Businesses driven by intense passion find a new hotspot in Stockport
In the vibrant town of Stockport, located in the northwest of the UK, a thriving social enterprise community is making significant strides in economic development, social inclusion, and urban regeneration. This community, recognised as a hotspot for social enterprises on a national scale, has been instrumental in driving inclusive economic growth, job creation, and addressing local challenges.
Cllr Frankie Singleton, the cabinet member for communities, culture, and sport, expressed delight as Stockport was officially designated as a Social Enterprise Place by Social Enterprise UK. This recognition underlines the town's commitment to social entrepreneurship and its impact on the local community.
One of the key contributions of Stockport's social enterprises is job creation and economic stability. Major investments, such as the £21 million funding into the McVitie’s factory, have created 45 new jobs and safeguarded hundreds of existing roles. This investment strengthens Stockport’s reputation as a hub for manufacturing innovation and supports its industrial heritage, thereby boosting the local economy and community resilience.
The borough is also aligned with Greater Manchester’s broader regional strategy, which emphasizes inclusive economic progress to benefit all residents equally. Stockport focuses on developing skills, expanding job opportunities, improving health and wellbeing, and building more housing. Social enterprises play a critical role in delivering these outcomes, with initiatives like the 'Proper Good' business support program, funded by Access, the Foundation for Social Investment, and Big Society Capital.
The social enterprise sector in the wider Greater Manchester area partners with government, local authorities, charities, and philanthropists to create Social Outcomes Partnerships. These partnerships address urgent social challenges like child poverty, school absenteeism, homelessness, and recidivism, showing measurable improvements such as reduced school absences and lower reconviction rates among participants.
Regeneration projects in Stockport and Greater Manchester embed shared social value plans designed by multiple partners to transform socio-economic landscapes. By harnessing collective resources and knowledge, these efforts seek to reduce poverty and structural inequalities sustainably over time.
Stockport's local economy has been praised by an expert judging panel and is now recognised as one of the fastest growing northern economies. The town's social enterprise community has been investing time and resources into creating better support programs for the community over the past three years. Jo McGrath, chief executive of sector 3, Stockport's VCFSE infrastructure support organisation, has praised the social enterprise community for their outstanding contributions to society and economic progress.
Cllr Singleton believes that social enterprises create positive social change by investing in the community and third sector organisations. He looks forward to working closely with businesses and the voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise sector to deliver the best outcomes for all residents in Stockport.
In conclusion, Stockport's social enterprise community is vital to economic development through jobs and investment, social inclusion through tackling inequality, collaborative problem-solving with multi-sector partners, and embedding social value in regeneration efforts. This positions Stockport as a leader in inclusive and sustainable urban growth within Greater Manchester.
- The social enterprise community in Stockport, recognized as a social enterprise place by Social Enterprise UK, has been instrumental in driving economic growth, job creation, and addressing local challenges, making significant strides in economic development, social inclusion, and urban regeneration.
- One of the key contributions of Stockport's social enterprises is job creation and economic stability, as demonstrated by major investments like the £21 million funding into the McVitie’s factory, creating 45 new jobs and safeguarding hundreds of existing roles.
- Social enterprises in Stockport, such as those supported by initiatives like the 'Proper Good' business support program, funded by Access, the Foundation for Social Investment, and Big Society Capital, play a critical role in delivering positive outcomes in developing skills, expanding job opportunities, improving health and wellbeing, and building more housing.
- Collaborative partnerships between social enterprises, government, local authorities, charities, and philanthropists in the wider Greater Manchester area address urgent social challenges, like child poverty, school absenteeism, homelessness, and recidivism, showing measurable improvements and positioning Stockport as a leader in inclusive and sustainable urban growth within Greater Manchester.
