Stockport Business Forum: SAS Daniels and The Business Desk Host Event 2026

Key Points

• TheBusinessDesk.com will be back in Stockport with its Stockport Business Forum on 19 November 2026.
• It is supported by the law firm SAS Daniels and will take place at Stockroom, Stockport SK1 1PW.
• Registration is free of charge, and the schedule includes registration from 11am to 11.30am, a seminar from 11.30am to 12.30pm, and networking from 12.30pm to 1pm.
• The forum will be chaired by Michael Taylor, the editor of TheBusinessDesk.com North West.
• Among the confirmed panel members are Catherine Chilvers, chief executive of Stockport MDC; Tom Wilmot, joint managing director of Capital&Centric; Laura Corrigan, solicitor at SAS Daniels; Luke McClaran, chief people officer at Vitality Group; and Kyri Karsa, founder of Takeaway Growth Agency.
• The topics of the discussions will be about how businesses can keep the momentum of the borough, create chances for future generations, and find areas for improvement.
• The development was reported by Marketing Stockport on 22 October 2026.

Stockport (Manchester Mirror) October 22, 2026 — TheBusinessDesk.com is to bring its Stockport Business Forum back to the town next month, with the event sponsored by law firm SAS Daniels and focused on sustaining Stockport’s recent business and regeneration momentum.

As reported by Marketing Stockport on 22 October 2026, TheBusinessDesk is returning to Stockport for the forum, which will be chaired by Michael Taylor, editor of TheBusinessDesk.com North West. The publication said the forum would lead discussions on what Stockport’s businesses need to do next to maintain the momentum that has built up around the region’s hotspot.

The event is scheduled for Thursday, 19 November 2026, at Stockroom in Stockport town centre. According to TheBusinessDesk.com’s event listing, registration is free, with arrival between 11am and 11.30am, the seminar running from 11.30am to 12.30pm, and networking from 12.30pm to 1pm.

Which Speakers Will Appear at the Forum?

TheBusinessDesk.com has confirmed five panellists for the November session. They are Catherine Chilvers, chief executive of Stockport MDC; Tom Wilmot, joint managing director of Capital&Centric; Laura Corrigan, solicitor at SAS Daniels; Luke McClaran, chief people officer of Vitality Group; and Kyri Karsa, founder of Takeaway Growth Agency.

Michael Taylor will chair the discussion. TheBusinessDesk.com states that the forum will examine how Stockport is creating opportunities for future generations and what can be done to continue improving the borough.

The speaker line-up brings together representation from public-sector development, property and regeneration, legal services, employment, and business growth. Stockport MDC is represented by its chief executive, while Capital&Centric’s involvement adds a regeneration and development perspective.

SAS Daniels will be represented by solicitor Laura Corrigan. The firm is sponsoring the event and has a Stockport office at 30 Greek Street.

What Will Be Discussed at the Event?

The central theme, according to TheBusinessDesk.com, is what Stockport’s businesses need to do next to maintain the momentum that has developed around the area. The event listing says the discussion will place a “sharp focus” on the way Stockport is creating opportunities for future generations.

It will also consider what can be done to continue improving Stockport. TheBusinessDesk.com has not published a detailed agenda beyond the confirmed panellists, event timings, venue, and broad discussion themes.

Marketing Stockport’s report does not add further speakers or agenda items. It confirms that the forum is sponsored by SAS Daniels and that Michael Taylor will chair the discussions.

Why Is SAS Daniels Sponsoring the Forum?

SAS Daniels is a North West law firm with offices in Stockport, Macclesfield, Chester and Congleton. Marketing Stockport describes the firm as having more than 70 specialist lawyers and offering services across a range of legal areas.

The firm’s sponsorship links it to a business-focused event in the borough where it operates. Its solicitor Laura Corrigan is among the confirmed panellists, giving the firm a direct role in the discussion as well as a sponsorship position.

TheBusinessDesk.com identifies SAS Daniels as the sponsor of the Stockport Business Forum. Its event page lists the firm under the “Sponsored by” section.

When and Where Is the Stockport Business Forum?

The Stockport Business Forum will take place on Thursday, 19 November 2026, at Stockroom, Stockport SK1 1PW.

The timetable is as follows:

• 11am to 11.30am: Arrival
• 11.30am to 12.30pm: Seminar
• 12.30pm to 1pm: Networking
• Cost: Free to register

The venue is in Stockport town centre. TheBusinessDesk.com’s event page lists the full address postcode as SK1 1PW.

How Does This Follow the Earlier Stockport Forum?

This is not the first Stockport Business Forum held by TheBusinessDesk.com in partnership with SAS Daniels. An earlier event took place at Stockroom on 12 February 2026 and featured two panel discussions.

As reported by Michael Taylor of TheBusinessDesk.com, the February forum brought together political, business and cultural leaders to discuss Stockport’s future. The first panel focused on the economy and included Stockport Council leader Cllr Mark Roberts, musicMagpie chief executive Steve Oliver, SAS Daniels commercial property solicitor Safia Azra-Smith, and Xeinadin’s Paul Richards.

A second panel covered culture and place-making. It included Penny Langton of developer Cityheart, Royal Nawaab’s Bilal Jogi, and arts entrepreneur John Macaulay of Grit Studios.

SAS Daniels later reported that 130 attendees packed Stockroom for the February event. The firm said the panels were chaired by Michael Taylor and that feedback highlighted the opportunities for conversation at the forum.

What Did the Previous Forum Highlight?

At the February event, speakers discussed both Stockport’s regeneration momentum and continuing challenges. TheBusinessDesk.com reported that the event presented a “confident but clear-eyed” vision for the town’s future.

Safia Azra-Smith of SAS Daniels said she had moved from South Manchester to Stockport and described the “Stockport buzz”. TheBusinessDesk.com quoted her as saying: “We moved from South Manchester to Stockport last year… and I think I just got the Stockport buzz straight away… it’s such a fantastic place to live and then build on that… actually, this is a great place to work.”

Steve Oliver, chief executive of musicMagpie and chair of the Stockport Economic Alliance, described the town as “one Stockport”, with 13,000 firms and 130,000 employees. According to a LinkedIn post by James Dunningham summarising the event, Oliver asked how the town could “grow the great oak trees of the future”.

The same account said professional advisers highlighted entrepreneurial energy while warning that it remained “quite tough for businesses” amid inflation, tax and wage pressures. It also referenced projects including Cityheart’s 442-home Stopford Park scheme, Royal Nawaab’s transformation of the Stockport Pyramid, and Grit Studios’ creative hubs.

What Does the November Forum Aim to Address?

The November forum appears intended to build on that earlier discussion by asking what comes next for Stockport’s business community. TheBusinessDesk.com says the event will examine how the borough can maintain momentum and continue creating opportunities for future generations.

The confirmed panel combines perspectives from Stockport MDC, Capital&Centric, SAS Daniels, Vitality Group and Takeaway Growth Agency. This suggests the discussion is expected to cover development, business support, workforce matters and growth, although TheBusinessDesk.com has not published individual topic assignments for each speaker.

Marketing Stockport’s coverage frames the event as TheBusinessDesk’s return to Stockport next month, with SAS Daniels as sponsor.

Background of the Development

The Stockport Business Forum forms part of TheBusinessDesk.com’s programme of regional business events in the North West. Its February 2026 Stockport event was held in partnership with SAS Daniels at Stockroom and focused on the theme of a “town of change”, including regeneration, business opportunities and culture.

The February forum followed a period of visible regeneration activity in Stockport. Speakers referenced the town centre, transport connectivity, housing-led development, cultural venues and business growth. TheBusinessDesk.com reported that the event highlighted both the momentum behind regeneration and structural challenges still requiring attention.

SAS Daniels’ involvement has continued from that earlier event into the November forum. The firm sponsored and participated in the February session, with Safia Azra-Smith joining the economics panel, and is now sponsoring the forthcoming event while Laura Corrigan joins the panel.

Prediction: How Could This Affect Stockport Businesses?

For Stockport business owners, the forum could provide a practical opportunity to hear directly from figures involved in local development, employment and business growth. The presence of Stockport MDC and Capital&Centric may be particularly relevant to firms monitoring town-centre regeneration, commercial property, investment and future development activity.

For small and medium-sized enterprises, the discussion on maintaining momentum and creating opportunities for future generations may signal continued attention on business support, skills, workforce needs and local growth. The inclusion of Vitality Group’s chief people officer and Takeaway Growth Agency’s founder suggests employment and business-growth issues are likely to form part of the conversation.

For local professionals and service providers, the free networking session could create opportunities to connect with public-sector, property, legal and business representatives. The event’s format — a one-hour seminar followed by 30 minutes of networking — is designed to combine panel discussion with direct contact among attendees.

The wider effect will depend on the outcomes of the discussion and any follow-up initiatives. However, the event reinforces Stockport’s position as an active location for business-focused debate, with SAS Daniels and TheBusinessDesk.com again bringing together local organisations to discuss the borough’s next stage of growth.