Economic boom as Rochdale celebrates business enterprise boost

Fruit Factory is one of seven new businesses to have opened in new council-built units in Dodgson Street

Rochdale is enjoying a business revival, with government data showing that there are 1,570 more businesses in the borough than there were last year.

Recently released ONS (Office of National Statistics) data shows that there are now 8,255 enterprises in the borough, up from 6,685 last year.

Among the new names welcomed into the borough are kitchen supplier Nobilia GB, which has just taken a 55,000 square feet unit in Kingsway on a 20-year lease. The move will create 20 new jobs in Rochdale over the next two years, in addition to the 55 staff which have relocated to Kingsway from Yorkshire.

Over one million square feet of employment space has also been let this year across the borough, with other businesses, including Vitafoam and Taziker Industrial, also taking new space across the borough in recent months.

And SMEs have also played their part, with businesses like The Fruit Factory opening in new council-built units in Dodgson Street and high street shops like Simpson Furniture opening in Heywood.

Councillor John Blundell, cabinet member for regeneration at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “Welcoming this many new businesses in just one year is no mean feat, particularly in these challenging economic conditions. I’m really proud that businesses continue to flock to Rochdale and create jobs for our residents.

“With fantastic transport links and thriving business parks, we are already an attractive proposition for investors, but we also work really hard to encourage new businesses to come in. We have a range of special incentives, which are unique to Rochdale, and have created a number of new opportunities over the past year, through the development of new industrial units, which are already being snapped up.”

Incentives offered by the council to encourage new business include business rates discounts for specific businesses opening in the town centres and start up grants of up to £5,000. The council has also created seven new small industrial units in Dodgson Street and construction is well underway on 11 new self-contained industrial units on Logic at Kingsway, which will range from 3000 sq ft to 15,500 sq ft and be ready for occupation in March 2019.

Anyone who would like to find out more about opening a business in Rochdale and the support available, can visit: www.rochdale.gov.uk/newbusiness