Jobs in Luton | Pictures of Luton

Famous for producing hats, producing cars, aircraft components and ball-bearings, Luton has a long tradition in the manufacturing sector – a sector that continues to dominate the local economy with almost 1 in 5 workers plying their trade in this sector today. And being located in the centre of the so-called Oxford-Cambridge Arc with the M1, A1 and M25 right on its doorstep, Luton’s manufacturing pedigree has stimulated the growth of a number of new industries within the fields of technology and knowledge industries.

Then and now
Luton's economy has changed focus several times across the centuries, but has always primarily been an industrial town. The English millinery industry was established there during the time of James I and by the eighteenth century the hat-making trade had become the dominant industry in the town – Luton Town FC is nicknamed ‘The hatters’ in recognition of this.

As this industry boomed so too did the town’s population. In 1801 there were only 3,000 inhabitants but by the outbreak of the First World War this had swelled to over 50,000. But much of this later surge in growth was experienced at the start of the 1900s, coinciding with the opening of the Vauxhall Motors assembly plant - then the largest of its kind in the UK – which boomed during the war years when it doubled as the main manufacturer for the Churchill tank.

Today, mmanufacturing remains the largest sector in Luton, employing almost 20 per cent of the workforce but its percentage is steadily decreasing year on year in line with national trends. With the closure of the Vauxhall plant in 2002 and the loss of hundreds of jobs, Luton’s manufacturing base has sought new economic drivers and diversified to include advanced automotive engineering and research – both of which being the product of a traditional motor vehicle manufacturing heritage.

Tui, IBC Vehicles and Hain Celestial Foods are the biggest manufacturing employers in Luton with more than 3,000 staff between them, whereas Vauxhall remains a significant employer with around 500 staff – some 1,500 less than in 2002. Other major employers include Siemens Electronics and InBev.

However, Luton is moving towards a service based economy mainly in the retail and the airport sectors. Indeed, expansion plans at London Luton Airport are being heralded as the much-needed boost that Luton needs to kick-start its economy in the face of its declining manufacturing base. And it is hoped that this will raise Luton’s profile and attractiveness for the increasing number of businesses looking to break-away from their traditional home in London.

Monarch Airlines and EasyJet are the biggest employers in the aviation sector responsible for more than 3,000 employees, whereas the airport itself employs around 9,000 workers.

The central business district is undergoing a regeneration project to boost and redevelop the area’s commercial potential, as witnessed by the extension of the main shopping mall in the town centre in addition to a number of new office developments. And crucial to Luton’s regeneration plans is the public sector.

As a unitary authority responsible overseeing the public administration of a population exceeding 200,000 people, it comes as no surprise that Luton Borough Council is the single biggest employer in the town. More than 9,000 people are employed by the Council in a variety of local government and administrative roles. And partnering the Council as a major public sector employer is the Luton & Dunstable NHS Trust which itself employs more than 2,000 in the health sector.

Whilst the University of Bedfordshire is the leading employer in the education sector with just under 900 employees.

Retail is a growing sector in Luton, largely as a result of the declining manufacturing sector. With the expansion of the shopping centre and the inevitable increase in jobs, around 18 per cent of the workforce ply their trade in this sector.

However, Luton is now playing host to an emerging culture of research and design, testing and engineering and pharmaceuticals with a growing portfolio of leading international organisations setting-up shop in the area, including AstraZeneca, Selex and BAE Systems.

Key business districts
Butterfield Business and Technology Park is one of the newest – and most impressive – business sites in the area. Located along the A505, the Park is home to a large number of office, research & development and technology-based organisations.

Elsewhere, Capability Green, close to Junction 10 of the M1, is home to a number of international companies. Other business parks are at Cotswold Business Park, Basepoint Luton Business centre: Innovation Centre and Business Base.

If you're thinking of moving to the area, take a look at some of the current property available to buy or let in Luton.

Take a closer look
A picture is worth a thousand words. You can see some images from in and around Luton below.

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