Mayor welcomes latest government agency moving to Darlington

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen has welcomed news that yet another Government agency is set establish a base in Darlington, bringing even more jobs to the region.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is the latest Government agency pledging to increase its presence outside of London, establishing a new office in the town alongside Government’s new Economic Campus.

It was previously announced that a number of major departments – including the Treasury, Department for International Trade, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Office of National Statistics – would come to the area, which is already home to the Department for Education.

Now proposals have been approved for a CMA Microeconomics Unit in the region, which will take on the CMA’s existing economic research and evaluation function, produce the annual State of Competition report and carry out research into reforms to improve the productivity of the economy. The CMA’s State of Competition project is also being expanded to consider the impact of competition on consumers at different income levels.

Discussions over the Darlington Microeconomics Unit are ongoing, but it will safeguard and create 25 direct roles, as well as creating more in the supply chain.

Mayor Houchen said: “This is more amazing news for Darlington, once again showing Government is committed to levelling up, bringing more jobs to the region and tying us ever-closer to Whitehall. This will put us at the heart of decision-making and policy like never before as civil servants understand the opportunities and issues faced outside of the capital, informing their work.

“The Competition and Markets Authority is just the latest Government agency to announce its move to the town and Government’s Northern Economic Campus, delivering more good-quality, well-paid civil service careers for people across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool, on top of the hundreds that have already been pledged. This show people living here now, and those looking for jobs in the future, that you don’t need move to a big city like London to succeed – you can stay local but go far.

“We’re doing all we can do to help these departments relocate, settle in and take advantage of local talent, and I hope to welcome many more soon.”

The move to Darlington is part of the CMA’s wider relocation scheme, which will also see an office established in Manchester.

CMA Chief Executive Andrea Coscelli said: “Last year I pledged that the CMA would get closer to the needs of people right across the UK. Since then, we have taken action on issues from refunds on package holidays to tackling excessive pricing on key drugs. Now we are going a step further and bringing our own offices and staff closer to more of the people we serve.

“Manchester and Darlington will be ideal locations for our teams whether we’re ensuring fairness in the tech sector or doing vital research to inform future work.

“There are bright and talented people everywhere and we want to do our part to give them the opportunities they deserve.”

Recruitment has already begun for roles across other relocating to the region and as more become available, they will be advertised on Teesvalley.jobs