This paper considers the impact of a major public sector relocation: the British Broadcasting Corporation's partial move from London to Salford, Greater Manchester starting in 2011. We identify effects of the move, using synthetic control methods on workplace data aggregated to Local Authority level. Each BBC job increases employment in Salford's creative industries by 0.33 jobs on average, rising to 0.76 jobs by 2017. Offsetting changes in non-creative industries mean the move has no effect on total employment. We also consider effects on firm size and variation across different creative and non-creative industries. We find a positive effect on wages and no evidence of displacement.

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16 October 2024     Paper Number CEPDP2042

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This CEP discussion paper is published under the centre's Urban programme.