30,000 apply for MediaCity jobs

Around 30,000 people have applied for jobs at MediaCityUK on Salford Quays, according to BBC North boss Peter Salmon.

Salmon, addressing a Pro Manchester lunch at the Crowne Plaza hotel in the city centre today (Nov 11), said the corporation would be creating ‘hundreds’ of jobs when it began its move from London next year, and the website it set up to sift through CVs had been inundated.

“There are lots or creative and inspiring people in my new patch,” he said. “We’ll be moving 2,300 jobs up to Salford and creating hundreds more, and we want to invest time and money in the area.

"The website we've set up for advertising jobs has had a phenomenal response - something like 30,000 applications.

“We’re investing millions in great northern drama and want to invest in developing digital content. We’re not saying we’re the answer to the challenges that the region is facing, but we think we can be part of the wider long-term solution.”

Salmon also said it had produced seven new radios shows in the region through 5live, which is also relocating to Salford Quays.

Salmon said the BBC had contributed £500m to the UK economy in 2009/10, but still had some ‘difficult’ decisions to make about its future.

“We’re firmly focussed on the future. We need to bring new blood through into the corporation and develop new partnerships.”