Channel 4 has vowed to step up investment in its Bristol creative hub as part of a new plan by the broadcaster to increase its footprint in the regions.
London-headquartered Channel 4 said since opening its bases in Leeds, Bristol and Glasgow five years ago it had built an organisation more representative of the UK and championed programme-making across the whole country. 
It repeated a previously made pledge to have a total of 600 roles based outside the capital and announced it will advertise all new roles across all its locations.
It will prioritise recruitment outside London as part of its ‘4 All the UK’ strategy, with new roles to be actively recruited in Bristol, Leeds, Manchester or Glasgow.
Additionally, it will introduce a relocation and financial support package for employees wanting to move out of London to another Channel 4 office.
Channel 4 opened its Bristol base in 2019 following a high-profile campaign to bring it to the city led by its creative industry in partnership with Mayor Marvin Rees and the city council.
The hub at Finzels Reach has since become an important part of Bristol’s media sector, employing more than 20 people and developing strong links with programme makers in the city.
It has also spearheaded highly acclaimed work on diversity and inclusion in the city, including encouraging young people from under-represented communities into jobs in the creative sector.
Channel 4 chief executive Alex Mahon said: “This is a really special moment for Channel 4 as we continue our significant momentum to grow our presence across the UK.
“Channel 4 has always led the way in representation and now we are going even further, strengthening our nations and regions commitment and offering our people the opportunity to relocate out of London and making all new roles available at any of our regional locations.”
West of England Mayor Dan Norris welcomed Channel 4’s commitment to further expand in Bristol, calling it a major boost for the region’s creative industry.
He also said the broadcaster’s new £6m ‘Accelerate’ initiative, aimed at nurturing behind-the-scenes production talent, aligned with the West of England’s own focus on growing local skills and fostering creative excellence.
“This is fantastic news for Bristol and the wider West of England,” he said.
“Channel 4’s expansion and investment in skills will help to ensure that our region remains a leading place for creativity, offering more and more opportunities for local talented people.”
