A government department has announced that it will be opening its new headquarters in Manchester city centre, and it will create up to 400 job opportunities.
A part of the recently-announced Levelling Up plans, and in what is said to be in a move away from “London-centric decision making”, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has announced that the new Manchester city centre building on Marble Street will be the largest DCMS hub outside of the capital.
The new Manchester HQ will contain the head office for Building Digital UK (BDUK).
BDUK is said to be “the driving force” behind Project Gigabit – the government’s £5 billion plan to roll out faster broadband in hard-to-reach and rural areas, and deliver gigabit-capable connections to 85% of UK homes by 2025.
“The days of London-centric decision making belong in the past,” said Culture Secretary, Nadine Dorries on the announcement.
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“It’s an exciting time for DCMS as we expand our regional offices and tap into a more diverse talent pool. Our strength comes from our people and this will allow us to recruit the best, wherever they may be, to deliver the wide range of DCMS policies which drive growth and enrich lives all over the UK.”
Hello Manchester!
Our new hub opens today in the heart of the North West, strengthening our commitment to recruiting talented individuals from across the country and ensuring job opportunities are spread equally across the UK.#LevellingUphttps://t.co/yLGX0zpdKB
The creation of this new HQ in Manchester city centre comes as part of wider government plans to relocate 22,000 civil service roles out of London by 2030, with Cardiff, Belfast, Edinburgh, Loughborough, and Darlington also all set to benefit from these plans.
The plans have for the new HQ have ben hailed as “welcome news” by Leader of Manchester City Council, Bev Craig, who added: “Not only is it a reflection of Manchester’s role as a northern epicentre for culture, media and sport – and our thriving and fast-growing tech sector – it is also move which should help stimulate further innovation and investment in the city and beyond.
“The city is at the heart of a huge and diverse talent pool and tapping into will benefit the government, as well as bringing hundreds of jobs and other opportunities here.
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“Government must not be concentrated in the capital and having more decision-makers based in the north should help bring a different perspective.
“Our door is always open to discuss further such relocations.”
Marble Street in Manchester city centre where the new DCMS HQ will be located / Credit: Google Maps
Councillor Martyn Cox – GMCA’s lead for Culture – also added: “A new DCMS office in the centre of Greater Manchester will create hundreds of good quality jobs in the city-region… [which] is the fastest-growing digital and tech hub in Europe.
“This is also a step in the right direction of redirecting decision-making from London to our regions.”
Arrest made after 14-year-old boy found in critical condition on Market Street
Daisy Jackson
An arrest has been made after a teenage boy was found unresponsive on Market Street in Manchester city centre.
Detectives believe that the boy, 14, was approached by seven males who stole a designer jacket from him.
Following the altercation, he went into cardiac arrest and was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
Thankfully, the teenager is continuing to recover well.
Detectives from Manchester City Centre Criminal Investigation Department confirmed that an 18-year-old male was arrested yesterday, Thursday 20 February.
He has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and remains in police custody.
Detective Inspector Mark Astbury of GMP’s City Centre Criminal Investigation Department, said: “We hope the victim can continue his recovery following what must have been a terrifying ordeal for him.
“Officers are fully investigating all aspects of this shocking incident that has left a man with serious injuries in hospital.
“Our work doesn’t stop here, we are continuing to investigate this incident and information from the public plays an incredibly important role in our investigations and I ask that the community keep talking to us and keep sharing their concerns with us so our teams can act.”
If you have any information, contact GMP 101 or 0161 856 4305 quoting log 2854 of 16/2/25.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials
Emily Sergeant
Trials are currently underway to see if comedy could be an alternative to antidepressants as a way to reduce NHS costs.
UK tech company Craic Health has secured important funding for its ‘comedy on prescription’ project that’s aimed at helping the Government work with the comedy industry, communities, and organisations on comedy-based social prescriptions in the hope that they can solve financial struggles within the NHS.
The groundbreaking scheme uses stand-up shows and workshops to help people who are isolated, lonely, and vulnerable.
Craic believes comedy is an ‘untapped opportunity’ to improve health and wellbeing, and has a goal to make comedy easier to access, so that it can help communities experience its mental health and social benefits.
To achieve this, the company has started trialling Comedy-on-Prescription experiences in the UK – starting in London, with the potential for expansion – which includes things like curated comedy panel game show events and workshops, and general stand-up comedy shows at some of the capital’s world-famous venues.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
“Mental health issues like loneliness, isolation, and stress are more common than ever,” the company explains.
“So much so that it’s projected that by 2030, mental health problems, particularly depression, will be the leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally, [but] in this challenging world, comedy stands out as a universal language that breaks barriers.
“Research shows that comedy and laughter have powerful effects – they bring people together, create positive connections, and make life more enjoyable.”
Craic Health says that social prescribing, of which Comedy-on-Prescription is a part of, is all about inclusivity, which makes it making it suitable for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
Its focus is on personalised support, tailored to individual needs and preferences.
Emily Sergeant -
15th February 2022 
