confidently growing

The business heart of the Thames Valley

One of the most dynamic economies in the UK, Reading is at the heart of the south east economy, with GVA predicted to grow at 3.5% per annum to 2026 (source Experian, Jan 2009). Set well to weather the worst of the economic downturn, Reading has an economy based on varied sectors - primarily the three Is - IT, Investment, and Insurance.

Most recently it came top in an assessment of the performance of 56 of the country's largest towns and cities: Centre for Cities measured employment, population and skills, and cited ‘cities’ like Reading as performing “very well”. 

A key factor in this success is its high–value knowledge economy, built around international blue chip investment. Reading is home to Verizon Business, Cisco, Prudential, Symantec, Microsoft, Oracle and LogicaCMG, to name but a few.