Industry and Commerce in Coventry
During World War II in the mid-20th century, Coventry had the dubious honor of being the UK’s third-most-bombed city after London and Plymouth. The reason Coventry was so heavily attacked during the war was its industrial base in the production of ammunition and military vehicles. Sadly, as with so many other UK cities, that industrial production base has all but disappeared, leaving only a few truly industrial-scale companies operating in the city. Having played a significant role in the UK motor industry for many decades with such illustrious names as: Hillman, Standard, Rolls Royce and Triumph – cars, motorcycles and pedal bikes. Coventry now only produces vehicles for niche markets following the recent closure of the French-owned Peugeot car production plant in Ryton. Coventry City Council is currently securing internal investment to attract new businesses to replace those that have disappeared or are in decline.
Car production continues in Coventry, although for how long is a subject of much speculation. Although currently owned by Ford Motor Company, Jaguar is headquartered in a production facility at its Browns Lane site in Allesley. Since its opening in 1941, it has become Jaguar’s premier auto sheet production facility, as well as its headquarters and heritage center. Near Whitley is the Jaguar Center for Design, Research and Development, where all engineering work for the companies is carried out. In total, Jaguar employs more than 2,500 people in the city. Ford Motor Company is trying to sell Jaguar to pay off other debts of the company. One of the most familiar sites in all major UK towns and cities is the famous black cab or Hackney cabs. These are made by the LTI company which is based on Holyhead Road in Coventry. LTI has been manufacturing taxis for sixty years, during which time more than 100,000 have rolled off its production line. LTI employs nearly 500 people at its production facility, making it a major employer in the city. Formed by the merger of two companies and now owned by AGCO, Massey-Ferguson is one of the best-known agricultural tractor manufacturers in the world. They started building tractors in Coventry in the early 1950s and are now based in Stoneleigh, near Kenilworth. The company now manufactures tractors and a range of combines and quads.
Ericssons is a telecommunications company with facilities in New Century Park, not far from the city center. Having subsumed the former Marconi and GPT works in the city, it now employs more than 2,000 people, manufacturing and engineering networks and switching equipment for international telecom clients. Another international telecommunications company, Cable and Wireless, has its UK training center in the University of Warwick Business Park outside Coventry. Dunlop Aerospace’s headquarters are in Coventry, north of the city, near Junction 3 of the M6 in Longford. Where it not only manufactures aerospace braking systems, but also designs and markets them. It currently has contracts for braking systems with BAE, Lockheed-Martin and Airbus A380 aircraft.
Along with many other cities that have seen their manufacturing base eroded in recent years, Coventry has drawn some service industries to the area to provide alternative jobs. Being very close to the center of England and with excellent motorway connections to the rest of the country, Coventry has become a major distribution center for many delivery and courier companies. Parcel Force has its national depot in Coventry, while TNT, DHL, ANC and UPS have depots in the city employing several hundred people in total.
Coventry has a long association with the textile industry, particularly wool and silk, dating back to medieval times. While several small textile companies remain in Coventry, it is now best known for its Courtaulds factory and the development of Grafil carbon fiber used in sports and automotive equipment and Tencel, the cellulose fiber made from wood pulp.
In addition to the textile industry, Coventry was, until the middle of the 19th century, the center of watchmaking in the United Kingdom. During its heyday in the early 1800s, it employed more than 75,000 people and made 200,000 watches a year. As the century progressed, watchmaking declined, the market flooded with imports from the U.S., until by the turn of the century trade had practically ceased. Many workers found employment in the rapidly developing bicycle manufacturing businesses, which at the time employed nearly 40,000 people in Coventry alone. Over time, it is very likely that some of these workers became the founding workers of the new auto industry. In 1910 there were dozens of automakers in Coventry, with forgotten names like: Iden, Centaur and Aurora. Some other companies were more durable like: Humber, Rover and from 1928 – Jaguar.