WA Turner Ltd based in Royal Tunbridge
Wells, which produce sausage, pies
and frozen food and Fridays Ltd, near
Cranbrook, which is one of the top
producers and packers of organic eggs
in the country.
Small and Medium Sized Businesses
Tunbridge Wells borough is home to an
entrepreneurial community of small and
medium sized businesses, in both urban
and rural situations. The area's high
enterprise start-up rate helps to make
it one of the most prosperous in Kent.
Self employment rates are well above
comparable regional and national figures.
Self employment amongst women is
twice the regional and national averages
(ONS Population Survey).
Business premises have been developed
to cater for the large number of small
businesses wishing to set up in the area.
The role of enterprise education and the
provision of affordable and serviced
business premises and their support are
key to all future enterprise and small
business activity in the area. Micro
enterprise has been particularly successful
in a number of key sectors in Royal
Tunbridge Wells including the creative
industries such as the digital media
sector. Tunbridge Wells borough is also a
favoured location for home-workers who
contribute to the local economy by both
living and working in the same area.
Finance and Business Support Sector
Tunbridge Wells has a very successful
and growing commercial, financial and
business support sector. Royal Tunbridge
Diverse Business Community
The borough has a diverse business
community of 6,500 businesses
providing a range of services and
products. These businesses employ
58,700 people drawn from a wide
catchment area of Kent, Sussex and
Essex. Key sectors are Finance and
Business Services, Media & Creative,
Information Technology, Retail, Tourism,
Education and Health.
The UK Competitiveness Index, in 2013,
ranked the borough in the top 15% of
local economies in the United Kingdom
Major Companies
The Tunbridge Wells area has been
successful in attracting many prestigious
companies to locate to this part of Kent.
Cripps Harries Hall, a major solicitors'
practice, and AXA PPP Healthcare, one
of the largest private health care providers
in England, both have major offices in
Royal Tunbridge Wells. The BBC, based
at the Great Hall in Royal Tunbridge
Wells, includes Radio Kent and television
studios for the region covering Kent and
East Sussex. A variety of other large
companies with a national and global focus
includes Bidbest 3663 and Muffett Gears.
Reflecting the borough's agricultural
background and convenient access, a
number of major food and food processing
businesses are located in the area. They
include M & W MACK with a large fruit
and vegetable storage, supply and
distribution centre at Paddock Wood,
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