Stockport Council

Stockport has established a reputation for its highly educated workforce, with skill levels higher than regional and national averages. With one third of the workforce qualified to degree level or equivalent, Stockport has the resources to meet skill requirements of companies in a range of sectors.

Easy access to regional, national and international transport networks is provided by excellent motorway (M60, M56, M6), air (Manchester Airport within 15 minutes) and rail (direct to London in under 2 hours) links already in place, with further investment planned.

835,000 people live within a 45 minute peak travel time to Stockport - 540,000 of working age. In addition, the city region’s 5 universities provide a pool of over 100,000 students in proximity to Stockport.

Stockport has a diverse and entrepreneurial local economy. Unemployment is lower than the regional and national average, and the borough experiences high economic activity rates. Large numbers of new businesses start up in Stockport, and survival rates are higher than regional and national ones.

Stockport offers an excellent quality of life, with quality housing, village style communities, immediate access to the Cheshire Plains and Derbyshire Peaks, and Manchester city centre within 10 minutes by rail. Excellent education, health and community facilities provide additional, valued resources.

Stockport is home to a wide range of commercial properties. From starter units in high-tech managed workspace to large speculative build projects, Stockport offers choice at competitive prices, whilst providing all the benefits of proximity to Manchester city centre. 

Assistance and Support For New Business Investors

Stockport Council is committed to the future growth and development of Stockport’s already thriving economy.

As your first point of contact, the Economic Development Team provides a tailored service, encompassing a wide range of assistance to new investors, including:

• A wide range of demographic, economic & social information.
•  Familiarisation tours of Stockport and key sites or premises within the borough.
• A bespoke property matching service with access to details of hundreds of commercial premises in and around Stockport.
• Labour market & recruitment assistance.
• Links to the regions universities, allowing employers to trial graduates or offer non-committal internships.
• A range of sector specific networking and local procurement opportunities.
• Introductions to Stockport Council’s key planning officers, to assist in progressing developments.
• Signposting to appropriate sources of funding, grants and financial support.
• Intensive business start-up guidance and support. 
• Help and guidance for businesses with high growth potential.

Existing Business Base

Stockport is a key driver of economic growth in the Greater Manchester City Region, with a high stock of registered businesses, highly skilled resident workforce and a diverse business community.

Stockport has a higher percentage of businesses that are small to medium sized than regional or national averages, although it is also home to a wealth of large and established resident companies that illustrate Stockport’s credentials as a business location that can cater for the very best. Existing major employers include Adidas, BAE, Jacobs engineering, MAN Diesel, McVities, Umbro, BT, Lex and Thales Naval.

Foreign owned companies are well represented within Stockport, and benefit greatly from the borough’s proximity to Manchester Airport, which can be reached by car within 15 minutes.

Business density rates (businesses per 10,000 of working age population) in Stockport are significantly above Greater Manchester, North West and Great Britain rates, reflecting the strong business base and attractiveness of Stockport as a location for companies.

Stockport has a diverse, strong economy that has particular strength in a variety of sectors, including ICT/Digital Communications, Creative/Digital/New Media, Financial and Professional Services and Construction.

The sectors that have grown most over the last decade are ICT/Digital Communications, Financial and Professional Services and Life Sciences, reflecting the strength of Stockport’s skills base and the important role the knowledge-based sectors plays in Stockport’s economy. Stockport is also emerging as a centre for the low carbon sector, with almost 5,000 directly employed in the sector.