The UK's fastest growing economy

Reading's Economy

Economic Facts

Inspiration

  1. House graphic with text: A Sunday Times ‘Top 10 Places to Live’ location
  2. Forecast to have the UK's highest growth 2025-2028 (EY Regional Economic Forecast 2025)
  3. 23 minutes to London by rail
  4. 6th highest ‘new high-growth tech industries’ (Centre for Cities 2025)
  5. 84% employment
  6. 62% of the working population qualified to NVQ4 level or equivalent (the 4th highest in UK)
  7. Ranked 7th overall as a place to live and work in the UK (2025 Vitality Index)
  8. Direct rail connections to Heathrow and Gatwick as well as three other regional airports
  9. Reading has some of the highest-performing schools in the UK (Sunday Times)
  10. 24,000 jobs in Advanced Technologies activities
  11. Highest concentration of ICT companies in the South-East.
  12. Top 5 UK location for first-time buyers (Halifax house price index)
  13. Reading ranked 8th best city for “good” economic growth (Good Growth for Cities 2025).
  14. Home to 11,000 digital and tech firms
  15. Rated 3rd as hotbed for fostering AI enterprises (Data City)
  16. 3rd highest disposable income in UK (Centre for Cities)
  17. 2nd fastest average 5G speed in the UK
  18. Located on the M4, the main London to west of England/Wales road link
  19. Reading ranks #4 for jobs and work opportunities in the UK (CoWorking Cafe 2025)
  20. 2nd best location for innovation companies (Centre for Cities)
  21. Part of the London Transport network as the terminus of the Elizabeth Line
  22. 72% Maths and English GCSE
  23. University of Reading No1 Sustainable University of the Year 2025 and World Top 200 University (QS)
  24. The 3rd smartest city in the UK (Desk Up)

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