Expert Office Advice

Stats and information for businesses considering relocation to or setting up an office in Reading.

Reading borough, located at the heart of Thames Valley, is the largest town in south east England. It is considered to be one of Europe’s premier business centres with 10 of the top 50 global organisations headquartered in the area. Aside from being a major transport interchange and commercial centre Reading is also historically important being the county town of Royal Berkshire.

Population
143,124 (Census 2001)

Migration, immigration, ethnic diversity, basic population demographics
• Reading has a relatively young population (34.3% are aged under 25) compared to England (31.1%)
• Ethnicity: White (86.82%), Mixed (2.37%), Asian or Asian British (5.2%), Black or Black British (4.14%), Chinese or Other (1.45%)
• Religion: Christian (62.63%), No religion (22.0%), Muslim (4.0%)
• The workforce mostly works in Lower managerial and professional occupations (20.75%), Intermediate Occupations (10.71%), Semi-routine occupations (10.59%) and as Full-time students (10.89%).

Unemployment/employment rate
• 69.24% are employed
• 2.52% are unemployed
• The rest of the population are either students, retired, homemakers or disabled.

Average income/salary
• £26,350 per annum

Location within the UK and closest major location
• Located south east of England to the west of London.

Transport options to and within
• A major transport interchange, Reading naturally has an easy access to all parts of Britain via rail, motorways, and boat.
• Transport options within Reading include bus, trains, and taxis.

Closest airports with average distance from town/city centre
• London Heathrow Airport - 23.41 miles
• Southampton Eastleigh International Airport - 38.07 miles
• London Luton Airport - 39.83 miles

Dominating sectors / industries
• Real estate; renting and business activities - 21.18%
• Wholesale & retail trade; repair of motor vehicles - 16.29%
• Transport storage and communication - 9.0%
• Manufacturing - 8.97%
• Census 2001 - Industry of Employment

Large companies that have headquarters or major branches in the location
• Verizon (MCI)
• Cisco
• Prudential
• Yell
• RWE Thames Water

Areas that are considered to be prime business locations
• Oracle Shopping and Leisure Complex.

Awards
• Italian Restaurant of U.K (2000) awarded to Pepe Sale

Other
• Extra £39 Million set for capital schemes all over Reading

Special business benefits/dispensations
• Unoccupied property rates
• Partly occupied property relief
• Small Business Rate relief
• Charity and registered community amateur sports club relief
• Non-profit making organisation relief
• Hardship relief
• Property used for the disabled

3 best things about the location
• The Thames Valley economy has been the fastest growing in the UK since 1999 and is set to continue with a predicted growth between 2.7% and 4% per annum to 2009.
• Proximity to Heathrow and London.
• Wide range of major regeneration projects underway.

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