Editing Runcorn (section)

==Economy==
In 2020, the [[gross value added|GVA]] for the Runcorn Built-up Area Sub-division was £2.86 billion.<ref name="GVA">{{cite web | url = https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/grossvalueaddedgva/datasets/uksmallareagvaestimates | title = UK small area gross value added (GVA) estimates | last1 = Chiripanhura | first1 = Blessing | last2 = Fenton | first2 = Trevor | date = 24 January 2023 | website = Office for National Statistics | access-date = 28 November 2023}}</ref>

Runcorn has a higher proportion of people working in manufacturing, logistics, and wholesale and retail than the average for England.<ref name="2011 Census" /><ref name="2011 Census Halton key statistics profile"/> Chemical manufacturing has been the town's dominant sector since the 19th century, but the local economy has increasingly diversified into other advanced manufacturing sectors, such as aerospace and automotive, as well as services and logistics.<ref name="HBC Business Directory 2015">{{cite web |url=http://www.burrows.co.uk/halton/flip/files/assets/common/downloads/publication.pdf |title=Halton Business Guide and Directory |publisher=Burrows Communications Limited |access-date=21 July 2020 |archive-date=21 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200721140200/http://www.burrows.co.uk/halton/flip/files/assets/common/downloads/publication.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

The main industrial areas of the town are Astmoor, Manor Park, Whitehouse, the Heath and Weston Point. Sci-Tech Daresbury is to the southeast of the town. The main retail and leisure area is [[Runcorn Shopping City|Shopping City]] in the centre of the town with a smaller district centre at the old town.

{|class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right;"
|+ Employment by industry in 2011<ref name="2011 Census" /><ref name="2011 Census Halton key statistics profile" />
|- style="text-align:left;"
! Industry
! Runcorn (Resident Jobs)
! Runcorn (%)
! Halton (%)
! England (%)
! Runcorn – England Difference
|-
|style="text-align:left;" |C Manufacturing
|3,829
|13.7
|12.5
|8.8
|4.9
|-
|style="text-align:left;" |H Transport and storage
|2,087
|7.4
|6.9
|5.0
|2.4
|-
|style="text-align:left;" |G Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles
|5,069
|18.1
|18.7
|15.9
|2.2
|-
|style="text-align:left;" |N Administrative and support service activities
|1,579
|5.6
|5.3
|4.9
|0.7
|-
|style="text-align:left;" |E Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities
|334
|1.2
|1.6
|0.7
|0.5
|-
|style="text-align:left;" |J Information and communication
|1,247
|4.4
|3.9
|4.1
|0.3
|-
|style="text-align:left;" |O Public administration and defence; compulsory social security
|1,721
|6.1
|6.5
|5.9
|0.2
|-
|style="text-align:left;" |D Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply
|194
|0.7
|0.8
|0.6
|0.1
|-
|style="text-align:left;" |Q Human health and social work activities
|3,460
|12.3
|12.0
|12.4
|−0.1
|-
|style="text-align:left;" |B Mining and quarrying
|40
|0.1
|0.2
|0.2
|−0.1
|-
|style="text-align:left;" |L Real estate activities
|314
|1.1
|1.2
|1.5
|−0.4
|-
|style="text-align:left;" |I Accommodation and food service activities
|1,388
|5.0
|4.6
|5.6
|−0.6
|-
|style="text-align:left;" |A Agriculture, forestry and fishing
|44
|0.2
|0.2
|0.8
|−0.6
|-
|style="text-align:left;" |F Construction
|1,881
|6.7
|7.4
|7.7
|−1.0
|-
|style="text-align:left;" |R, S, T, U Other
|988
|3.5
|3.8
|5.0
|−1.5
|-
|style="text-align:left;" |M Professional, scientific and technical activities
|1,305
|4.7
|4.5
|6.7
|−2.0
|-
|style="text-align:left;" |K Financial and insurance activities
|555
|2.0
|2.4
|4.4
|−2.4
|-
|style="text-align:left;" |P Education
|1,993
|7.1
|7.7
|9.9
|−2.8
|}

===Manufacturing and chemicals===
[[File:Chemical works, Weston Point - geograph.org.uk - 998845.jpg|thumb|Chemical works at Weston Point, Runcorn]]
The town's chemical industry was dominated for many years by [[Imperial Chemical Industries|ICI]]'s Chlor Chemical division. But since 2001, Inovyn (a wholly owned subsidiary of [[Ineos]]) has operated the extensive chemical works in the west of the town, employing 750 people in 2020.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theengineer.co.uk/news/ici-says-goodbye-to-chlor-chemicals/284312.article |title=ICI says goodbye to Chlor-Chemicals |publisher=The Engineer |date=5 December 2000 |access-date=30 August 2011 |archive-date=13 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313171107/http://www.theengineer.co.uk/news/ici-says-goodbye-to-chlor-chemicals/284312.article |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Inovyn">{{cite web |url=https://www.inovyn.com/locations/runcorn/ |title=Runcorn Site, UNITED KINGDOM |publisher=Inovyn |access-date=31 October 2019 |archive-date=31 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031161554/https://www.inovyn.com/locations/runcorn/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In Runcorn, Invoyn manufactures chlorine, caustic soda and chlorinated derivatives. It also produces salt, made from [[brine]] transported by [[Pipeline transport|pipeline]] from the saltfields of central Cheshire, and sulphuric acid. Several other chemical manufacturers also have a presence at the site, including Koura (formerly [[Orbia|Mexichem]] Fluor), Industrial Chemicals, Packed Chlorine Limited, VYNOVA and Runcorn MCP Ltd (a joint venture between INOVYN and VYNOVA). The site is considered to be of strategic national importance to the UK.<ref name="Inovyn" /> The site includes two independently owned power stations; the 810 MW natural gas fired [[Rocksavage Power Station]] and the Runcorn Energy Recovery Facility operated by Viridor which also supplies heat to the Inovyn facility.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.intergen.com/our-assets/rocksavage/ |title=Rocksavage – InterGen |publisher=InterGen |access-date=7 October 2020 |archive-date=24 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924200236/https://www.intergen.com/our-assets/rocksavage/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.viridor.co.uk/energy/energy-recovery-facilities/runcorn-erf/ |title=Runcorn Energy Recovery Facility |publisher=Viridor |access-date=31 October 2019 |archive-date=31 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031163309/https://www.viridor.co.uk/energy/energy-recovery-facilities/runcorn-erf/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ICI's other former site in Runcorn comprising offices and laboratories is now the Heath Business and Technical Park, which provides office, laboratory, conference, and leisure facilities.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theheath.com/index.shtml |title=the heath&nbsp;... the best place for your business |access-date=29 March 2007 |publisher=The Heath Business and Technical Park |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070503034306/http://www.theheath.com/index.shtml |archive-date=3 May 2007}}</ref>

Other large employers include advanced manufacturing firms Sigmatex (manufacturer of carbon fibre), [[Héroux-Devtek]] (manufacturer of aircraft landing gear), [[PPG Industries|Whitford]] (manufacturer of speciality coatings), [[Teva Pharmaceuticals|Teva]] (manufacturer of pharmaceuticals) and [[Fresenius (company)|Fresenius Kabi]] (manufacturer of medical and pharmaceutical products).<ref name="HBC Economic Assessment 2018">{{cite web |url=http://councillors.halton.gov.uk/documents/s54675/PPB%2024-9-18%20Halton%202030.pdf |title=Economic Assessment and Halton 2030 |publisher=Halton Borough Council |date=24 September 2018 |access-date=21 July 2020 |archive-date=21 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200721111815/http://councillors.halton.gov.uk/documents/s54675/PPB%2024-9-18%20Halton%202030.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Drinks manufacturer, [[Diageo]], has maintained a packaging plant at Runcorn since 1970 which packages [[Guinness]], [[Pimm's]], [[Kilkenny (beer)|Kilkenny]] and [[Smirnoff]] Ice for distribution in Great Britain.<ref name="HBC Business Directory 2015" />

[[Sci-Tech Daresbury]] is a National Science and Innovation Campus to the south east of Runcorn. The campus offers lab space, offices and workshops to rent. It is home to the largest supercomputer in Europe and the Virtual Engineering Centre which works with [[Bentley]] motor cars, [[BAE Systems]] and [[Jaguar Land Rover]]. The site also houses [[Daresbury Laboratory]] which employs over 300 staff specialising in accelerator science, bio-medicine, physics, chemistry, materials, engineering and computational science.<ref name="Runcorn-Widnes.com">{{cite web |url=http://www4.halton.gov.uk/Pages/councildemocracy/pdfs/LivingandWorking.pdf |title=This is Halton: An Essential Guide to Living and Working in Halton |author=Halton Borough Council |website=Runcorn and Widnes – Make Halton Your Business |access-date=27 February 2018 |archive-date=28 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180228162945/https://www4.halton.gov.uk/Pages/councildemocracy/pdfs/LivingandWorking.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Logistics===
[[File:RuncornTanker.jpg|thumb|Tanker at Runcorn Docks]]
Runcorn's position between Liverpool and Manchester airports and its links to the rail, motorway and canal networks have made it a centre for logistics.<ref name="ep"/> There are two ports in the west of the town on the Manchester Ship Canal. [[Runcorn Docks]] is owned by the Manchester Ship Canal Company, which is part of the [[Peel Group|Peel Ports Group]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.peelports.co.uk/home/ |title=Peel Ports Group |access-date=18 August 2008 |publisher=Peel Ports Group |archive-date=12 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130312102712/http://www.peelports.co.uk/home/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Weston Point Docks]] is operated by FLX Logistics.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.flxlogistics.co.uk/ |title=FLX Logistics |access-date=23 April 2021 |publisher=FLX Logistics |archive-date=23 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423122446/https://www.flxlogistics.co.uk/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

There are several large logistics depots across Runcorn, including Eddie Stobart Group's road haulage site and driver training school in Manor Park, the Downton haulage depot at the Whitehouse Industrial Estate, and an NHS Supply Chain Depot in Astmoor Industrial Estate.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://eddiestobart.com/about-us/#our-network |title=About us – Eddie Stobart Logistics |publisher=Eddie Stobart Logistics PLC |access-date=31 October 2019 |archive-date=16 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516191246/https://eddiestobart.com/about-us/#our-network |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.downton.co.uk/depot/runcorn/ |title=Runcorn |publisher=C M Downton (Haulage Contractors) Ltd |access-date=31 October 2019 |archive-date=31 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031170516/http://www.downton.co.uk/depot/runcorn/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Services===
[[File:Umbrellas in City Square inside Runcorn Shopping City.jpg|thumb|Town Square in [[Runcorn Shopping City]]]]
There has been a shift in employment from manufacturing to service industries. In 1991, 34% worked in the manufacturing sector and 61% were in the service sector. By 2004, 17% were in manufacturing jobs and 78% were in service jobs.<ref name="hstats">{{cite web |url=http://www2.halton.gov.uk/content/councilanddemocracy/council/research/factbook?a=5441 |title=Halton Unitary in Figures |access-date=4 April 2007 |publisher=Halton Borough Council |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070702011047/http://www2.halton.gov.uk/content/councilanddemocracy/council/research/factbook?a=5441 |archive-date=2 July 2007}}</ref> This trend in the local region is demonstrated in this chart which shows the regional "gross value added" of Halton and Warrington at current basic prices, with figures in millions of pounds.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_economy/RegionalGVA.pdf#page=242 |title=Regional Gross Value Added |access-date=7 April 2007 |date=21 December 2005 |publisher=Office for National Statistics |page=242 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070226163731/http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_economy/RegionalGVA.pdf <!--Added by H3llBot--> |archive-date=26 February 2007}}</ref>
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Year ||Regional Gross Value Added{{ref|gva_d|d}} ||Agriculture{{ref|gva_a|a}} ||Industry{{ref|gva_b|b}} ||Services{{ref|gva_c|c}}
|-
|1995 ||'''3,636''' ||14 ||1,361 ||2,261
|-
|2000 ||'''4,768''' ||10 ||1,433 ||3,324
|-
|2003 ||'''5,774''' ||18 ||1,399 ||4,356
|}
<ol type="a">
<li>{{note|gva_a}} includes hunting and forestry</li>
<li>{{note|gva_b}} includes energy and construction</li>
<li>{{note|gva_c}} includes financial intermediation services indirectly measured</li>
<li>{{note|gva_d}} Components may not sum to totals due to rounding</li>
</ol>

Runcorn has two shopping centres. The original shopping area was in the older part of the town on High Street, Regent Street and Church Street.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www2.halton.gov.uk/content/environment/towncentres/?a=5441 |title=Town centres |access-date=28 June 2007 |publisher=Halton Borough Council |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070513104430/http://www2.halton.gov.uk/content/environment/towncentres/?a=5441 |archive-date=13 May 2007}}</ref> This centre continues to exist, but with the coming of the new town, has declined. In the centre of the new town, [[Runcorn Shopping City]] is an enclosed [[shopping mall]] with two attached bus stations.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www2.halton.gov.uk/content/environment/towncentres/haltonlea?a=5441 |title=Halton Lea |date=28 July 2006 |access-date=28 June 2007 |publisher=Halton Borough Council |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070216231618/http://www2.halton.gov.uk/content/environment/towncentres/haltonlea?a=5441 |archive-date=16 February 2007}}</ref> Adjacent to it is Trident Retail Park containing shopping outlets and a cinema and nearby is a large [[Asda]] [[superstore]] that opened in 1989.