COUNCILLORS have said they need to look again at how they grow stronger relationships with the local Wellington business community.

An employment engagement session called Wellington Works, as part of a Wellington Employer and Skills Partnership initiative, was held last month as part of the Cradle to Career programme with a focus on strengthening links with local employers and promoting education and workforce opportunities.

It was designed to bring local businesses together with education partners and stakeholders to share ideas, problems and opportunities.

But councillors, speaking at Wellington Town Council’s economic development committee on April 15, said that only a small number of business representatives actually attended the meeting and questioned whether it had been a worthwhile exercise.

Cllr John Thorne said: “I can see the values of it, but I’m not sure how appropriate it is for a town like Wellington and the businesses we have.

“This should be all about networking and getting businesses together and getting them to come to us about issues they are having.”

Cllr Keith Wheatley said: “A significant part of the meeting was led by Court Fields School about work experience and, to be honest, it wasn’t really what I was expecting from the meeting.

“I know work experience is difficult to arrange and it is a massive undertaking. Sorting out work experience has become a nightmare with all the healthy and safety stuff and safeguarding.

“But I think half of the people in the room were left wondering why they were actually there.”

Cllr Mark Lithgow said: “People don’t go to these things because they either don’t know about them or they don’t have problems taking people on for work.”

Cllr Wheatley added: “I don’t think micro businesses instantly think they should contact Wellington Town Council about recruitment. A lot of their recruitment is done through word of mouth.

“The world has moved on from the days when small towns had a Chamber of Commerce. That model has gone.”

The town council’s chief executive, Dave Farrow, said: “We better not throw the baby out of the bath water at this stage, but it has been interesting to hear the comments of councillors.

“There are many faceted bits of work going on at the moment and there some which could make a difference in helping people get employment, plus we’ve got the Cradle to Career programme.”

A report from the council’s community development officer, Laura Batcha, said there was an aim for stronger local business networking and collaboration opportunities and a need for improved promotion of Wellington businesses.

The report also highlighted an interest in creating a business directory, plus identified ongoing challenges around footfall and attracting customers into the town.

It has been suggested that regular business engagement sessions or forums are held and that the town council uses its social media to support “shop local” style promotion.

The town council could also use its Kings Arms Community Hub as a pop-up space for business activities in the future.