Reading named number two in top 10 UK towns for start-ups

Funding, networking, and mentoring are key steps to success and growth for any new business, as the UK reports a 12% increase in new businesses in 2020, and Reading is named as one of the UK’s top 10 towns for start-ups, according to Metro Bank. 

This is based on a number of key factors including internet speeds, best rates of production, office prices, and business survival rates according to a new study by Fasthosts.

The top 10 towns for successful start-ups:

1   Luton

2   Reading

3   Nottingham

4   Edinburgh

5   Central London

6   Liverpool

7   Portsmouth

8   Coventry

9   Wolverhampton

10 Bristol

"As Reading is the second-highest contributor to UK GDP outside of the London urban areas, we will continue to attract business to the area, and we have seen a 10% increase in start-ups banking with us in recent month post lockdown restrictions," explained Metro Bank Area Director, Simon Neale. "It was great to see that a recent PWC report ranks Reading second only to Oxford among UK towns to withstand the major economic shock generated by the pandemic. This is due to the mix of sectors, the economic and social indicators and it is demonstrated by Reading’s success in recent years in creating jobs, high incomes, good quality of life/health, high levels of skills in the workforce and strong levels of business creation."