The borough is a prime location for new and existing business, benefiting from being well-located, well-connected and from having a well-educated and skilled workforce. Investment in regeneration, business and infrastructure transformation has led to a substantial increase in development activity, a renewed confidence and buoyant employment growth that has exceeded the national average in recent years.

Stockport currently ranks first in Greater Manchester for both productivity and business survival rates, supported by a strong business base and high economic activity. It makes a significant contribution to the GM economy, making it attractive for inward investment and ideal for scaling productive, high-skill sectors.

There are opportunities to deliver new jobs across Stockport, although the infrastructure needs to be in place to ensure businesses of all kinds can start, grow and prosper. The One Stockport Economic Plan highlights the need for our business and employment growth to be of high quality and for it to be in the right locations.

Stockport has particular strengths in the Business and Professional services sector, Digital and Technology and Creative industries sectors, positioning Stockport as a knowledge-economy hub. The borough also accounts for the highest share of advanced manufacturing businesses (14%) in Greater Manchester. Stockport is also benefitting from growth in the Life Science and Clean Energy sectors, providing potential for innovation and future clustering.

Businesses require accessible and high-quality commercial premises, and so it is crucial the conditions are right to allow for diversity across sectors, enabling a healthy economic base. Growth must also be fair, accessible and inclusive, helping to tackle the borough’s inequalities by providing employment opportunities across the borough and giving all our communities a choice of job opportunities suitable for a range of skill levels.

Many local businesses flourish and provide services to local neighbourhoods from key localities in the borough's network of district and local centres, and it will be increasingly important to ensure these vital focal points of the community continue to offer a range of uses and facilities and are able to adapt as working and leisure patterns change.

The policies in this section of the plan will allow the council to manage development so that, in particular, it supports or contributes to achieving Objectives 2, 7 and 8.