GBSLEP welcomes BBC commitment to Birmingham and ‘Guerrilla Group’ project

BBC Director for Strategy and Digital James Purnell speaking in Birmingham last night (Monday) has provided further detail about the future of digital broadcasting in the city following an initial announcement back in October.

The speech at the ReThink Media conference at Birmingham City University committed the BBC to using Birmingham as the centre for training and induction.

It also unveiled plans to create what is being called, ‘The Guerrilla Group’, a three-year partnership between the BBC and the GBSLEP’s Creative City Partnership that will see a digital content innovation team based at Fazeley Studios.

Anita Bhalla OBE - GBSLEP Board Director.

Anita Bhalla OBE, GBSLEP Board Director, said: “The clarification of Birmingham being the base for the BBC’s digital and training future shows we are going in the right direction.

“There is, of course, much more ground to make up but we have been working to present our case to the BBC and show how our creative, digital and cultural industries can benefit the corporation.

“The Guerrilla Group concept is an exciting one which is, once again, a demonstration of our strengths.

“Over the next 20 years, the way the BBC packages and produces its product will change beyond recognition and Birmingham will be at the cutting edge of this.

“The training will also provide a huge boost to the city, not least because we will have more than 1,000 BBC staff from all over the country coming to the Mailbox – that’s more than 1,000 potential ambassadors who will be able to see just how vibrant and dynamic Birmingham is.

“We will continue to work with the BBC and, at the same time, continue to encourage the development of these key sectors which have such an important part to play in our economic future.”