Why Reading

A key city in the UK throughout the ages

Reading has been a significant city in the UK since the medieval times, when Reading Abbey was built by King Henry I of England as his final resting place. It was a hugely important industrial centre in the 18th and 19th centuries and to this day is a key of commercial hub for the UK’s economy – attracting some of the world’s biggest businesses and a highly skilled workforce to service their needs.

The UK's fastest growing city economy 2017–19*
Home to 13 of the world's largest global brands
The number one tech cluster in the UK**
Top 25 European City for foreign direct investment†
One of highest employment rates in the UK^
The fifth best qualified workforce in the UK#
Reading University had 17,000 students, 20% of which stay in Reading on graduation
* EY UK and Regions Economic Forecast 2017–19, ** Tech Nation 2017, † FDI Awards 2016/17, ^ EY UK and Regions Forecast 2016, # Centre for Cities 2017