IT’S BEEN a booming year for business in Wellington and many are already looking to continue their success and expansion in 2016.

Three town firms have won major national awards, Swallowfield has seen its share price reach a five-year high, and many companies are looking to recruit extra staff and expand.

“There’s a buoyancy and optimism in the town’s economy that hasn’t been seen for a long time,” said Keith Wheatley, chairman of the Wellington Business Association.

Wellington Motors at Chelston were first in the spotlight with a UK top three award from Nissan.

Meanwhile, within a month, the focus was on Wellington’s renowned food and drink producers, with Potters Butchers winning a best in UK award for sausages.

Chris Potter took the Champion of Champions award at the meat trade’s annual competition in London, beating 18 other regional bangers to the gold award.

Chris, who won with his own recipe for a pork, turkey, and cranberry sausage, said he was “speechless” at learning he had won the UK title after the same sausage won the SW award last year.

The next big winners were the Coles family after Sainsbury’s named KS Coles as its agricultural supplier of the year, featured opposite.

Elsewhere, Swallowfield’s share price has been hitting the £2 mark recently, almost double the level of 12 months ago.

This year has seen the cosmetics and grooming manufacturer launch its own brands in China and increase its sales to major customers such as Next.

Relyon have banners dotted around the town looking for extra staff at its bed factory, and Rigid, the packaging company, is looking for 30 more people in the New Year.

In mid-2016 the new psychiatric unit at Chelston is planning to recruit around 225 staff.

“Business activity in the Wellington area is back to pre-2008 levels and, with many more jobs in the town, it’s a very healthy outlook,”

added Keith.