Editing Rugby, Warwickshire (section)

==Economy==
For most of the 20th Century manufacturing was the largest employer in Rugby. Manufacturing employment peaked in the 1950s, and has gone into steady decline since, and service industries are now the largest source of employment.<ref name="vobsis">{{cite web|title=Simplified Industrial Structure|url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10088379/cube/IND_SECTOR_GEN|publisher=Vision of Britain|access-date=20 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321063238/http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10088379/cube/IND_SECTOR_GEN|archive-date=21 March 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> 

In 2017 the average annual workplace wage in the Rugby borough was £29,059; above the Warwickshire (£28,513) and UK (£28,296) averages.<ref name="WCCeconoverview"/>
===Engineering and manufacturing===
[[File:GE Energy building, Rugby 10.21.jpg|thumb|The [[GE Power]] engineering facility in Rugby.]]
Rugby remains an [[engineering]] centre and has a long history of producing gas and steam [[turbine]]s and electrical equipment. Engineering in Rugby has taken place under a myriad of different companies; it was established in the 1900s by [[British Thomson-Houston]] (BTH) and [[Willans & Robinson]], which later became parts of [[Associated Electrical Industries]] (AEI) and [[English Electric]] respectively, until both were united as part of the [[General Electric Company]] (GEC) in the late-1960s, which itself merged with [[Alstom]] in 1989. Most of the engineering works in Rugby were based in the Avon valley area north of the railway station, since the 1980s much of the engineering works have closed with their land sold off for housing and commercial development, however engineering still continues in Rugby on a smaller scale under the auspices of [[GE Power Conversion]], which produces large electric motors, and services and manufactures steam turbines. In 2019 the Rugby site was threatened with closure, but was saved following an order for motors from the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]], after the House of Commons [[Defence Select Committee]], decided that closing the site would lead to a 'loss of sovereign capability and security'.<ref>{{cite news |title=UPDATE: GE site to stay open - but around 80 employees to be made redundant |url=https://rugbyobserver.co.uk/news/saved-ge-site-to-stay-open-but-some-jobs-could-still-be-lost-to-downsizing/ |work=Rugby Observer |access-date=24 March 2021 |date=20 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Saving industrial plant operators time and money: An inside look at the Rugby Repair Center |url=https://www.ge.com/power/about/insights/articles/2020/steam-rotating-equipment-repair-maintenance |publisher=GE Power |access-date=27 March 2021 |date=20 April 2020}}</ref>

Further afield, within the [[Rugby (borough)|Rugby borough]] is the [[Rolls-Royce plc|Rolls-Royce]] engineering works near [[Ansty, Warwickshire|Ansty]]. This is nearer to [[Coventry]] than Rugby.

Rugby is also a centre of [[laser]] manufacturing: This was started by the local firm [[JK Lasers]], which was founded in 1972. In 1982 JK Lasers merged with [[Lumonics]] of Canada and was for a time one of the largest industrial laser companies in the world.<ref>{{cite web |title=A serious laser player |url=https://www.electrooptics.com/feature/serious-laser-player |publisher=Electro Optics |access-date=19 April 2021 |date=9 September 2008}}</ref> Following takeovers and mergers, the JK Lasers brand name disappeared in 2015, and it is now part of SPI Lasers, a subsidiary of the [[Trumpf]] company.<ref>{{cite web |title=JK Lasers joins SPI to enhance TRUMPF's business in fibre laser technology |url=https://www.spilasers.com/news/jk-lasers-joins-spi-to-enhance-trumpfs-business-in-fibre-laser-technology/ |publisher=SPI Lasers |access-date=26 March 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Trumpf acquires JK Lasers for £21.2 million |url=https://www.machinery.co.uk/machinery-news/trumpf-acquires-jk-lasers-from-gsi-group |publisher=machinery.co.uk |access-date=26 March 2021 |date=16 March 2015}}</ref> In 2018, SPI Lasers announced that their manufacturing site at Rugby was to be doubled in size.<ref>{{cite web |title=SPI Lasers to double the size of its Rugby manufacturing site |date=30 October 2018 |url=https://www.pesmedia.com/spi-lasers-rugby-warwickshire-manufacturing-site/ |publisher=Product Engineering Solutions |access-date=15 April 2021}}</ref> A second laser manufacturing firm in Rugby is Litron Lasers, which was established in 1997.<ref>{{cite web |title=Litron Lasers England, Rugby |url=https://rugby.cylex-uk.co.uk/company/litron-lasers-england-19143431.html |publisher=cyclex |access-date=16 April 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=LITRON LASERS LIMITED Company number 03395353 |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/03395353 |publisher=Companies House |access-date=15 April 2021}}</ref>

===Cement===
[[File:Cemex Cement Works, from Lawford Road, Rugby 7.21 (2).jpg|thumb|left|Rugby cement works at [[New Bilton]]]]
Another major industry in Rugby is [[cement]] making; This industry started on a small scale locally in the early 19th century, but began on a large scale in the 1860s when the [[Rugby Cement]] company was founded, making cement from the local [[Jurassic]] [[Blue Lias]] limestone at [[New Bilton]]. The current cement works at Rugby has the largest [[cement kiln]] in the UK, capable of producing 1.8 million tonnes of cement a year.<ref>{{cite web |title=CEMEX cement works, Rugby, Warwickshire |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cemex-cement-works-rugby-warwickshire/cemex-cement-works-rugby-warwickshire |publisher=Environment Agency |access-date=19 February 2021 |date=19 January 2014}}</ref> The current plant was opened in 2000, having been rebuilt and substantially enlarged in the late-1990s, upon its opening other Rugby Cement plants at [[Southam]] and [[Rochester, Kent|Rochester]] were closed, with all production moved to the enlarged Rugby plant.<ref>[http://www.mineralsuk.com/britmin/mpfcement.pdf minerals.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928085834/http://www.mineralsuk.com/britmin/mpfcement.pdf |date=28 September 2007 }} (PDF)</ref> Rugby Cement was taken over in 2000 and is now owned by the Mexican firm [[Cemex]], who moved their UK headquarters to Rugby in 2018.<ref>{{cite web |title=CEMEX UK moves headquarters to Rugby |date=18 June 2018 |url=https://professionalbuildersmerchant.co.uk/news/cemex-uk-moves-headquarters-to-rugby/ |publisher=Builders Merchant |access-date=15 January 2019}}</ref>
===Logistics===
Rugby is often described as being part of the area known as the [[golden logistics triangle]] due to its central location and good transport links. In 2021 Rugby had the highest percentage of business units used for transport and storage in the UK, at 17%.<ref name="ONSlog">{{cite web |title=The rise of the UK warehouse and the "golden logistics triangle" |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/businessindustryandtrade/business/activitysizeandlocation/articles/theriseoftheukwarehouseandthegoldenlogisticstriangle/2022-04-11 |publisher=Office for National Statistics |access-date=15 December 2022 |date=11 April 2022}}</ref> Since the 1980s several large [[industrial estate]]s have been built to the north, and [[Warehouse|warehousing]], distribution and light industry have become major employers. This is due to the town's close proximity to the M6 motorway (Junction 1) and M1 (Junction 19), at the heart of the UK's motorway network.<ref name="RGOAT"/> In 2017 nearly half of Warwickshire's businesses in the 'Transport and storage' sector were in Rugby.<ref name="WCCeconoverview">{{cite web |title=Rugby Economic Overview 2017 |url=https://apps.warwickshire.gov.uk/api/documents/WCCC-688-277 |publisher=Warwickshire County Council |access-date=11 November 2019}}</ref> In 2017 [[Hermes Group|Hermes]] opened its 'Midlands Super Hub' parcel delivery depot at the Rugby Gateway development to the north of the town, which is the largest of its type in the UK.<ref>{{cite news |title=UK's biggest parcel hub brings over 100 jobs to Rugby |url=https://rugbyobserver.co.uk/news/uks-biggest-parcel-hub-brings-over-100-jobs-to-rugby/ |work=Rugby Observer |access-date=11 November 2019 |date=22 August 2017}}</ref> To the east of Rugby is the large [[Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal]] (DIRFT), which opened in the 1990s; although this is across the county border in Northamptonshire, it is closest to Rugby.
===Organisations based in Rugby===
[[File:IChemE headquarters, Railway Terrace, Rugby 4.21.jpg|thumb|Headquarters of the [[Institution of Chemical Engineers]] (IChemE) in Rugby.]]
The American fashion retailer [[Gap Inc.]] has had its UK headquarters and distribution centre in Rugby since 2002,<ref>{{cite news |title=Gap HQ moving to Rugby |url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/local-news/gap-hq-moving-to-rugby-3177541 |work=Coventry Telegraph |access-date=16 April 2021 |date=10 August 2001}}</ref> as does the construction firm [[Morgan Sindall]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Morgan Sindall headquarters and office locations |url=https://craft.co/morgan-sindall-group/locations |publisher=Craft |access-date=25 April 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Morgan Sindall Construction receives £39 million Rugby secondary school brief |url=https://www.morgansindallconstruction.com/news/morgan-sindall-construction-receives-39-million-rugby-secondary-school-brief/ |publisher=Morgan Sindall |access-date=25 April 2021}}</ref> and the historic legal firm [[Brethertons]].<ref>{{cite web |title=BRETHERTONS LLP Company number OC317116 |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/OC317116 |publisher=Companies House |access-date=6 April 2021}}</ref> In addition a number of trade, professional and charitable organisations have headquarters in Rugby, including the [[Institution of Chemical Engineers]],<ref>{{cite web |title=THE INSTITUTION OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERS Charity number: 214379 |url=https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/214379/contact-information |publisher=Charity Commission |access-date=12 April 2021}}</ref>  the [[Institution of Lighting Professionals]],<ref>{{cite web |title=THE INSTITUTION OF LIGHTING PROFESSIONALS Company number 00227499 |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/00227499 |publisher=Companies House |access-date=16 April 2021}}</ref> the [[Master Locksmiths Association]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Master Locksmiths Association gets keys to new HQ |url=https://www.thebusinessdesk.com/westmidlands/news/2033735-master-locksmiths-association-gets-keys-to-new-hq |publisher=The Business Desk |access-date=10 April 2021 |date=15 September 2019}}</ref> the [[Auto-Cycle Union]],<ref>{{cite web |title=THE AUTO-CYCLE UNION LIMITED Company number 00134679 |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/00134679 |publisher=Companies House |access-date=6 April 2021}}</ref> the [[Oral Health Foundation]],<ref>{{cite web |title=ORAL HEALTH FOUNDATION Company number 01027338 |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/01027338 |publisher=Companies House |access-date=6 April 2021}}</ref> and the development charity [[Practical Action]].<ref>{{cite web |title=PRACTICAL ACTION Company number 00871954 |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/00871954 |publisher=Companies House}}</ref>
===Tourism and other===
[[Tourism]] is also important to the town's economy, especially related to [[Rugby football]].<ref>[http://www.rugby.gov.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=973 Rugby BC Action on Tourism] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929011830/http://www.rugby.gov.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=973 |date=29 September 2007 }}</ref>

One of the last links to Rugby's rural past was the [[cattle market]] held near the railway station, and earlier in the "Market Place" in the old centre of Rugby since [[medieval]] times. The market near the railway station was closed in late 2008 and the site has been redeveloped into housing, a [[hotel]] and a [[Tesco]] store as part of a wider scheme of work in the station area.