Andy Burnham's No. 10 North Launches Multi-Million Pound Hiring Spree

According to the BBC UK, Andy Burnham's No. 10 North has commenced a hiring initiative involving a multi-million pound expenditure, with dozens of new positions currently being advertised. This office in Manchester, which was established by the prime minister in July, has released 50 external job advertisements, including a position for a "rewiring the state deputy director."

This development is presented as a recent indication of the potential importance of the government outpost—which is designed to function as a counterpart to London's Downing Street—in advancing Burnham's objective of decentralizing power across the country. Government sources have indicated that the funding for these roles will be drawn from current budgets. The new personnel are expected to collaborate with local councils and mayors to pinpoint obstacles hindering progress.

However, the Conservative Party has characterized the office as a "gimmick." The BBC reported that the hiring spree will not result in any redundancies elsewhere within the civil service, although some roles are anticipated to be relocated and others to be closed.

The newly created roles, all situated in Manchester, encompass areas such as policy, strategy, communications, engagement, and private office functions. BBC News estimates that the basic salaries for these positions amount to £2.8m, not including the civil service employer pension contributions, which stand at 28.97%.

No. 10 North currently employs 120 staff members, representing nearly half of the 280 employees at No. 10 London. Among the highest-paid roles is the "rewiring the state deputy director," with a salary band ranging from £86,000 to £117,000, who will be responsible for leading the Rewiring the State Unit and shaping the government's approach to devolution across various departments.

The government announced that it was launching a recruitment drive to find staff who could "bring fresh perspectives and knowledge of the places they serve, moving decisions closer to the people they affect." In a statement, the government further asserted that No. 10 North "is driving the most significant transfer of power out of Westminster in a generation."

Additionally, some apprenticeships and secondments are being advertised. This hiring push follows the government's confirmation on Friday that No. 10 North will transition from its temporary location at Heron House on Manchester's Albert Square to a new government office on First Street in the spring of 2027. This new location will share the city center building with other government departments covering business, education, local government, and the Cabinet Office.

Burnham designated the opening of No. 10 North as one of his initial actions as prime minister, describing it as "the nerve-centre of a rewired Britain" intended to foster growth in more regions of Britain. Duncan Parish, the deputy director of No. 10 North, stated in a speech last week that officials encounter "institutional challenges" when attempting to achieve these goals and called for a "mindset shift" throughout the UK's central government.

Conservative Party deputy leader Alex Burghart commented that Burnham had promised to streamline the civil service but was now hiring additional staff without specifying the source of the funds, stating that "Manchesterism is just more bureaucracy at taxpayers' expense."

Meanwhile, Tory shadow cabinet minister Mike Wood expressed concerns regarding the lack of transparency surrounding No. 10 North, noting that ministers informed him they could not disclose figures related to headcounts or office attendance.

Based on the new job advertisements, the Office for the Prime Minister—with exceptions for certain roles—expects No. 10 staff to be present in the office for a minimum of 60% of their time.

Since its opening, No. 10 North has hosted summits for regional mayors, at least two of which were partially conducted via video calls on Microsoft Teams. During one such meeting, ministers introduced controversial powers allowing mayors in England to impose new fees on visitors staying overnight. Furthermore, the office hosted an education summit for school leaders, and Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin met with Burnham for the first time as prime minister at No. 10 North in September.