Stockport Economy

At-a-glance guide to the town

• 281,000 people live in Stockport, one of the most populous of Greater Manchester boroughs
• 75.5% employment rate puts Stockport above North West average 70.8% and UK 73.2%
• Stockport has a higher stock of registered businesses than any other Greater Manchester district apart from Manchester
• Estimated to be the third largest contributor to the Greater Manchester economy in terms of GVA with 10.6%. Behind Manchester and Trafford.
• More than one in five shop units are empty in the town centre according to Local Data Company, the worst rate in the North West: doubling from 11.5% in June to 22.4% at the end of last year
• 41,500 commuters from other areas enter Stockport each day
• The number of banking finance and insurance businesses in Stockport is markedly higher than the regional and national averages
• The working age population is highly skilled: almost one third of residents is qualified to degree level or equivalent

Stockport's biggest employers

• Adidas
• BT
• NXP
• Thales
• McVities
• Cooperative Financial Services
• APS
• MAN Diesel
• Umbro/Nike
• Lex Leasing
• Jacobs Engineering
• Allied Bakeries
• Fletcher Stuart

Threats to growth

Stockport Economic Alliance's development strategy identifies several challenges:

• Local congestion is a continuing issue with capacity tight on the main north-south routes: A6, A34 and A626.
• Stockport has experienced increased pressure on employment land in recent years from demands for housing and retail development. In order to support future growth sectors land must be retained for employment use.
• Locations such as East Manchester and parts of Tameside may prove attractive to a range of new investors, possibly at the expense of Stockport.
• Stockport town centre, despite it locational assets and residential and business base, may not be able to improve on its low level of hotel and hospitality provision and may be unable to capitalise on its advantages and become a major office location in Greater Manchester.

Sources: ONS, Stockport Council, Stockport Economic Alliance, Annual Business Inquiry, Oxford Economics