this period.
The remaining growth in the broader creative and digital sector is “at least partly due to the fact that larger companies in MediaCityUK group around the BBC and benefit from the BBC expenditure with them,” it said.
KPMG also reports that the number of digital or creative businesses in Salford increased by 70%, from 565 in 2010 to 955 in 2019.
Approximately 50% of the BBC’s total gross added value (GVA), which was £ 2.4 billion in FY 2019/20, was generated outside of London.
The largest share was achieved in the North West of England with 31% of the BBC’s direct gross value added and 19% of the BBC’s total gross value added.