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BBC Media city an employment failure for Salford
Only 24 people from Salford have been given jobs at the BBC Only 24 people from Salford have been given jobs at the BBC’s new headquarters at MediaCity. Figures obtained by the M.E.N. show fewer than one in 100 people from the city who applied for a position there were successful. And – of the 24 Salfordians who did get a job – eight were on six-month ‘ambassador’ contracts for 16-19 year olds, paying between £3.64 an hour and £4.92 an hour. The ambassadors’ role is to meet, greet and look after guests. The figures show the BBC has created 1,846 jobs at MediaCity in Salford Quays. Some 1,166 of those went to staff relocating from London or the BBC’s previous northern home in Oxford Road, Manchester. Only 246 of the remaining 680 jobs were given to people living in Greater Manchester - and only 24 went to people from Salford, despite a total of 3,172 applications. The BBC is also running an apprenticeship programme at MediaCity which has taken on 16 people from Greater Manchester – but none from Salford. The corporation, which aims to create 100 apprenticeships in all, said no one from the city had applied for the scheme. BBC bosses said they recruited on merit rather than postcode, but remained committed to creating opportunities for local people. But Hazel Blears, MP for Salford and Eccles, described the figures as ‘incredibly disappointing’. She said she was seeking an urgent meeting with Peter Salmon, director of BBC North. Ms Blears said: “The BBC needs to up its game and start to employ local people for local jobs. “I’m shocked they have only come up with such a small number and I think they can do much, much better. In these difficult economic times it is vital that local people are able to take jobs in their home areas.” Ken Lee, human resources director for BBC North, said: “We believe that this is a promising start. The BBC has recruited from across the north of England based on skills and experience, not by postcode. “Additionally initiatives such as the ambassador and apprenticeship programmes offer local residents the chance not only to gain valuable entry level experience but permanent jobs as well. Of the BBC North workforce now based at MediaCity, approximately half were originally locally based – either working for the BBC in Manchester or living within reasonable travelling distance of MediaCity already. “And half chose to move to the north either when their BBC jobs were relocated to Salford or as a result of applying for Salford-based jobs.” Mr Lee said local people had also got jobs with other firms as a result of the BBC’s presence – including 90 Salfordians taken on by building firm Balfour Beatty to work on the MediaCity site. The BBC closed its jobs website for posts at MediaCity in the summer after being deluged with applications. A total of 66,657 people put themselves forward – meaning one person in 98 got a job. For applicants from Salford, the figure was one in 130. Since the figures were released, it is understood the BBC has employed another two ambassadors from Salford. Source: MEN
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