Wellington Economy

Wellington has a strong industrial heritage dating back to the eighteenth century when the Were family set up set up as wool merchants. Towards the end of that century the Were's nephew Thomas Fox established a woollen mill. The Fox Brothers became know world wide for the quality of its cloth and was one of the first businesses to provide social benefits for its employees, with sickness benefit, education, pensions and its own bank. The town maintains its manufacturing base with two major companies, Relyon making top quality beds and Swallowfield producing aerosols.

The area is well served for business sites and premises. Chelston Business Park on the outskirts of the town offers a modern business environment, which has attracted a range of other business types to the town including distribution because of its location, proximity to the M5 and reasonable access to mainline rail services. Other developments are proposed including Chelston House Farm.

With its agricultural links the area has a growing food and drinks sector. The creative industry sector is strong with many businesses located on Tonedale and in the Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The care industry is another important developing sector for the Wellington area.

The Wellington Economic Partnership was established by Taunton Deane Borough Council, Wellington Town Council and Wellington Chamber of Trade to promote the economy of Wellington. The partnership meets every couple of months to discuss future developments in the town; ways of attracting new businesses to the town; how to make effective use of the councils' investments; and to find ways of promoting the town. The partnership is made up of elected councillors from the three local councils; officers from those councils and members of the Chamber.

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