Levelling Up agenda

BGC praises Govt.'s new white paper to boost jobs and training; UK gambling industry to "go even further"

Michael Dugher, Betting and Gaming Council boss.
2022-02-02
Reading time 3:25 min

UK gambling industry standards body Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), which represents betting shops, casinos and the online gaming sector in the UK, announced on Wednesday its support for the Government’s Levelling Up agenda. The white paper sets out a framework for boosting jobs by pledging to spend £20 million ($27 million) on training and development for staff across the UK each year.

“The Government’s levelling up agenda is a fantastic opportunity to create more apprenticeships and tackle unemployment across the UK,” said Michael Dugher, Chief Executive of the BGC. He further said the regulated industry was ready to go “even further” to help to support the UK economy.

“Across the UK, from Stoke to Leeds, BGC members are investing in high tech jobs within their companies more than ever before,” Dugher explained. “They stand ready to support the economic recovery after covid and provide the skills and opportunities that towns and cities need to thrive".

Members of the BGC pledged in September to create a total of 5,000 apprenticeships for young people looking to work in the industry between now and 2025, the body explains in a press release, the vast majority of which will be outside of London.

Lord Walney, Engagement Director for the Levelling Up Goals at The Purpose Coalition, has now backed the BGC’s apprenticeship plan. “Apprenticeships will play a huge part in the levelling up process, allowing companies to provide high-quality training for thousands of young people,” he said.

Unveiled on Wednesday, the long-promised Levelling Up plan aims to improve opportunities in the UK. Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove said it is set to “shift both money and power into the hands of working people.” It sets out a number of policies to be achieved by 2030, which aim to tackle regional disparities in the UK.

BGC members combined support nearly 119,000 jobs, according to a report by EY. They directly employ 61,000 people, and a further 58,000 in the supply chain. Out of these jobs, nearly two-thirds are based outside of London, with nearly 20,000 in the West Midlands alone. 

Other high employment areas for the UK betting and gaming industry include Yorkshire and Humber, where over 10,000 people are employed, and in the North West and North East a combined 16,000 people are employed. Many of these jobs are in the high-tech sector and BGC members are “proud to play their part” in the tech growth across the UK, a press release says.

Instances of BGC members supporting tech growth and employment can be found on Sky Bet recently opening a £15 million ($20 million) technology and innovation hub in Leeds, which is home to 1,700 staff from across the UK and Ireland and international divisions.

The standards body also cites bet365 as a success case in this regard. The company’s global headquarters, in Stoke, employ over 4,500 people: the BGC member is the largest private-sector employer in the area. 

Combined, members of the BGC generated £4.5 billion ($6.1 billion) for the Treasury in tax and contributed £7.7 billion ($10.4 billion) in gross value added to the UK economy in 2019, the EY report further notes.

Outside of London, the regions also benefit from local tax contributions made by members, the BGC claims. In the North West, they contribute around £9 million ($12 million) in business rates, £7 million ($9.5 million) in Scotland, and £3 million ($4 million) in Wales.

A second study, conducted by ESA Retail, found betting shops also provide a boost to the high street. The report shows that 89% of betting shop customers combine their trip to the bookies with visits to other local businesses.

Additionally, about 11,600 people are employed in Britain’s 120 casinos, which pay £600 million ($814 million) in tax to the Treasury and contribute £1.2 billion ($1.6 billion) to the economy in gross value added. The BGC describes them as both a major contributor to the UK and an integral part of the hospitality industry.

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