Editing Reading, Berkshire (section)

==Economy==
{{Main|Economy of Reading, Berkshire}}
[[File:Reading International Business Park - geograph.org.uk - 182264.jpg|thumb|Reading International Business Park. This crescent of offices beside the A33 is home to [[Verizon]], a telecommunications company, and was formerly the European headquarters of [[WorldCom]] before its demise]]
[[Image:John Lewis Reading 1.jpg|thumb|right|The front of the store on Broad Street]]
[[File:GreenPark Lake.jpg|thumb|The central lake makes a virtue of the necessity of flood alleviation measures]]
[[File:Pond & Turbine, Green Park (geograph 4689804).jpg|thumb|Green Park wind turbine viewed from Lime Square]]
Reading is a commercial centre in the [[Thames Valley]] and [[Southern England]]. The town hosts the headquarters of several British companies and the United Kingdom offices of foreign multinationals, as well as being a major retail centre.<ref name=tvccctv>{{cite web | title = Vision for Reading Chamber of Commerce | url = http://www.thamesvalleychamber.co.uk/memberservices/readingvision.asp | publisher=Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce | access-date =11 June 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080324011628/http://www.thamesvalleychamber.co.uk/memberservices/readingvision.asp <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 24 March 2008}}</ref> Whilst located close enough to London to be sometimes regarded as part of the [[London commuter belt]], Reading is a net inward destination for commuters. During the morning peak period, there are some 30,000 inward arrivals in the town, compared to 24,000 departures.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://ww2.reading.gov.uk/documents/Council_and_Democracy/Sustainablecommunitystragtegy2011.pdf | title = A Sustainable Community Strategy for Reading | page = 17 | publisher = Reading Borough Council | access-date = 13 July 2011 }}{{dead link|date=April 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Major companies [[Microsoft]], [[Oracle Corporation|Oracle]]<ref name=tvp>{{cite web|title=Companies|url=http://www.thamesvalleypark.co.uk/|publisher=Thames Valley Park|access-date=12 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325152912/http://www.thamesvalleypark.co.uk/|archive-date=25 March 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> and [[Hibu]] (formerly Yell Group)<ref name=citystatusbid>{{cite web|title=Reading's Application for City Status|url=http://ww2.reading.gov.uk/documents/Council_and_Democracy/CityStatus/ReadingCityBid_low1.pdf|publisher=Reading Borough Council|access-date=21 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725090252/http://ww2.reading.gov.uk/documents/Council_and_Democracy/CityStatus/ReadingCityBid_low1.pdf|archive-date=25 July 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> have their headquarters in the Reading area. The insurance company [[Prudential plc|Prudential]] has an administration centre in the town.<ref>{{cite news|title=Prudential could quit UK|url=http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2070577_prudential_could_quit_uk|work=[[Reading Post]]|publisher=Surrey & Berkshire Media|access-date=3 October 2011|date=5 May 2010|archive-date=25 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111125181458/http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2070577_prudential_could_quit_uk|url-status=live}}</ref> [[PepsiCo]]<ref name=arlington>{{cite web|title=Occupiers in Reading|url=http://www.arlingtonbusinessparkreading.com/customers/occupiers.html|publisher=Arlington Business Park|access-date=21 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111016221028/http://www.arlingtonbusinessparkreading.com/customers/occupiers.html|archive-date=16 October 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> and [[Wrigley Company|Wrigley]]<ref name=arlington/> have offices.

Global pharmaceutical giant [[Bayer]] Life Sciences relocated to Reading's [[Green Park Business Park]] in 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Bayer Life Sciences Relocated in 2016|url=https://livingreading.co.uk/invest/case-studies/bayer-life-sciences|access-date=1 February 2021|website=|archive-date=7 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210207211615/https://livingreading.co.uk/invest/case-studies/bayer-life-sciences|url-status=live}}</ref> Reading has a significant historical involvement in the information technology industry, largely as a result of the early presence in the town of sites of [[International Computers Limited]]<ref>{{cite web|title=ICL Pensioners' Newsletter|url=http://uk.fujitsu.com/pensioner/localData/pdf/BB25Aut07.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721161833/http://uk.fujitsu.com/pensioner/localData/pdf/BB25Aut07.pdf |archive-date=21 July 2011 |url-status=live|publisher=Fujitsu|access-date=12 June 2011}}</ref> and [[Digital Equipment Corporation]].<ref>{{cite book|title=New Scientist, 17 Jul 1986|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a5CS6IcW0FEC&q=Reading%2C+Berkshire+Digital+Equipment+Corporation&pg=PA79|publisher=Reed Business Information|access-date=12 June 2011|date=17 July 1986|archive-date=15 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115005353/https://books.google.com/books?id=a5CS6IcW0FEC&q=Reading%2C+Berkshire+Digital+Equipment+Corporation&pg=PA79|url-status=live}}</ref> Other technology companies with a significant presence in the town include [[Huawei Technologies]], [[Pegasystems]], [[Access IS]], [[CGI Inc.]], [[Agilent Technologies]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Agilent Technologies agrees letting in Reading|url=http://www.cushwake.com/cwglobal/jsp/newsDetail.jsp?Country=GB&Language=EN&repId=ca3400127|publisher=Cushman & Wakefield|access-date=10 October 2011|date=25 January 2006|archive-date=4 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404160840/http://www.cushwake.com/cwglobal/jsp/newsDetail.jsp?Country=GB&Language=EN&repId=ca3400127|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Cisco Systems|Cisco]],<ref name=greenpark>{{cite web|title=Occupiers|url=http://greenpark.co.uk/overview-occupiers-occupiers.html|publisher=Green Park|access-date=12 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110817122014/http://greenpark.co.uk/overview-occupiers-occupiers.html|archive-date=17 August 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Ericsson]],<ref>{{cite news|title=So many fantastic memories of Adam|url=http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2013756_so_many_fantastic_memories_of_adam|work=[[Reading Post]]|publisher=Surrey & Berkshire Media|access-date=10 October 2011|date=14 August 2007|archive-date=25 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111125180741/http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2013756_so_many_fantastic_memories_of_adam|url-status=live}}</ref> [[NortonLifeLock|Symantec]],<ref name=greenpark/> [[Verizon Business]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Occupiers|url=http://www.readinginternationalbusinesspark.co.uk/customers/overview.html|publisher=Reading International Business Park|access-date=10 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006003640/http://www.readinginternationalbusinesspark.co.uk/customers/overview.html|archive-date=6 October 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> and [[Commvault]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.hicksbaker.co.uk/hicks-baker-client-acquires-last-suite-at-apex-plaza/ | title = Hicks Baker client acquires last suite at Apex Plaza | date = 5 August 2014 | publisher = Hicks Baker | access-date = 12 March 2016 | quote = Fast growing data management software company CommVault has signed a new 7-year lease on Block B at Apex Plaza in Reading. | archive-date = 13 March 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160313025027/http://www.hicksbaker.co.uk/hicks-baker-client-acquires-last-suite-at-apex-plaza/ | url-status = live }}</ref> These companies are distributed around Reading or just outside the borough boundary, some in [[business parks]] including [[Thames Valley Park]] in nearby Earley, Green Park Business Park and [[Arlington Business Park]].

Reading town centre is a major shopping centre. In 2007, an independent poll placed Reading 16th in a league table of best performing retail centres in the United Kingdom.<ref name=rbcrls>{{cite web | title = Retail & Leisure Study of Reading&nbsp;– Volume 1&nbsp;– Chapters 1 to 3 | publisher = Reading Borough Council | year = 2005 | url = http://www.reading.gov.uk/Documents/servingyou/planning/Vol1_Chapters1-3.pdf | access-date = 13 June 2008 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080627125616/http://www.reading.gov.uk/Documents/servingyou/planning/Vol1_Chapters1-3.pdf | archive-date = 27 June 2008 | df = dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Battle to stay top of shops|url=http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2015699_battle_to_stay_top_of_shops|work=[[Reading Post]]|publisher=Surrey & Berkshire Media|access-date=12 June 2011|date=28 September 2007|archive-date=25 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111125173626/http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2015699_battle_to_stay_top_of_shops|url-status=live}}</ref> The main shopping street is [[Broad Street, Reading|Broad Street]], which runs between [[The Oracle, Reading|The Oracle]] in the east and [[Broad Street Mall, Reading|Broad Street Mall]] in the west and was pedestrianised in 1995.<ref name="bcllegal">{{cite web|url=http://www.bcllegal.com/regional-information-reading.php|title=Regional Focus on Reading|work=Career Planner|publisher=BCL Legal|access-date=31 March 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410023907/http://www.bcllegal.com/regional-information-reading.php|archive-date=10 April 2009}}</ref> The smaller Friars Walk in [[Friar Street, Reading|Friar Street]] is closed and will be demolished if the proposed [[Station Hill development, Reading|Station Hill redevelopment project]] goes ahead.<ref>{{cite news|title=New 'partner' for Station Hill project|url=http://www.getreading.co.uk/business/s/2077835_new_partner_for_station_hill_project|work=[[Reading Post]]|publisher=Surrey & Berkshire Media|access-date=12 June 2011|date=8 September 2010|first=David|last=Millward|archive-date=25 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111125180312/http://www.getreading.co.uk/business/s/2077835_new_partner_for_station_hill_project|url-status=live}}</ref> There are three major [[department store]]s in Reading: [[John Lewis & Partners]] (known as ''[[Heelas of Reading|Heelas]]'' until 2001),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.johnlewis.com/Shops/DSTemplate.aspx?Id=36|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717062735/http://www.johnlewis.com/Shops/DSTemplate.aspx?Id=36|archive-date=17 July 2012|url-status=dead|title=The history of John Lewis Reading|publisher=John Lewis|access-date=28 April 2009}}</ref> [[Debenhams]] (now closed down), and [[House of Fraser]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Mall Guide|url=http://www.theoracle.com/Comgenic.Manager.Images/OR6468_MallGuide_210x588_8pp_AW.pdf|publisher=Oracle|access-date=9 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927171512/http://www.theoracle.com/Comgenic.Manager.Images/OR6468_MallGuide_210x588_8pp_AW.pdf|archive-date=27 September 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[Broad Street Independent Chapel, Reading|Broad Street branch]] of bookseller [[Waterstone's]] is a conversion of a [[Nonconformist (Protestantism)|nonconformist]] chapel dating from 1707.<ref>{{NHLE |num=1321954 |desc=Congregational Church, Broad Street, Reading |access-date=6 July 2011}}</ref> Besides the two major shopping malls, Reading has three smaller shopping arcades, the Bristol and West Arcade, Harris Arcade and The Walk, which contain smaller specialist stores. An older form of retail facility is represented by [[Union Street, Reading|Union Street]], popularly known as ''Smelly Alley''.{{sfn|Sowan|2004}}<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.t3v.veggroup.org/locations/61.html | title = Holland & Barrett Smelly Alley&nbsp;– Reading | work = Thames Valley Vegans And Vegetarians | access-date = 1 May 2009 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081121150809/http://www.t3v.veggroup.org/locations/61.html | archive-date = 21 November 2008 | df = dmy-all }}</ref> Reading has no indoor market, but there is a [[street market]] in Hosier Street.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.townandcountrymarkets.co.uk/markets/reading-market.html | title = Reading Market | publisher = Town & Country Markets | access-date = 7 July 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110722165100/http://www.townandcountrymarkets.co.uk/markets/reading-market.html | archive-date = 22 July 2011 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }}</ref> A [[farmers' market]] operates on two Saturdays a month.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://tvfm.org.uk/calendar/ | title = Calendar | publisher = Thames Valley Farmers' Market Co-operative | access-date = 22 June 2018 | archive-date = 24 June 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180624022544/http://tvfm.org.uk/calendar/ | url-status = dead }}</ref> The old Victorian [[Corn Exchange, Reading|Corn Exchange]] now provides an alternative access to a shopping centre.<ref>{{NHLE|num=1113539|desc= Corn Exchange Arcade Entrance |access-date=7 May 2023}}</ref>