Reading: Economic Forum 2016 set for November

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TBM Team

Reading UK CIC’s annual set-piece event for Reading and Thames Valley businesses will take place this year at Reading Town Hall on Thursday, November 24.

The Reading Economic Forum updates the business community on the performance of the Reading economy. Keynote speaker will be Simon Fox, chief executive of Trinity Mirror plc, who will be talking about the challenges that the increasing digitisation of the economy presents across a number of business sectors as well as the role of the creative industries in place making.

The creation of vibrant cities with attractive lifestyles is an increasingly important part of driving business growth. A vibrant city helps attract businesses and their workers to an area. The 2016 Forum will thus reflect from a business perspective on the importance of Reading’s Year of Culture, and it will examine the importance of the creative industries and the role of the arts and culture in place making

Nigel Horton-Baker, executive director of Reading UK CIC, said: “The latest data shows that Reading has the highest increase in employment in the creative (digital tech) sector outside London, embracing cybersecurity, business software, and data analytics through established global names like Symantec, Wipro and Microsoft, as well as through locally-headquartered firms such as Fantoo, Cloud Direct and Altitude Angel.

“The town is currently playing host to world-class artists at Reading Prison, and Reading Year of Culture has raised the bar for Reading as a cultural destination. The Abbey, dating back to Henry I, is being restored to reopen to the public, and it has the potential to drive place-making in a way that Richard III did for Leicester. This year’s Reading Economic Forum will be considering how an active programme of place making could further support business growth in Reading.”

Reading Economic Forum is free to attend and open to all businesses in Reading and in the Thames Valley. It is a partnership between Reading UK CIC and 3 Fox International and is sponsored by Brockton Capital, Landid, M&G Real Estate and Stanhope.

TBM Team