Key Competitive Attractions
Reading, just 26 minutes from London, is at the heart of the UK’s Knowledge Economy. It is one of five ‘cities’ ranked among the top ten in all three indices of economic prosperity, built environment and social deprivation. (Centre for Cities, Cities Outlook 2009). Its University is ranked among the top 200 in the world (i.e. top 2.5% of higher education)
GVA growth is predicted at 3.5% each year to 2026 (Experian, Policy Insight Winter 2008) and it has 10% more employment (at 40%) in the UK’s top 20 exporting sectors than the UK average – the highest rate nationally.
The National Endowment for Science, Technology & the Arts states: ‘Some cities – including Reading – are cutting-edge innovation leaders, constantly expanding the knowledge frontier’.
