Centre for Cities Cites Reading as "One to Watch" 

Reading recognised as one of top five economies to emerge from recession 

Respected independent think-tank Centre for Cities has launched its "Cities Outlook 2010".

The report names five to watch: Brighton, Milton Keynes, Reading, Cambridge and Edinburgh have the right ingredients to succeed after the recession has passed.  They have strong private sectors, high levels of entrepreneurship, highly educated workforces and large shares of knowledge-intensive jobs.

The report finds that, as we move out of recession, the UK will face an uneven recovery.  Already-robust city economies like Reading and Brighton are more likely to grow stronger, leaving others further behind. 

The results for the Reading primary urban area (an aggregate of Reading, Bracknell and Wokingham)* are as follows - 

Business stock per 10,000 residents                 425.5    (6th) 
Business start ups per 10,000 residents             51.1    (5th)
Residents with degree-level qualifications          36.3%  (8th) 
Concentration of knowledge intensive jobs        27.7%  (5th)

London Looks to Reading

The launch of "Cities Outlook" created a wave of interest in Reading from further afield as BBC London arrived to find out what we do right.  Local businessmen Nigel Penn-Simkins and Phil McMichael were interviewed, together with Guy Douglas (Manager, Reading Business Improvement District) and Richard Byard (Economic Develpment Manager) both from Reading UK CIC.   

You can watch the report here - http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/london/hi/tv_and_radio/

* Cities Outlook ranks the economic performance of 64 of the UK’s largest cities and towns.  This year’s report also includes an analysis of the economic performance of the City Regions, a wider definition of urban areas and a summary of City Regional devolution to date.