Business community sets out priorities for Stockport’s next chapter

SAS Daniels has published a new report highlighting what the local business community feels are priorities for the next phases of Stockport’s ongoing transformation.

With a £2 billion regeneration currently underway that is set to bring 8,000 new homes and 1 million sq m of new employment space to the town centre, and add £5 billion to the local economy, SAS Daniels partnered with Marketing Stockport to spark further conversation about what’s next for the borough.

Marketing Stockport’s June Breakfast Networking event at Stockroom brought together 50 professionals from across the borough’s public, private and charitable sectors, all at different levels of seniority, in one room, with SAS Daniels’ colleagues facilitating small group discussions on six key topics: Business, Skills, Place, Equality, Leisure, and Culture.

SAS Daniels’ report, Stockport: the next chapter, details the outcome of these conversations, highlighting the town’s existing strengths and progress made, as well as opportunities where more can be done.

Priorities recognised by the local business community focused on four key themes:

1. Local businesses
   Independent businesses were celebrated for their contribution to Stockport’s unique identity; however, the group identified the need for support and spaces that ensure these businesses could be started and grown successfully.
2. Young people
   The group highlighted that young people face different challenges from previous generations. It was felt that a lack of communication between businesses, schools and colleges may contribute to limited awareness of career paths and job roles, including entrepreneurship, and the development of soft skills such as workplace etiquette, communication, relationship-building and resilience.
3. Equality
   Communities in Stockport rank among the most and least deprived areas of the North West, and the group highlighted the need to close the gap. Job opportunities, affordable housing, education, transport and childcare were all posed as potential drivers to reducing inequality.
4. Leisure and hospitality
   The borough’s leisure and hospitality offer was seen as one of the town’s biggest strengths, with more people choosing Stockport over Manchester. It was also felt there was still room for growth, given the number of vacant units in the town centre, but rising costs for both consumers and venues remain a challenge.

Concluding their report, SAS Daniels identified six measures that would constitute progress and success for Stockport:

• Narrowing the economic gap
• Investment figures increasing
• Involvement of Stockport residents in shaping the town
• Retaining the younger generation
• Reduced homelessness
• Thriving independent organisations

Joint heads of SAS Daniels’ Stockport office, Katie Hodson and Helen Kelly, said:

“As a business rooted in the region, we are passionate about Stockport’s future and were delighted to bring together voices from across the borough for these discussions. It was genuinely encouraging to hear so much positivity about the progress that has already been made, alongside a shared ambition to ensure future growth benefits everyone, from local businesses and young people through to our wider communities.

“What emerged was a real sense of pride in Stockport, coupled with a determination to build on that success. Just as importantly, there was a recognition that the conversation cannot stop here. Maintaining collaboration between businesses, community organisations and the public sector will be essential to ensuring that the momentum behind Stockport’s transformation continues and that the opportunities it creates are felt across the borough.

“We hope this report helps keep those conversations going and contributes to shaping the next chapter of Stockport’s story”

SAS Daniels’ full report, Stockport: the next chapter,is available in full here.