“Channel 4 will soon be a very different organisation to the one we have been for the last 36 years.
“There remains much hard work for us to do, but this is part of our strategy to ensure Channel 4 is even more open to new talent and new voices from underserved areas and better reflects the diversity of all of the UK.”
Channel 4 said it was not able to give details of individual roles in each location as it was currently in consultation with some staff whose roles were affected.
But alongside the new creative and digital departments mentioned above, Leeds will also base members of the On-Screen Talent and Creative Diversity teams, responsible for the diversity of Channel 4’s talent and programming.
Leeds will also be the home of Channel 4’s new Digital Creative Unit – a new department commissioning and producing digital content to reach audiences on social and digital platforms. The Digital Creative Unit will work with departments across the organisation, and with independent producers, to support new digital talent and Channel 4’s investment in young-focussed content and audiences.
Additionally, the new National HQ will house other creative departments including the on-air continuity department, who produce and voice the airtime between Channel 4 programmes; and the Pictures team, commissioning and creating images for All 4 and for external media.
There will also be a team supporting a new studio within the National HQ, and creative and digital roles from 4Creative, All 4, and the Listings team.
Channel 4’s Indie Growth Fund will also be based in Leeds alongside roles from the Advertising Sales Operations team and a range of key business support and operations personnel including Audience Research & Insight, Corporate Relations, Data Science, Finance, Press & Publicity and Technology.
Additionally, there will be some roles from partner contractors – including the ITN team as part of the new Channel 4 News hub based in the National HQ.
Roger Marsh OBE, Chair of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and the NP11, said: “This really is the spark. It’s excellent news that creative and future facing parts of Channel 4 will be located in Leeds City Region plugging into our significant tech and creative ecosystem.
“The sheer spread of functions and roles announced demonstrates the magnitude of commitment the broadcaster has made. The partnership we’ve built as a region with Channel 4 has a great momentum and we’re really proud to be part of this transformation.”
Channel 4 added that Manchester will continue to be the home to its Nations & Regions advertising sales team.
