Digital

Reading is the engine room of the UK’s digital economy. Strategically positioned within the Thames Valley - Europe’s largest tech cluster - Reading combines a dense concentration of digital businesses, world-leading infrastructure, and a highly skilled international workforce. From global tech giants to disruptive startups, Reading is where innovation thrives and digital transformation accelerates. 

Reading offers a uniquely rich and diverse tech landscape, home to companies specialising in: 

• Software & enterprise solutions 
• Cyber security & telecoms 
• Cloud computing & big data 
• Internet of Things (IoT) 
• AI, digital infrastructure & creative tech 

At the heart of the UK’s leading tech cluster 

Reading boasts the highest digital density in the UK, with nearly twice the concentration of digital businesses compared to its nearest competitor (Tech Nation, 2017). Over 20% of the South of England’s top 100 privately owned tech firms by turnover are based right here. 

EY estimates that the digital sector accounts for 25% of Reading’s productivity. Much of that success is powered by an international talent pool with 29% of the workforce in tech businesses in Reading coming from outside the EU (Savills 2017). Nesta's The Geography of Creativity report (2016) highlighted the major growth in employment in the creative sector in Reading with the second highest growth in employment in the UK after London.  

The digital creative sector 

Reading’s digital strength is not limited to enterprise software and telecoms. The town is also a fast-growing hub for creative digital industries, with companies operating in gaming, media, design and immersive technologies, creating opportunities for cross-sector collaboration and innovation.  

The creative sector in Reading employs more than 40,000 people across nearly 5000 businesses, making up 11% of total employment in Reading. The majority of this employment is in relatively large software businesses. 

Home to digital industry leaders & global brands 

Many of the world’s most influential tech companies have established their UK or European HQs in Reading. These organisations benefit from Reading’s global connectivity, talent pipeline, and business-friendly environment, making it the go-to location for digital investment and scale-up: 

• Microsoft – A global leader in software, cloud computing, and AI, with a major UK campus in Reading. 
• Oracle – One of the world’s largest enterprise software companies, specialising in database technology and cloud infrastructure. 
• Huawei – A global ICT provider with a significant UK R&D presence, focusing on telecoms and consumer technology. 
• Verizon – A major US-based telecommunications company delivering enterprise network and security solutions in the UK. 
• Ericsson – A key player in 5G infrastructure and mobile technology, with operations supporting telecom innovation. 
• Nvidia – A world leader in graphics processing units (GPUs) and AI computing, supporting industries from gaming to data science. 
• Atos – A multinational IT services and consulting firm, specialising in digital transformation and high-performance computing. 
• Datto – A provider of data backup, disaster recovery, and business continuity solutions, serving SMEs globally.