DSIT becomes latest government department to make move to Greater Manchester

The Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has announced plans to establish a second headquarters in Greater Manchester.

The government department already has around 200 staff based in the city-region, and its commitment to a new Salford headquarters will see that figure double. Other public sector organisations already with significant presences in the city-region include HMRC, the Home Office and GCHQ, with a new Government hub to open near Manchester Piccadilly station in 2025 that will house over 2,500 civil service jobs.

DSIT’s new second headquarters in Greater Manchester forms part of the wider Places for Growth programme that will see 22,000 civil service jobs created outside London and the South East by 2027

The move for DSIT aligns with the city-region’s history as a centre for technological innovation and Greater Manchester’s continuing role in leading scientific breakthroughs, such as the recent discovery of isolated graphene, which has sparked numerous innovations in materials science and technology. Other recent government announcements, such as the creation of an investment zone for the advanced materials sector.

Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Michelle Donelan said:

“Greater Manchester is steeped in a legacy of technological progress, rooted in the Industrial Revolution and long home to scientific pioneers like Alan Turing and Ernest Rutherford.

“By establishing our second headquarters here, we not only tap into a pool of exceptional talent but also ensure that policymakers responsible for the growth of science and technology live and work alongside a dynamic community of sci-tech leaders.

“It is important that the people we serve are placed at the heart of government and that policymakers represent the diversity of our communities. That is why the Places for Growth commitment is so vital in helping to ensure that we can grow our economy and deliver on the Prime Minister’s priorities.”

Alongside the announcement for an expanded Greater Manchester presence, the DSIT has also recommitted to expanding its headcount at other active growth locations around the country: Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Darlington and Edinburgh.