We were recently asked what devolution means for our borough and what do Stockport business leaders from the area want to see?
Stockport has the one of the largest workforces in the Greater Manchester area and sees new business growth year on year, in order to understand Stockport’s future we need to take a look at what’s happened previously.
The challenges facing Stockport business leaders are little different from those facing many other UK wide towns and cities as lifestyles and habits evolve to suit today’s way of working and living. For example, empty shops are perhaps the most visual result of advances in digital technology.
However, empty spaces also present an opportunity to create a new and unique type of retail and community offering. Last October, Stockport town centre businesses voted in favour of creating a Business Improvement District.
A BID provides additional funding that can improve the offering in the town centre for visitors as well as businesses, making it a more appealing proposition for new businesses looking to relocate and a more attractive place to work.
Stockport Business Leaders and collaborative working
Stockport has done well to collaborate and encourage a relationship between education and business in order to build a strong working relationship and desirable skill sets.
Brian Bradley, Stockport’s president of the GM Chamber of Commerce noted that;
“Employers have a large role to play by offering informed careers advice and guidance to our employees of the future so they can make the career choice which is right for them. As business leaders, we need to inspire the future generation by actively engaging with our potential employees at an early stage.”
Whether within global organisations, national companies or emerging enterprises, it is important that talent is retained for future prosperity and growth – and that’s certainly happening here in Stockport.
Stockport Council’s own £1bn programme of investment is already creating a town with a sustainable and vibrant future. Investing in an improved infrastructure, providing better leisure facilities, accommodation and transport are all part of transferring responsibility to those who better understand our region’s needs.
Have Stockport business leaders ever been in a more positive and confident position to flourish than they are today?
Read Marketing Stockport’s full interview here.