South: EY reports strong growth as it opens second office in Reading

EY, the professional services firm providing assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services, has reported UK fee income growth of 9.2% to £2.35 billion for the year ending June 30, 2017, up from £2.15b in the previous year and adding over £1.3b of organic revenue since 2010.

Regionally, in the south, EY has reported performance levels in line with the UK firm's strong growth.

Thames Valley and South highlights

The performance of EY’s 650-strong Thames Valley and South practice was in line with the UK firm’s strong growth. Regional highlights from the Reading and Southampton offices over the past financial year and more recently include:

• EY employs over 650 people across its three offices in Reading and Southampton.
• In August 2017, the firm announced the opening of a second office in Reading at the White Building, part of a co-working arrangement with Work.Life.
• Promotion of two associate partners and eight directors to strengthen local teams and the support it offers to mid-market firms across the Thames Valley & South.
• Recruited 44 university graduates and 22 apprentices on EY’s business apprenticeship programme in Reading and Southampton offices, which offers young people an alternative to university.
• EY is a proud sponsor of Connect TVT’s 50 Game Changers, celebrating the top fast-growing tech businesses in the Thames Valley.
• EY is one of the founding donors of Oxford Foundry, an entrepreneurial hub set up by Oxford University that brings together students, start-ups and businesses.
• The EY Foundation supported 12 students on the Smart Futures programme in 2017, offering paid work experience to underprivileged Year 12 students in Reading and surrounding areas.

Richard Baker, managing partner at EY in the Thames Valley and South: “The Thames Valley and South remains an important market for EY and this has been reflected by the firm’s continued investment in our people, business and brand.

“The new office space at the White Building in Reading will give the firm scope to increase our headcount by 15% and marks a key stepping stone for EY’s continued growth in the region. We are also proud sponsors of Connect TVT’s 50 Game Changers and are working with Oxford Foundry – both clear examples of the firm’s focus on economic prosperity and nurturing entrepreneurship in our region.”