Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Leeds Live
Leeds Live
World
Kristian Johnson

Channel 4 throwing thousands of pounds at London staff to coax move to Leeds

London-based staff at Channel 4 are being offered a raft of incentives worth thousands of pounds in a bid to lure them to Leeds.

The national broadcaster has started to move around 200 members of staff to Leeds city centre as part of its 4 All the UK strategy.

However, it was revealed earlier this year that around 90 per cent of employees have opted to stay in London rather than move to Leeds.

That has prompted Channel 4 bosses to put together packages to try and sell the dream of living in Leeds, according to the i newspaper.

A Channel 4 spokesperson said 'the proportion of staff electing not to transfer to a new location was entirely within the range expected' and the move will hugely benefit Leeds and the surrounding region.

Employees can get a tax-free relocation allowance of up to £8,000 - but Channel 4 says it will also cover the cost of tax and National Insurance should the fees rise above above the £8,000 threshold.

This would cover the likes of homebuyers' legal fees, estate agency fees, stamp duty, surveys, mortgage redemption fees and house removal fees.

Staff can also claim up to £5,000 for temporary living while they look for a permanent home in Leeds, which would include the fees for a short-term rental property (up to six weeks), a removal van, new household items and travel costs for people separated from their families for the duration of the move.

If that's not enough to tempt people to move north, staff are also being told they can have five days' paid leave to visit Leeds to see if they want to move here. The trip would also come with £350 to cover travel, accommodation and meals - or £500 if they bring the whole family with them.

The incentives are only valid if staff remain in their jobs for two years or more.

Anyone who resigns or relocates to London will have to pay 75 per cent of the relocation costs if they quit within 12 months of moving, or 50% within two years.

Visit our dedicated Leeds News page for the biggest talking points from across the city.

LeedsLive has launched a WhatsApp group to keep you up to date with the latest news!  Click here to join  and follow the instructions on your phone. Your number won't be shared with anyone else in the group.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.