GLASGOW has been chosen as one of three new Channel 4 sites as part of a shake up across the UK. 

Announced this afternoon, the Channel 4 Board have confirmed that that Leeds will be the location of its new National HQ and Bristol and Glasgow will be the locations of its two new Creative Hubs.

The news means that Glasgow will now receive its share of hundreds of jobs which come with the three sites. 

The new creative hub will be home to 50 Channel 4 jobs when fully established, with a focus on programme commissioning, but will bring in a broader talent base later on.

READ MORE: Glasgow officially makes shortlist for Channel 4 national HQ

The new bases are at the heart of a new plan ‘4 All the UK’ to ensure that Channel 4 better represents all the UK, on and off-screen – and they will help catalyse the increased Nations and Regions production spend.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "Channel 4's announcement that Glasgow will host one of its new creative hubs is fantastic news for Scotland's screen sector and creative industries.

"The enthusiasm, excitement and support behind Glasgow's successful bid for the hub is testament to the city's thriving creative community, as well as Stuart Cosgrove and Glasgow City Council's tireless work to attract this new investment from Channel 4 to Glasgow.

"As home to one of the most vibrant cultural scenes in Scotland, BBC Scotland, STV and more than 120 production companies - I am pleased Channel 4 has recognised Glasgow is the ideal location for one of their new hubs.

"I look forward to seeing plans for the new base in Glasgow develop."

The decision to select Leeds as the new National HQ and Bristol and Glasgow as new Creative Hubs follows an extensive pitch process in which shortlisted cities were carefully assessed against Channel 4’s vision and objectives

Glasgow had originally been one of 30 cities hoping to be selected as the new national HQ but was instead shortlisted for one of the two creative hub slots. 

Alex Mahon, Channel 4 Chief Executive said: “Diversity and inclusion have always been at the heart of Channel 4’s mission and the launch of our 4 All the UK plan is the biggest and most exciting change in the organisation’s 36-year history – as we open up Channel 4 to people from across the UK and supercharge the impact we have in all parts of the country.

READ MORE: Glasgow misses out on Channel 4 HQ bid

“We will be spending up to £250m more on programming produced in the Nations and Regions and to catalyse that spend I’m delighted to confirm that we will be establishing a new National HQ in Leeds and new Creative Hubs in Bristol and Glasgow.

“We undertook a rigorous process over the last seven months and the high calibre of all the pitches meant those were incredibly difficult decisions to make.  However, I know that Leeds, Bristol and Glasgow will best deliver our objectives to grow the production sector across the UK, build the pipeline of creative talent outside London and support our increased investment in programming produced across the Nations and Regions.

“Glasgow has a well-established production sector across multiple genres, and locating a Creative Hub in the city will give Channel 4 the opportunity to tap into the rich cultural diversity of Scotland and also allow us to exploit the city’s strong connectivity with Belfast and the Northern Ireland production sector."

The Channel 4 Executive team and Channel 4 Board believed that Glasgow best delivered against the vision and objectives set out for the new Creative Hubs.

Highlighted as positives in the city were its existing independent production sector with strengths across a number of different programme genres.

Establishing a new Creative Hub in the city is expected to bring Channel 4 commissioners even closer to key production partners in the Glasgow and help develop the production and creative sector across Scotland.

Locating a Creative Hub in Glasgow also enables Channel 4 to harness the city’s rich cultural diversity, to further improve on-screen representation, and to work with the sector and the region’s educational establishments to grow the pipeline of new talent into the production and broadcast industries. 

There is also the opportunity to exploit the strong connection with Belfast and develop deeper links with the production sector in Northern Ireland.

Scottish Greens culture and media spokesman, Ross Greer MSP, added: "This is excellent news and well deserved given Glasgow's world famous creative economy.

"Along with investment in the new BBC Scotland channel, it's clear that Scotland has an opportunity to build a reputation for high quality TV and film production."

"The next step is the Scottish Government and their agencies stepping up to the plate to deliver the studio capacity and support the screen sector needs to take full advantage of these investments."

Glasgow City Council reacted to the news of the Scottish city being chosen as one of Channel 4's creative hubs on Twitter, writing: "Yaaaas! Great news for the city @Glasgow4C4 @Channel4."

Council leader Susan Aitken added: "DELIGHTED to confirm that Channel 4 will site one of its new creative hubs in Glasgow! Just been told the news & can’t stop grinning. So many people have made this success happen but special thanks must go the unstoppable @Detroit67Book. Glasgow’s ready for @Glasgow4C4!