Member Article

Upbeat Stockport economy session focuses on collaboration

Over 100 people from Stockport’s business community attended yesterday’s (Tuesday 17th March) Economic Breakfast held at Orbit Developments flagship Regent House, with a panel of business experts, chaired by Manchester Evening News Business Editor, Adam Jupp.

Introducing the event was Orbit Development’s Leasing Manager Rhys Owen, who set the scene highlighting many positive developments in the town including: the Red Rock leisure development, public, retail and leisure space Stockport Exchange and a £405million of investment in accessibility of the town centre and the SEMMMs link road.

He also touched on a new Place campaign about to launch called We Are Stockport and the establishing of a BID – a business improvement district in Stockport town centre - which is now canvassing feedback and support.

Brian Bradley, a partner at Clarke Nicklin, Peter Larkham, HR Director at CDL (Cheshire Datasystems Ltd), Helen White, Founder and Director of Marketing Stockport, John Cook, head of employment at SAS Daniels, and Stockport Council chief executive Eamonn Boylan contribute to a lively discussion around the town’s future business prospects.

Top of the agenda was the importance of a connected and collaborative business community which is helping to shape a culture of growth and success across the borough.

Location and access to many employment markets was cited as a great reason to base a business in the town. Many spoke of opportunities for bright professionals to create career paths outside Manchester city centre and do well.

Eamonn Boylan spoke of the Council’s investment activity in the town centre to create more dwell time in a family friendly environment and refurbish much loved old buildings so Stockport’s heritage could be part of the future. “Our role is to create anchors for the private sector to build around,” he said.

Worries around broadband speed and transport were raised but initiatives to tackle them like the freshly started SEMMMs road and Get Digital Faster schemes were acknowledged.

Orbit Developments Managing Director Tony Jones said: “It was an upbeat occasion which attracted some of the town’s most influential and high profile businesses. The mood was one of collective will to make a difference. Both the private and public sector are working together to a game-changing agenda. It’s an exciting time to be living and working in Stockport.”

Attendees enjoyed a light breakfast and the opportunity to network with other local businesses.

Ends/

For more press information please contact Sue Souter or Chris Lynham on 0161 486 9102, 07554 012839 or email chris@souterpr.co.uk

• Orbit Developments, part of the Emerson Group, is one of the largest privately-owned development and investment companies in the UK. Founded in 1971, Orbit’s main focus is on the development and retention of commercial properties in the office, industrial, leisure and retail sectors.

• Orbit Developments is one of the most established and successful commercial developers in the North West and has a portfolio of over eight million sq ft, which combines 230 individual schemes. These include: 200 office buildings, 38 retail, and 40 industrial and over 2,000 tenants.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sue Souter .