Skip to content

BBC gives £450m boost to Greater Manchester - report

Haider SaleemNorth West
News imageBBC BBC logo sign in style of worker bees BBC
The BBC logo on the Salford office is transformed into the style of Manchester's worker bee symbol as part of the Made in Greater Manchester campaign

The BBC contributed £450m to Greater Manchester's economy in 2024-25 and supported more than 5,000 jobs, according to a new report.

The figures have been released as part of the BBC's Made Of Greater Manchester campaign, marking 15 years since the BBC moved key departments to Media City in Salford.

The report by BBC economists said BBC activity accounted for 39% of the city region's audiovisual production and broadcasting sector and the corporation employed more than 3,000 people.

However, it warned that future investment could be affected by financial pressures facing public service broadcasters and wider challenges in the production sector.

Continued growth depended on a sustainable long-term funding settlement, it added.

The BBC's Economic Impact In Greater Manchester report described the BBC as a "strategic anchor" for the creative industries and said 422 apprentices had been employed in Salford over five years.

News imageColourful BBC Made Of Greater Manchester campaign artwork featuring a large collage of people associated with BBC programmes and broadcasting arranged around a black panel in the centre. The panel contains the white BBC blocks above the words "Made Of Greater Manchester". The surrounding collage uses torn-paper effects, photographs, illustrations, sections of maps and images of buildings, with bright pink, orange, blue and yellow backgrounds. People of different ages are pictured across the artwork, some smiling or posing, alongside an illustrated figure and a large shaggy dog-like puppet. Parts of MediaCity and BBC buildings can be seen towards the top left.
The Made Of Greater Manchester campaign marks 15 years since the BBC moved key departments to Salford

It also noted that in 2023-24, the BBC worked with 221 small and medium-sized businesses across Greater Manchester.

Made Of Greater Manchester is the latest location in the BBC's Made Of Here campaign, designed to celebrate its commitment to homegrown storytelling.

News imageA billboard with Manchester skyline against sunset with This is our BBC on it, but the Bs are replaced by bees
Billboards across the city region will be showcasing the Made of Greater Manchester campaign

The BBC blocks on the top of Quay House in Media City have been transformed into a "Bee Bee C" version of the logo, incorporating Manchester's worker bee symbol.

Five poets have been commissioned to pen new works about the region as part of the BBC's Contains Strong Language festival, the UK's biggest poetry and performance festival.

More than 300 billboards, digital screens, and adverts on the side of buses will also be seen across the region as part of Made of Greater Manchester.

News imageMedia City buildings
The BBC report describes the broadcaster as a "strategic anchor" for the creative industries

Collage-style artwork can be spotted from Media City to Manchester Piccadilly, featuring characters from The Royle Family, Small Prophets and Waterloo Road, which were all filmed and set in Greater Manchester.

More than 50 stars and voices from the region – from Vernon Kay to Maxine Peake and Hacker T Dog – are included in the campaign, which also celebrates 100 years since Salford was granted city status.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.

Related storie