Stockport toasts successful investment year

Stockport Council said investment into the town during 2009/10 created 1,430 new jobs and safeguarded 420 jobs.

Highlights of the year included:

• BSkyB announced the creation of over 550 new jobs in Stockport town centre, taking 23,500 sq ft in BAM Properties' St Peter's Square office development for a new customer service centre.
• 300 consulting jobs secured at Cheadle Royal Business Park with Jacobs Engineering expanding its operation in Stockport.
• Expanding local company APS Group secured a two-year £30m contract with the Scottish Government. APS also signed a lease on a 48,000 sq ft property on Orion Business Park, taking staff totals to over 500.
• Local accountancy firm Clarke Nicklin relocated 40 local employees from Hazel Grove to modern headquarter premises at Cheadle Royal Business Park.
• Stockport Council expanded the Stockport Business Incubator at Broadstone Mill to almost 40,000 sq ft. The Incubator is now home to 24 businesses employing over 100 people.
• Commercial property take-up came in at 390,000 sq ft

Cllr Dave Goddard, leader of Stockport Council, said: "Despite challenging economic times, Stockport continues to attract significant investment, which in turn boosts the local economy and creates jobs."

A recent study by the Centre for International Competitiveness highlighted Stockport as the sixth most competitive economy in North West. The study looks at a wide range of economic factors including employment levels, educational attainment, business start-up rates, productivity and pay levels.