THE huge growth in civil service jobs in York was revealed today – as inward investment chiefs revealed their hopes of bringing hundreds more.

They said a new film being created as part of The Press’s York Means Business campaign could help in securing the extra employment.

New statistics uncovered by York MP Hugh Bayley showed there were 2,860 civil servants working in the York area last year, compared with 1,560 in 1997.

One of the biggest rises was within the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and its agencies – up from 570 to 1,150, making it one of the city’s main employers.

The Press reported on Monday how City of York Council leader Andrew Waller was calling for a big push to lure Defra to the Hungate site, where there is already outline consent to build 100,000 sq ft of offices close to existing Defra buildings.

The inward investment agency york-england.com said today it had been working closely with partners such as Yorkshire Forward to promote York as a viable location for Government departments considering locating away from the London area.

“It does present an opportunity to create jobs for local people and we have worked with a number of public sector organisations in establishing bases or growing their investment in York and the surrounding area,” said chief executive Denise Stuart.

“In 2006, we assisted Defra in relocating 110 additional posts to York with a number of these posts being filled by local people. Defra are now one of the city’s main employers.

“However, it is a long process and there are no overnight wins.”

Mr Bayley said the concentration of Defra and Ministry of Defence jobs in York meant there was now a “critical mass” which would help attract more work.

He said he had helped bring civil service departments such as the Defence Vetting Agency to the city, and he would lobby to bring more, working with a range of organisations and agencies.

He said the film being made by York film-maker Christopher David, of Flash Frame Productions, which would help york.england.com promote the city as a great place to invest in and live, would help in the drive to bring new civil service work.

“It will show that York is an excellent place for both the private and public sector to locate, where there is a high quality of life for employees.”

Denise Stuart said the film would provide york-england.com with another tool to utilise in the attraction of inward investors, showing the benefits that being located in York could bring.