Birmingham is a great city, with a history of creativity and innovation. I can’t think of a better place to base the BBC Academy

The BBC Academy, the BBC’s centre for in-house and industry wide training, will move to the city in 2015, alongside the core of the BBC’s HR and Internal Communications.

The Academy offers training and development for the UK broadcast industry and will also work with local companies to increase the talent base in Birmingham and the West Midlands. In total we will move 190 roles to Birmingham by the end of 2015. This is an increase of 100 roles on the 90 announced last year - the BBC's earlier announcement included roles in a Digital Innovation Unit for Digbeth, The Space digital arts partnership, BBC Trainee and apprenticeship schemes. These teams join existing departments already based in Birmingham – working across news, current affairs, drama, radio and online.

Tony Hall, Director-General, said: “Birmingham is a great city, with a history of creativity and innovation. I can’t think of a better place to base the BBC Academy. Its role is to nurture the broadcast stars, programme makers, and talent of tomorrow. It also provides training and development for the entire UK broadcasting sector.

“The centre for BBC recruitment for the whole of the UK will also be based alongside the Academy, in one of the UK’s most diverse cities. This is good news for Birmingham and good news for the BBC – it’s a perfect partnership.”

It was also announced today that Peter Salmon, currently Director North, would take up a new role as Director England, with responsibility for leading creativity, collaboration and local partnerships across Salford, Birmingham and Bristol, alongside Alice Webb, Chief Operating Officer for England. Peter will be responsible for The BBC Academy and will work closely with David Holdsworth, Controller of English Regions, who continues to lead the BBC’s Local & Regional services across the country.

Peter Salmon, Director England, said: ''Over the last few years the BBC has helped build a strong broadcasting and production community in Salford and the North of England. Now I’m looking forward to working with BBC teams in Birmingham and Bristol to forge even better relationships with our audiences and build new partnerships across the country to make sure our key bases keep making great content, develop great people and have a thriving future. As with our move to Salford an increase of jobs in Birmingham can help us with property savings in London so we can spend more on the services our audiences enjoy."

Notes to Editors

Departments moving to Birmingham announced today:

The BBC Academy (except a core of London-based training) plus the core of our HR and Internal Communications areas

Departments moving to Birmingham announced in November 2013:

The Space, the BBC’s pioneering digital arts partnership with Arts Council England, will be based at the Mailbox from 2015 after its re-launch in London later this year

A new Digital Innovation Unit will start in open in Digbeth in 2015 – working closely in partnership with the city's education sector

The BBC induction programme, Upfront, for new staff will be delivered from Birmingham

The BBC Academy’s entry-level talent including our apprenticeships and traineeships will be run from Birmingham

Local Live – a recommitment from the BBC that the Mailbox in Birmingham is the headquarters for all local news and digital innovation

BBC Outreach and Corporate Responsibility Team – to relocate from Salford and build important links with our hard-to-reach audiences from Birmingham across the UK.

BBC Press Office