Home Office hits 500 jobs milestone in Stoke-on-Trent

More than 500 government jobs have been created in Stoke-on-Trent over the last two years.

The huge employment boost comes as part of a long-term commitment by the Home Office to create hundreds of new roles in the city.

The 500 new jobs include roles that are pivotal in operational activity across the country, as well as corporate functions.

Councillor Jane Ashworth, leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “We are so pleased to see that the Home Office has hit its target of bringing 500 new jobs to the city in such a short space of time. This is a huge milestone for Stoke-on-Trent.

“We want to ensure our residents have access to good jobs with higher wages, so we are delighted that the Home Office has made this commitment to our city.”

In 2023, the Home Office signed a lease for 38,000 sq ft of office space at the Two Smithfield building in the city centre – initially creating around 200 new jobs.

Eighteen months on, that number has risen to more than 500 employees, most of which are local to Stoke-on-Trent.

The government department had been in talks with the city council about building a brand-new base in the city which would house all of its Stoke-on-Trent workforce.

Now the Home Office has confirmed that it is looking to sign a long-term lease for existing office space in the city instead, in line with its firm commitment to remain in the city.

Cllr Ashworth added: “We will continue to work with the Home Office to ensure they can find a permanent home in the city and will look at how we can potentially use existing or repurposed sites while doing everything we can to ensure these new jobs remain in the city for the long-term.”

Minister of State, Lord David Hanson said: "We are committed to having a strong presence in Stoke-on-Trent and by fulfilling our commitment to bring more than 500 jobs to the city, we will ensure the region has a huge part to play in tackling some of the biggest challenges facing the UK.

"Since taking office I have held constructive discussions with local partners in the region and I look forward to building on these relationships to explore how the Home Office can provide further opportunities to Stoke-on-Trent."