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opportunity for organisations of all sizes and maturity levels to fundamentally revisit their approach to create operating models that can flex to changing market conditions.


Secondly, STEM collaboration is about ensuring our universities have sustainable funding models for research and are able to attract and retain the very best talent. We need to work closer with various bodies to ensure that future needs and opportunities are understood, planned and nurtured across our schools and colleges so that there is a clear transition from education to the workplace across the region.


And finally, international trade. We need the ability to trade competitively and easily within the EU, but also any changes to our relationship with the US could be a real boost (or detractor). We must provide a strong and consistent message to government and ensure that we sustain recent levels of collaboration across a number of governmental steering groups, even when negotiations inevitably become uncomfortable.


These are critical areas of need for the businesses based in our region; to ensure our ongoing attractiveness as a destination


for overseas companies, to establish presence and to support start-ups and scale-ups to commercialise further waves of value-adding IP.


Broader challenges that need to be mitigated span ‘three C’s’ – cost, congestion and complacency. The first two are largely self-explanatory and the third is one we cannot risk as a business community or indeed the wider UK as a whole – we need a Thames Valley that continues to outperform via an underlying, integrated plan.


EY’s role in supporting that plan


EY is undertaking an initial study to understand the strengths, weaknesses and outlook of the Thames Valley across five pillars that we believe outline the region’s priorities within an integrated growth strategy: people, infrastructure, quality of living, investment and innovation, and governance.


An integrated growth strategy should be formed in partnership with government, third parties and the local business community, all of which are individually doing great things to put Reading and the Thames Valley on the map. Now is the time for local businesses to collaborate


and create a unified plan in order to sustain the region’s growth and compete on the world stage.


We are keen to discuss and enhance our thinking with stakeholders across Reading and the wider Thames Valley so that your voice, energy and insights are placed at the heart of a much needed unified story and compelling investment case for the future health and success of the region.


Richard Baker rbaker2@uk.ey.com 0118 9281414


Will you wait for the future to happen, or take a hand in shaping it?


Economic growth in the Thames Valley continues to outpace the rest of the UK but in an unpredictable environment how can this be maintained? We are committed to working with entrepreneurs and businesses to develop a shared agenda for economic prosperity.


READING NUMBER 1 CITY UPDATE – JUNE 2017


businessmag.co.uk


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