The Local Business Community
South Wiltshire is home to a whole hos of leading companies, hi-tech ventures, financial institutions and manufacturers, who achieve excellence in their fields. Some key players already making the most of the area's advantages are:
- Wiseman dairies
- James Hay
- Friends Provident
- Health Protectionn Agency (HPA)
- Naish Felts
- Qinetiq
- Wilton Carpets
- 4com
- Defence, Science & Technology Laboratory (Dstl)
- Thales
- Naim Audio
And many more...
Small firms choose South Wiltshire too...
Whilst it is easy to focus on the major companies, small and medium sized enterprises (SME's) play an equally vital role in the local economy and make up 90% of all businesses in South Wiltshire. The thriving entrepreneurial spirit will get encouragement and practical support from a range of sources including, the South Wiltshire Economic Partnership, Salisbury City Centre Management, Wiltshire Rural Business Club, Salisbury Civic Society, Chambers of Commerce and Trade (located in Salisbury, Tidworth, Amesbury, Mere and Wilton), Wiltshire College, the Federation of Small Businesses, Business Link and Wiltshire Council.
"The Salisbury community believes in good education, hard work and quality of life. We are driven by vision and innovation and rewarded by a prosperous local economy, a strong science base and world-class enterprise. From biotechnology to aeronautics, financial services, tourism and retail- we've been getting it right for 800 years!" Robert Key, MP for Salisbury and Shadow Minister for Science
Centering on scientific excellence
Salisbury and south Wiltshire has a particularly thriving scientific sector, with thousands of jobs depending on providing cutting-edge science and technology. Companies such as HPA and Dstl based at Porton Down, Qinetiq at Boscombe Down make use of the good transport and telecommunications infrastructure in the area.
Firms looking to establish themselves in the bio-technology sector, can access support at incubator units where they can use state-of-the-art laboratory facilities at Porton Down. They will be able to take advantage of being located in the business cluster, by building on expertise and knowledge through inter-firm learning and training and skills.
"Knowledge transfer and business incubation are the drivers for this high-tech focused District. Salisbury has world-class research development facilities at Boscombe Down (Advanced Engineering) and Porton Down (Biotechnology). The economic importance of developing these sectors is recognised regionally by the South West of England Regional Development Agency (SWRDA)- as is developing the already established regional priority sector of tourism. Salisbury has enormous economic potential- and its voice is being heard." Philip Watkins, South West Regional Development Agency
