The Reading UK team...

The Economic Development Company for Reading

Although a relatively young organisation (celebrating five years in business in July 2012) the Reading UK team has a broad remit, delivering a wide range of economic development programmes. 

Our team of six:
 

Marketing Manager

Reading UK is currently recruiting for a new Marketing Manager. If you are a marketing professional who can raise Readings’ profile internationally, attract businesses in growing sectors and sell the exciting retailing, hospitality, leisure and arts experience to be found in the town, then we want to hear from you.

Full details here: Marketing Manager Job Advert

Nigel Horton-Baker, Executive Director

Nigel comes to Reading UK as the Executive Director, having extensive senior management experience in Economic Development over the past 15 years and a career stretching back 25 years covering all aspects of regeneration, skills, job creation, foreign direct investment; small business and sector support services; tourism promotion and infrastructure development. 

Nigel is no stranger to Reading having served on the Board of Reading UKCIC for three years while he was the Area Director for the South East of England Regional Development Agency covering Berkshire and Surrey.

Prior to this Nigel was CEO of Surrey Economic Partnership (now Connected Surrey), Vice Chairman of the South East Regional Assembly and  Head of Community and Economic Regeneration at London Borough of Hounslow. He has also had spells of self employment running a B+B, and a planning and economic development consultancy.

Most Recently Nigel worked with a global, City based Recruitment Agency to set up a commercial 'Apprenticeship Training Agency', supporting small companies to take on Apprentices across the South East".

Susanne Brackley, Economic Development Manager

Coming to the organisation with twenty years experience in marketing and tourism services, following several years working in the City of London, Sue is now responsible for economic development. As well as working on policy and development she also represents Reading on a number of associations and sub-regional organisations including the Berkshire Economic Development Officers' Group, the Apprentice Partnership and the Employment and Skills Group. 

Currently oversees the Skills for Business initiative, which aims to ensure that Reading businesses have the skills needed for success.

Sarah Callaghan, Skills for Business Co-Ordinator 

Supporting and developing local business with skills and training, Sarah comes to the role with a range of knowledge and expertise from both private and public sectors. Having worked in the education sector to support local schools and colleges to implement new qualifications, as well as on the Raising the Participation Age project, she has a clear understanding of how the education sector has grown and developed in recent years. Most importantly she understands the impact this has had on employers and business looking to up-skill their own employees.

Having recently worked with a major media company, improving their work experience offer and developing apprenticeships to both further the business and support local young people in training, she is able to offer advice from both the business and educational aspect.

Luke Crane, Business Improvement District Manager

Luke Crane joined Reading UK in November 2012 to take up the role of BID Manager. Originally from an events management background, Luke has been working in the BIDs Industry for 5 years.

Initially working for The National BIDs Advisory Service, undertaking research to identify development phases for BIDs, Luke then set up his own consultancy company working with both developing and established BIDs. He has worked on a number of BID development programmes and most recently lead the development and delivery of a successful BID ballot for Cambridge.

Jo Keen, Marketing and Events Co-ordinator

Jo joined Reading UK in April 2011 and brings experience from both the private and public sectors; her career to date includes over 12 years working in event organisation, marketing and promotions. Jo co-ordinates a programme of promotional events including Eat Reading, Heritage Open Days, the Christmas season of entertainment and Hullabaloo (part of the Reading Children's Festival).

With Jo's arrival, Reading UK now co-ordinates many aspects of town centre activity - from booking street performers to managing third party activities in the public realm. She also brings a welcome boost to our destination marketing activity for the town.

Reading UK CIC is a Community Interest Company limited by guarantee and registered in England & Wales (No. 5671172) at One Forbury Square, The Forbury, Reading RG1 3EB.

Its trading address – for all correspondence – is Davidson House, Forbury Square, Reading RG1 3EU.