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Somerset's economy
Somerset's economy-the basics
Mendip’s economy – the basics
Sedgemoor’s economy – the basics
South Somerset’s economy – the basics
Taunton Deane’s economy – the basics
West Somerset’s economy – the basics
Somerset’s economy - the basics
The information in this section has been taken from a variety of sources including the Somerset Statistics website at http://somerset.gov.uk/somerset/statistics
Overview
| |  | Somerset is a mainly rural county but has good rail and road links to the rest of the country. It lies in the middle of the SW region and, in economic terms, performs around average for the region. | | | | Somerset’s population is growing and currently stands at around 516,000 (with a prediction that it will reach 555,000 by 2016). | | | | Around one-in-three people live in the four biggest towns: Taunton, Yeovil, Bridgwater and Frome. | | | | 300,000 people are of “working age”. Of these, 250,000 are “economically active”. | | | | The economically active population includes nearly 205,000 employed people and over 30,000 who are self-employed (the rest being unemployed). | | | | Small and medium-sized businesses are vital to the local economy. 93% of all Somerset firms employ less than 25 people (with many having less than 10 workers). Around 14% of local workers are self-employed and business survival rates are good. | | | | Only a few businesses employ over 200 people. However, together, these organisations employ around 25% of the Somerset workforce. |
Economic profile
| | | Somerset’s position in the middle of the SW means that many businesses use the county as the base for their regional offices and depots. | | | | Advanced engineering – especially aerospace in South Somerset - is strong in Somerset and employs around 10,000 people. | | | | Manufacturing is important with 14% of the workforce engaged in making a whole range of products from orange juice to helicopters. | | | | Health & social care is a growing employment area with above-national average numbers of people doing this work. | | | | The importance of distribution is growing with the building of major new warehouses – and other businesses - alongside the M5. |
Issues and trends
| | | Although a significant proportion of jobs and businesses are found in the larger towns, employment opportunities are dispersed across Somerset in market towns, villages, seaside resorts and rural areas. | | | | There are shortages of people entering manufacturing and skilled trades. In the future there may also be shortages of managers, carers and sales staff. | | | | The idea of certain jobs for boys, and certain jobs for girls, is dying. Somerset’s economy will grow as people become more open-minded about career choices. | | | | Somerset needs a better qualified, more skilled workforce. New younger workers need to aim high, get plenty of qualifications and continue training throughout their careers. |
Useful Somerset web sites:
Business Link in the South Westwww.businesslink.gov.uk/southwest
Learning & Skills Council (South West) www.lsc.gov.uk/regions/southwest
Somerset Chamber of Commerce & Industry www.somerset-chamber.co.uk
Somerset Facts and Figures www.somerset.gov.uk/somerset/statistics
Somerset County Council www.somerset.gov.uk
Somerset Food Links www.somerset.foodlinks.org.uk
Somerset Gateway www.somerset.gov.uk/somersetgateway
Somerset Intelligence Network www.sine.org.uk
Somerset Web www.somersetweb.co.uk
Visit Somerset www.visitsomerset.co.uk
Applegate Business Directory www.applegate.co.uk
Mendip’s economy - basics
Main Towns: Frome, Shepton Mallet, Glastonbury, Street and Wells
Total Population: 108,500
| | | Mendip has around 4,650 businesses. | | | | Key industries in Mendip include manufacturing, wholesale/retail, education and health and social care. | | | | All sorts of products are manufactured in Mendip with food and drink processing, printing, footwear and leather goods being particularly important. | | | | Mendip is one of the most important quarrying regions in the country with especially large quarries being found between Shepton Mallet and Frome. | | | | Wells Cathedral, Glastonbury Tor, Glastonbury Abbey and Wookey Hole bring many visitors and boost the local tourism industry. | | | | The Glastonbury music festival and Clark’s Village at Street increasingly contribute to the local economy. | | | | Work is underway on a major business development at the Morlands site between Street and Glastonbury. This will bring new jobs and businesses to the area. | | | | Several nationally-known companies have head offices in Mendip including Clarks, Mulberry and Foster Yeoman. | | | | Earnings in Mendip are normally above the average for Somerset. |
Useful Mendip web sites:
Frome www.frome.towntalk.co.uk
Glastonbury www.glastonbury.co.uk
Mendip Chambers of Commerce www.macoc.co.uk
Mendip District Council www.mendip.gov.uk
Morlands Enterprise Park www.morlandsenterprisepark.com
Shepton Mallet www.sheptonmallet.org
Shepton Mallet Chamber of Commerce www.shepton.biz
Wells www.wells-uk.com
Sedgemoor’s economy - the basics
Main Towns: Bridgwater, Burnham-on-Sea and Cheddar
Total population: 110,800
| | | Sedgemoor has over 4,100 businesses. | | | | Manufacturing and distribution companies are some of the biggest employers in Sedgemoor. Large numbers also work in business, health and social care. | | | | The area is enjoying economic growth and has attracted new businesses along the M5 from Highbridge through to North Petherton. | | | | Developments have included depots for Robert Wisemans, several new factories at Highbridge and a mixed range of businesses at Express Park, Bridgwater. | | | | Other key employers include Bridgwater Hospital, Aggregates, Bridgwater College and Woodberry Bros & Haines. | | | | Tourism is important at Cheddar and along the coastal strip from Burnham-on-Sea to Brean. This boosts the numbers employed in catering, leisure and tourism. | | | | Food and drink manufacture is important in Sedgemoor. Significant employers include Gerber Foods and Yeo Valley. |
Bridgwater www.bridgwater.net
Burnham-on-Sea www.burnham-on-sea.com
Cheddar www.cheddarsomerset.co.uk
Express Park www.expresspark.co.uk
Sedgemoor District Council www.sedgemoor.gov.uk
Sedgemoor Tourism Association www.holidayswestcountry.co.uk
South Somerset’s economy - the basics
Main Towns: Yeovil, Chard, Crewkerne, Ilminster and Wincanton
Total Population: 154,642
| | | South Somerset has over 6,000 businesses employing around 64,000 people. | | | | South Somerset is the largest district in Somerset and has more people, employers and workers than any other part of the county. | | | | The area has a strong, diverse economy with manufacturing and engineering being the single most important sector. | | | | Around 25% of the workforce works in manufacturing and engineering. The variety of goods produced is ever-increasing and ranges from helicopters to cleaning equipment, boats, garage doors and leather goods. | | | | Yeovil is one of the most significant aerospace engineering districts in the UK and enjoys an international reputation. | | | | Many people work in retail and distribution. Business and health and social care are other key employment fields. | | | | Key businesses include famous names such as Augusta Westland, Honeywell, Oscar Mayer, Pittards, Haynes and Screwfix. | | | | The A303 provides good communications and has led to the establishment of business parks along its route. | | | | South Somerset has a number of traditional market towns that house a broad range of businesses and services. Efforts are being made to further improve economic performance in these places. |
Useful South Somerset web links:
Crewkerne www.crewkernetown.co.uk
Ilminster Chamber of Commerce www.ilminsterchamber.org.uk
South Somerset District Council www.southsomerset.gov.uk
South Somerset Together www.southsomersettogether.org.uk
South Somerset Tourism www.visitsouthsomerset.com
Wincanton Chamber of Commerce www.wincantonchamber.org.uk
Yeovil www.yeoviltown.com
Yeovil Chamber of Trade and Commerce www.yeovilchamber.org
Taunton Deane’s economy - the basics
Main Towns: Taunton and Wellington
Total Population: 106,800
| | | Taunton Deane has around 3,840 businesses. | | | | The area is well-located on the M5 between Bristol and Devon. This means Taunton Deane hosts many conferences as well as being home to the regional offices of many organisations. | | | | Large numbers of local people work in retail and distribution, business, health and social care, education and public administration. | | | | Several prominent organisations have major offices in Taunton Deane. These include the UK Hydrographic Office, Western Provident Association, the Charity Commission and Debenhams. | | | | Somerset County Council, the county’s largest employer, is based at County Hall in Taunton . | | | | Other major public-sector employers include Taunton and Somerset Hospital (Musgrove Park) and Taunton Deane District Council. | | | | Wellington has major manufacturing employers such as Relyon and Swallowfield. | | | | Taunton Deane has two major business parks close to the M5 at Blackbrook (Taunton) and Chelston (Wellington). These house a broad range of specialist businesses, regional offices and distribution centres. | | | | Project Taunton will see a major development of Taunton town centre over the next few years that will bring about more jobs and new businesses. |
Useful Taunton Deane web sites:
Project Taunton www.projecttaunton.co.uk
Taunton Chamber of Commerce www.taunton-chamber.co.uk
Taunton Deane District Council www.tauntondeane.gov.uk
Taunton Deane Tourism www.heartofsomerset.com
Taunton Town Centre www.tauntontowncentre.co.uk
Wellington www.wellingtonsomerset.com
Wellington Chamber of Commerce www.wellingtonchamber.co.uk
West Somerset’s economy - the basics
Main Towns: Minehead, Dulverton and Watchet
Total Population: 35,873
| | | West Somerset has nearly 1,610 businesses. | | | | West Somerset has the smallest population of any Somerset district and is also the most rural in character. This means that land-based-industries – including agriculture, forestry, estate management, rural crafts and equestrian – are relatively important. | | | | Much of West Somerset consists of Exmoor National Park. Together with a coastal location this ensures that the area is a leading tourist attraction. | | | | Largely as a result of tourism 18% of local workers are employed in hotel and catering. | | | | Butlins holiday centre at Minehead is the biggest local employer. It is open most of the year but has its largest number of jobs in the peak tourist season. | | | | West Somerset has a mix of manufacturing businesses including St Regis (paper making), Snazaroo (face paints) and D J Miles (tea and coffee). | | | | Other significant employers include West Somerset District Council and tourist attractions such as West Somerset Railway and Tropiquaria. | | | | There are also many small and medium-sized businesses operating from either from towns or rural locations. These include very specialist ICT, technological and creative businesses. | | | | Many people retire to West Somerset and it has one of the highest percentages of older people in the South West. This means retirement and nursing homes are important employers.
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Useful West Somerset web sites:
Exmoor Holidays Group www.exmoor-holidays.co.uk
Exmoor National Park www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk
Exmoor Producers Association www.exmoor-producers.co.uk
Exmoor Tourist Association www.exmoor.com
Minehead www.minehead.co.uk
West Somerset District Council www.westsomersetonline.gov.uk
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