Marketing Stockport led the way for Stockport based businesses at their official launch event at Adidas last Thursday evening.
The Marketing Stockport team chose the inspiring surroundings of the purpose built Adi-torium within Adidas’s Northern European HQ in Hazel Grove to host their first event where they played host to an enthusiastic audience of over 200 of Stockport’s most respected business men and women.
Stockport’s business community attended the launch Jonathan Collinge – Adidas
Following a short reception the evening got underway with a welcome from Jonathan Collinge, Internal Communications Manager at Adidas, and a reminder of why Stockport is a great place for business from Marketing Stockport’s Directors Helen White and Richard Higginson. From the humble but ubiquitous metal screw to the unique achievements of a certain Fred Perry and the inspirational works of Sir Norman Foster, Stockport continues to strive to contribute with innovative products, exceptional levels of professional service and dedicated entrepreneurs.
Recently unveiled as a town ably equipped to compete with the cream of 74 UK cities & towns, Stockport was found to be in the top ten for talent and ranked 14 as the most preferred for overall business, Stockport, one of the 10 Greater Manchester boroughs, is uniquely positioned to thrive in challenging times; there is a very genuine passion and belief among the business community for growth and opportunity, as endorsed by the entertaining presentations from an impressive list of guest speakers.
Managing Director – William Robinson Robinson’s Range of beers
Robinsons – 175 years ‘young’
William Robinson, Managing Director of the pub division of Stockport’s 175 years young Frederic Robinson Brewery and Pub business is understandably proud of its deep Stockport roots. William demonstrated how a company steeped in history is nurturing / building a business for the future.
Robinson’s are perfectly relating to a new generation by creating unique partnerships; last year Robinson’s introduced a new range of bottled beers, including Elbow – a tribute to the cult band – and has just launched a range of beers with south Manchester based celebrity chef Simon Rimmer, a range of 3 bottled beers specifically brewed to accompany Steak, Chicken & Curry.
Each bottle has a peel off label with a recipe idea – a first in the industry.
And, in a typically selfless manner, this 6th generation of Robinsons are keen to convey that William, Oliver, Paul and John along with 6 other members of the family actively working in the business, are merely caretakers for the 7th generation. But by far their most ambitious project is within the £30m new visitor and conference centre opening later this month – a bow to the past and a nod to the future.
Eamonn Boylan – entertaining & informative The proposed scheme at Woodford
Huge Relief for Airport traffic
Eamonn Boylan, Chief Executive of Stockport Council, brought the audience up to speed with an insight into their plans as they race on track to regenerate the town centre and develop the suburbs to create a vibrant borough for residents with a sharp competitive edge for businesses. Bricks and mortar High Streets across the UK are seeking to compete with the fast growing virtual shop windows and the Mary Portas Pilot scheme awarded to Stockport is opening up new opportunities. The new A6 airport relief road, the development of a new village at Woodford, the prestigious office and hotel developments around the station and the plans to develop a new leisure area in the town centre combine to build a Stockport fitting for the demands of the future.
But while many of the UK towns and cities are recording an increasing population, Stockport has declined, most significantly among the young and developing entrepreneurs of the future. But great strides are now being made to increase and expand the breadth of choice in education, most significantly benefitting young people from 14 to post degree age.
A First for Stockport
Stockport may be in the top 10 cities & towns in the UK for talent, but there is no complacency among the education and business communities. A priority is to ensure that the future Joseph Whitworths and Sir Norman Fosters in Stockport are given every opportunity to achieve their potential.
In September the SK1 Technical School opens to provide first class education for young people from 14 to 19 who have an interest and aptitude for engineering and technological based careers, the first of its kind in the UK.
New Principal Phillipa Ollerhead explained:
“We are taking a new approach in preparing youngsters with a particular aptitude with the opportunity for a more secure and successful future. The aim of the new school is to develop young people who are skilled, professional and enterprising — who can make a significant contribution to reinvigorating Engineering and Science in Stockport, Greater Manchester and the North West of England.”
The school is already working inclusively with local businesses to create, develop and to deliver the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) curriculum; business leaders will mentor students who will be given real workplace learning and real life industrial projects. A longer school day will better mirror the world of work and a longer school year will allow adequate time for work placements.
SK1 Technical School – opening September 2103 Stephen Carlisle – Principal Stockport College
An ‘Outstanding’ College & University Centre
Stockport College has a University Centre within its campus, as college Principal Stephen Carlisle is keen to point out, where students can graduate for £3,000 a year less than their fellow students 20 minutes down the road in Manchester.
“We are an ‘outstanding’ facility; we provide over 900 courses in education and training from the age of 14+ and award in excess of 600 qualifications for our 10,000 students. As well as Academic and Vocational courses we work with local businesses to provide Apprenticeships; I am also very proud to say that last year our ‘A’ level students achieved 99% pass rate” said Stephen.
Marketing Stockport’s main objective is to increase the opportunities for Stockport based businesses to develop and grow their businesses locally and nationally, connecting businesses and encouraging collaborative working. The College works in partnership with local employers such as UK wide Howden’s Joinery and American owned Jacobs Engineering to develop the college curriculum to ensure it meets their training needs.
Global engineering giant MAN Diesel & Turbo UK Ltd officially opened a specialist facility at the College to benefit its Engineering degree students and has opened a new training academy at its own premises in Hazel Grove to give students hands-on experience within a live work environment.
Wayne Jones – CEO PrimeServ Diesel Marketing Stockport members at MAN Diesel
World Class Academy in Hazel Grove
Wayne Jones, CEO of MAN Diesel PrimeServ division, is a graduate of Stockport College and is a firm believer that there are many routes from education into the workplace.
Wayne explained that in his opinion and experience, not all great achievers hold degrees; he believes that Stockport’s innovative approach in opening up opportunities for youngsters at SK1 and at the College will help to stem the leakage of skills out of Stockport. The first class training Academy that has opened at MAN Diesel & Turbo UK Ltd in Hazel Grove attracts engineers from all over the world and presents opportunities for local students who can look forward to getting hands on experience at any one of MAN Diesel PrimeServ bases around the world.
MAN Diesel & Turbo UK Ltd, part of the Volkswagen Group, has deep roots in Stockport where the former Mirrlees Blackstone works employed over 300 workers, engaged in building marine and rail diesel engines for world wide export.
Stockport can boast many long established family enterprises – Nelstrop family millers, J.D. Hughes – now Hughes Safety Showers, Egan Reid Stationers & Office Supplies, Monkhouse Sports, Ironside Lubricants & Wheatley Plastics – just a handful among a fine pedigree of businesses.
Tony Hughes, CEO Hughes Safety Showers Hughes Safety Showers in Stockport
Tony Hughes, Managing Director of Hughes Showers entertained with tales of his father’s success and love of Jaguar cars – both of which have rubbed off on his son who now heads up a multi-million pound industry from his factory in Bredbury, Stockport, where exports account for 80% of turnover while also managing his BTCC motorsport team, Speedworks.
Stockport is home to many thriving
businesses and a passionate
business community;
Marketing Stockport is determined to
ensure that businesses continue to
grow and flourish for the next
generation.
There is a lot to say about Stockport
and, by bringing all the information
into one central place –
www.marketingstockport.co.uk –
we can provide information and
signpost traffic out to find out more.
Marketing Stockport Directors Richard Higginson & Helen White
Locating information from the Internet is like taking a drink from a water hydrant – it is all there but needs to be directed for best effect, something that the team at Marketing Stockport are already achieving. Content is refreshed daily with news stories, press releases, featured business articles, events and jobs; since
launch on 1st November the site has grown from 70 pages to over 950 and is ranking highly through natural search. With approximately 20,000 monthly searches for the specific term ‘Stockport’, Marketing Stockport is the first port of call for all things Stockport.
Eamonn Boylan, Chief Executive of Stockport Council said that they stand shoulder to shoulder with Marketing Stockport, support the work and recognise the important role they can play in helping businesses to grow.
Stronger and more successful Stockport businesses make for a more stable and flourishing local economy, attracting inward investment and Marketing Stockport is determined to play an active role in supporting businesses.
Nigel Bennet, Managing Partner at Hallidays award winning firm of Accountants and Business Advisers and a sponsor of Marketing Stockport has great faith in the team:
“We are delighted to support Marketing Stockport with this new and important venture. Bringing together all aspects of this community of like minded businesses can only help improve communication within Stockport and outlying areas to aid it’s growth. Hallidays moved to purpose built premises in Stockport in 2008 and are committed to supporting Stockport and its businesses in any way we can through business growth and development. “
Stockport very definitely is a great place for business.
Visit Marketing Stockport to find out how we can help your business
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