Cheltenham is a thriving centre for business – from major high tech engineering firms and corporate headquarters to unique specialists in marketing, IT and communications to a huge range of smaller local businesses and some of the best shopping in the UK. 

International names like Kraft Foods UK , Chelsea Building Society, Kohler Mira, Superdry and Spirax Sarco UK are all based here, along with local names with international followings like Cheltenham Racecourse and Cheltenham Festivals.  

The leading public sector employer is the government’s signals intelligence agency, GCHQ. The town offers an attractive and cosmopolitan location, outstanding schools, more than 100 restaurants, wine bars, bistros and cafes, 15 night clubs, great communications links including direct trains to London, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Birmingham and Bristol and a buzzing commercial environment. 

The town also has a growing specialism in sustainable business, technologies and expertise.  Click here to meet some of Cheltenham’s green stars.

• As the town’s MP, Martin sees it as his role to support local jobs and sustainable prosperity in the town.  He actively promotes local companies, especially those with a positive story to tell about environmental sustainability, corporate social responsibility and community involvement. Email him here

• Cheltenham Borough Council actively supports local and relocating businesses, providing advice and support, contacts and grants through the Cheltenham Business Pride scheme.  Click here.

• Cheltenham Chamber of Commerce are the town’s business champions and provide a network of support and contacts but also actively lobbies for projects that will help the whole town such as better rail services.

• The Federation of Small Business also has an active local branch linking many smaller businesses across the town.

• Cheltenham Business Partnership brings together the private, public and community sectors to promote the wellbeing of local people and enterprises.

• Cheltenham Connect, has a much wider remit than business, linking local organisations, enterprises and individuals to forge a stronger, more sustainable community in the south of Cheltenham – but thriving local businesses are central to their mission.

  Cheltenham’s green stars

Martin is particularly proud of Cheltenham’s contribution to the growing green business sector.  Here are just some of Cheltenham’s green business stars:

• Cheltenham Catering Supplies [http://www.cheltenhamcateringsupplies.co.uk/] are a competitive mainstream business with a unique environmental dimension – from 100% biodegradable cutlery, food containers, cups and bags made from corn starch, potatoes or waste sugar cane to non-toxic naturally-based alternatives to traditional cleaning products and disposables.

• Commercial group is a leading business services and office supplies provider – but with a unique and award-winning commitment to ethical business and the environment, including a commitment to reduce the company’s carbon emissions by 80% in just three years. 

• Brightsource are an innovative and competitive print management company specialising in direct marketing – but with a growing specialism in accurate carbon footprinting and environmentally and ethically responsible sourcing.

• Ethical Investors are pioneers in environmentally and socially responsible investment, and redistribute 50% of their net profit to charities and good causes.  They can advise on ethical pensions, ethical mortgages, ethical ISAs and other financial products for individuals, charities and ethical businesses.

• Heath Avery Architects are a successful architectural business specialising in the residential, educational and care sectors – and a pioneering approach to sustainability dating back to their building of one of the UK’s first earth-sheltered houses more than twenty years ago.

• Think Lighting provide bright and beautiful alternatives to wasteful halogen lights for commercial and retail environments.

• Plexus Technology offer their clients integrated energy management software solutions that can radically cut their carbon emissions – and their energy bills.

• The Natural Grocery Store specialise in natural, environmentally-friendly and organic food, drink and household goods - available online as well as in their fabulous Bath Road shop.

If you know a Cheltenham business that really should be on this list, let me know at martin@martinhorwood.net.