Campaigners claim the BBC is still selling Birmingham short after its head of business development stood down - to return to Salford.

Tommy Nagra, a figurehead for change at the BBC in the Midlands, will step down in March after little more than a year in the role.

While his tenure saw a rise in employment at The Mailbox offices – principally through talent centre the BBC Academy moving to the city – campaigners believe Birmingham is still the broadcaster's poor relation.

The Midlands pays more into BBC coffers than any other UK region through the licence fee – more than £900 million – but its investment here is less than anywhere else, according to data unveiled by the Campaign for Regional Broadcasting Midlands (CRBM).

Following Mr Nagra's departure, its chairman Mike Bradley said: "When Tommy came to Birmingham, there had been so many cutbacks over the previous 15 years, that the Midlands was the only BBC region of seven that did not have a network television studio in which to make programming.

"Also, BBC Midlands contributed zero per cent of programming to Radio One, Radio Two, Radio Three, Radio Five, Radio Six, BBC2 or peaktime BBC One. All of this remains the same. Nothing has changed.

"Over on Radio Four there is The Archers and The Homefront, a World War One series of ten-minute dramas that both contribute 2.7 per cent of Radio Four output.

"This is an appalling record for a broadcaster that receives over £940 million each year from the Midland licence fee and which is required by parliament to 'represent the regions to the nation'.

"This region is not being represented. That fact is plainly seen in the schedules."

Mr Nagra will stand down in March when Joe Godwin will come in as director of BBC Birmingham, while he will also continue as director of the BBC Academy.

He took over at the helm at the Mailbox last January with a remit to raise the BBC's profile in the city and across the broadcaster's network.

Since then, the BBC Academy move has seen 100 jobs shifted to The Mailbox and a "Guerrilla Group" to drive digital content from the Custard Factory has been unveiled.

Mr Nagra told the Post that £23.5 million would be invested in Birmingham by the corporation over three years and pointed to the BBC Academy and new office at Fazeley Studios as highlights.

He said: "Our recent investment and activity is very much a first step in building a strong, sustainable and creative centre in Birmingham, fit and ready for the future in an increasingly financially challenging climate.

"The remit has been to kick-start activity across BBC Birmingham – bring the site and new teams together, develop new business and work with partners to make us more visible and engaged in the city and region which has given us a good start and foundation on which to build.

"There's plenty to do before I leave and I'm delighted that Joe Godwin has now taken up his official role as director of The Academy and director of BBC Birmingham which was announced in October 2014."