Stockport

Jobs in Stockport

Only six miles south of Manchester, Stockport is situated on the confluence of the rivers Goyt, Tame and Mersey. It's a town that has long been associated with manufacturing and is a good location for those seeking opportunities.

Contrary to what you would expect by looking at the town's name, Stockport was never much of a port town since the Mersey is a fairly narrow and shallow waterway in this region. Rather, the name simply combines the Old English words for 'marketplace' and 'hamlet'.

Indeed, Stockport has been a hub of commerce for hundreds of years, mainly as a source for textiles and hats, producing as many as six million pieces of headwear a year at the industry's peak.

Silk weaving and cotton spinning expanded during the 18th century with mills that were first powered by water, then steam. Other related industries included block making, trimming manufacture and leather ware.

Hat making in Stockport finally came to an end in the 1990s and the textile industry has also declined significantly. However, the town has moved with the times and its economy is now mainly based in the service sector.

The financial industry employs a large portion of Stockport's population, with companies like the Co-Op Bank and Swinton Insurance having facilities in the area.

In addition, manufacturing plays a part in the local economy. For example, BAE Systems, United Biscuits, PZ Cussons and NXP Semiconductors have factories in Stockport. What's more, Robinsons is a regional brewery that produces around 35,000 barrels of beer a year.