This year has been an exciting year for the Thames Valley, already home to world-leading multinational businesses such as Microsoft, Oracle, Cisco and BG. Reading has received numerous accolades in the last two years, including being voted the second most prosperous place to live in the UK (according to a Barclays Wealth report in August 2015) and is one of the fastest-growing towns in the UK (source: The Business Magazine, Reading No1 City edition).
Technology Reading and Bracknell’s reputation as the country’s largest technology cluster outside of London is still growing. It has one of the highest density of digital tech businesses in the UK and as a result also has one of the largest digital tech workforces (source: Tech City, Tech Nation 2016 annual report).
The wider Thames Valley region is pioneering the development of specialist IT sectors including enterprise software and cloud computing as well as data management and analytics. 29% of businesses within the Reading and Bracknell cluster have cited that they employ non-EU citizens – the highest figure in the UK (source: Tech City, Tech Nation 2016 annual report).
The success of Reading tech businesses is in part driven by the access they have to national and international talent.
56 %
of digital technology businesses in the Thames Valley region claim to have access to graduate-level talent.
The University of Reading has a strong reputation for innovation in science and enterprise and has recently received funding for a multi-million pound ‘big data’ analytics centre which is to be created to address environmental problems (source: Tech City, Tech Nation 2016 annual report).
Infrastructure Reading’s integrated transport links have taken shape this year with the launch of the development of Crossrail by December 2019, which is anticipated to increase property values within 1km of Crossrail stations by at least 74% between 2014 and 2021 (source: Network Rail). In November, the Government announced a new
GREAT.gov.uk platform to help businesses launch into global markets. Along with the approval of Heathrow airport’s plans to build a third runway, Reading’s international links should thrive.
Network Rail plans to modernise the Great Western route to create faster, more reliable services, better stations and increased freight capacity. Network Rail are also developing plans to build a 3.8km rail tunnel as part of a new Western Rail Link to Heathrow (WRLtH) to London Heathrow Terminal 5 (source: The Business Magazine, Reading No1 City edition).
Large infrastructure plans include the renovation of Reading Central’s showpiece station, where work is on-going to develop wider transport links, along with M4 ‘smartway’ plans.
Residential developments at Kennet Island, Chatham Place, Green Park Village and Royal Elm Park showcase that Reading is one of the top places to invest in the UK (source: The Business Magazine, Reading No1 City edition).
There are clearly numerous opportunities to invest and develop businesses in the
Thames Valley region. With our local insight, national scale and straight talking legal expertise we are in prime position to support your business requirements.
Our Thames Valley offering After opening our Thames Valley office in June, like the region we have gone from strength-to-strength. In addition to our existing expertise in Corporate, Corporate Recovery, Family and Commercial, we have recently recruited John Downs, a Real Estate Partner from Shoosmiths LLP in Southampton. John spent most of his career in London at Fieldfisher LLP before joining Shoosmiths LLP. He advises international and UK corporate clients on the acquisition and disposal of commercial property assets. Private Client Legal Director Emma McCarthy, Banking Solicitor Aureilia Storey, Corporate Solicitor Lisa Faragher and Paralegal, Erica Hart have also joined us recently.
Patrick Long, previous Head of Banking at Pitmans and a Senior Real Estate Partner from a National law firm will both join the Thames Valley team as Partners in the New Year. Patrick is highly respected for his work representing both lenders and borrowers in invoice discounting, securities and debt work, as well as property and acquisition finance. As we continue to enhance our full- service offering, we have made a clear commitment to support businesses across the Thames Valley region.
To find out more, please contact: 0118 952 0821
Christopher.Avery@gateleyplc.com
#BetterBusiness @GateleyPlc
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