Jobs in St Helens | Pictures of St Helens

Prominently located at the mid way point between Liverpool and Manchester is St Helens, one of the fastest growing local economies in the North West and the only district in Merseyside to experience sustained population growth year on year since 2001.

Having made the successful transition from a post industrial to a services-based economy, St Helen's economic make-up is unique unto itself and one that complements, rather than competes, with the region's two biggest economies – the 2008 European Capital of Culture –Liverpool, and England 's new ‘second city' - Manchester .

Then and now
Until the mid-19 th century St Helens did not exist as a town in its own right, passing as simply an amalgamation of a number of villages – Eccleston, Windle, Parr and Sutton – with a joint population of around 12,500. But by the 1850's, the area's population had swelled to 50,000 and a name other than ‘that there place between Liverpool and Manchester ' became a pressing need. And ‘ St Helens ', in name at least, was born.

Throughout the 16 th -19 th centuries the area's local economy was dictated by agriculture a small cottage industry for the wool trade. But the Industrial Revolution was to change all that. First came the Sankey Canal followed by the railways which not only improved the area's communication links, they exploited the foundations upon which it stood – coal. Soon, the town of St Helens became a cradle of the industrial North West and a major coal, glass and chemicals producer.

The town has undergone a significant and successful post-industrial renaissance that has become an increasingly significant location for businesses to invest and relocate, with great strides made by the local Council to transform the image and perception of St Helens and maximise its prime position midway between Liverpool and Manchester .  

Despite the regional and national decline of the sector, manufacturing continues to be a significant employer in St Helens , albeit at a lesser extent than previously. Indeed, some 7,700 people continue to ply their trade in manufacturing with Pilkington Glass Plc (now owned by Japanese company NSG) being the mainstay of the industry, employing more than 2,000 in the region.

Being the administrative centre for the Borough of St Helens and providing a wide range of public services to 176,000 residents, the public sector has emerged as the single-most important employer in the area in recent years. With St Helens Council and St Helens College being the main employers within this sector employing 8,000 and 800 staff respectively, the majority of employment opportunities in the area can be found in the fields of public administration, education and health.

Meanwhile, one of the fastest growing sectors in recent years is logistics. St Helens' prime location with direct links to the M62, M57, M56, M58 and M6 motorways, means that it has become an increasingly sought-after distribution base for large-scale companies seeking a strategic Northern base. Indeed, employment in the sector has soared to 6,000 jobs since 2006, which represents 10 per cent of the workforce.

And the leisure and retail sector has also seen employment growth. St Helens town centre has undergone a major programme of regeneration to enhance its shopping district and position the town as a viable alternative to the largest centres in Liverpool and Manchester . With key projects such as the George Street Quarter regeneration, the opening of the award-winning World Museum of Glass and the refurbishment of the Citadel Arts Centre, visitor numbers to the area have increased, and so too have the number of jobs needed to meet increased demand.

But its not just shoppers and day trippers who are coming to the area, the business tourism sector is also growing apace. Capitalising on its obvious communication links at the centre of a major motorway network, St Helens has emerged as an increasingly preferred conference venue in the North West, with a number of key venues that provide the ideal environment for conferences, exhibitions and business functions- notably Haydock Park Race course, the Hilton Hotel and the Thistle Hotel. One of the most significant of which was when the town was chosen to host the National Tourism Society Annual Conference – a major coup recognising the emergence of St Helens as a tourism destination.

The success of these service industries has stimulated the overall growth rate of new business set-ups and companies relocated to the area, with a recent survey placing St Helens as one of the top eleven locations in the UK for business start-up growth rates.

Key business districts
The commercial heart of St Helens is predictably concentrated in the town centre itself. However, there are a number of dedicated industrial estates that are home to some of St Helens' major employers, including estates at Haydock, Moorfoot, Delphwood, Sutton Oak Drive , St. Helens and Duke Street, in Newton-le-Willows.

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

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

Looking for local vacancies? See all current jobs in St Helens or find out more information on the local area.