BBC changes perks for staff moving to Salford Quays

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5:35 pm, February 18, 2009
BBC changes perks for staff moving to Salford Quays

By Richard Morris

The BBC has announced changes to the financial perks available to employees moving to Salford Quays from London.

The corporation came under fire last month when details of its scheme to offer financial assistance to employees moving north came to light. A review of the packages available has now been carried out which the BBC says was prompted by the state of the economy.

The advance staff can claim before their London home sells has been cut from 95 per cent of the value of the property to 85 per cent. The cash is meant to allow employees to buy a house in the North West before their old one sells. If the property goes for less than 85 per cent of its market value, the BBC will cover the shortfall, between 85 and 100 per cent, and the employee will pocket the cash and anything over the market value will go to the BBC. Staff choosing to sell their home privately will get a single payment of 10 per cent of their salary.

If an employee wants to relocate to Salford Quays, but can’t straight away, they’ll be eligible to claim up to £1,900 a month for two years to cover rent and bills in the North West and travel costs to allow them to return to London at weekends.

The BBC, which plans to move five departments from London to its new base at Salford Quays by 2011, described the packages as fair but affordable. The financial incentives will be only be available to permanent employees who own their own homes.

A BBC spokesman said: “The review has come about because of the current financial situation which the BBC is not immune to and requests from staff to have greater flexibility to reflect individual circumstances.”

Comments? rmorris@crain.com