Calls for Hub and Civil Service jobs

Dundee City Council leader Cllr Mark Flynn has written to the UK Government asking for clarity on Dundee’s place in plans to relocate more than 50,000 Civil Service jobs outside of London by 2030.

As part of the plans announced on 14^th May 2025, a commitment was made by the UK Government to relocate thousands of civil service jobs to 13 towns and cities across the UK including new opportunities for Glasgow and Edinburgh as well as the creation of a new regional campus in Aberdeen, however Dundee does not feature.

Council Leader Cllr Mark Flynn has written to Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government the Rt Hon Angela Rayner to ask whether opportunities remain for the relocation of civil service jobs to Dundee as well as for the creation of an East Scotland UK Government Hub in the city centre as part of the plans.

Council Leader Mark Flynn said: “We support the commitment to ensuring that more towns and cities benefit from civil service employment and in doing so play a key role in the delivery of a revitalised approach to regional policy and addressing economic disparities in cities like Dundee.

“Over the past decade, the Dundee & Angus area has seen one of the lowest increases in civil service employment, with only a 14% increase, a stark contrast with Glasgow’s 80% growth and Edinburgh 41% rise.

“Despite our efforts to position Dundee as a low-cost, high-quality location for Government agencies which has helped to attract Social Security Scotland’s headquarters in 2019, the city has faced significant setbacks with the closure of UK Government offices, such as HM Revenue and Customs.

“Relocating civil service jobs to Dundee presents a highly cost-effective solution when considering the low cost of city office rents and the affordability of Dundee’s cost of living.

“I have written to the Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to ask that consideration is given for the creation of a high-profile East Scotland UK Government Hub strategically located in Dundee’s city centre.

“The creation of a prominent, centralised hub in Dundee would help attract further investment into the region, while enabling people from our city to support in UK Government decision-making processes.”

Fair Work, Economic Growth & Infrastructure Convener Cllr Steven Rome added: “We have raised the matter with the UK Government at every available opportunity including through a meeting with the Secretary of State for Scotland The Rt Hon Ian Murray MP, at a previous visit to the city made by Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Building Safety, Fire and Local Growth) Alex Norris MP and when I recently wrote to Michael Shanks MP.

“We would welcome the chance to discuss further how Dundee can contribute to the creation of a more balanced civil service presence across the UK.”