The latest co-working hub for tech entrepreneurs launches in Reading

Today (August 20), workspace firm, London-headquartered Central Working has opened new premises in Reading, providing the area with a new hub.

Located at the R+ building next to Reading railway station, Central Working Reading will give 250 tech entrepreneurs a place to scale their business and develop new connections, as well as providing a new hub for enterprise growth in the Thames Valley.

As Central Working’s 11th location - and fourth outside London - the club will support Reading’s growth as a key UK digital hub.

Grant Powell, Central Working’s CEO, said: “We identified the Thames Valley as one of the UK’s exciting new tech clusters, and our new clubs in Reading and Slough will provide a supportive platform for the next generation of digital businesses [in] the region.

“Reading’s transport links to London and overseas investment markets via Heathrow make the area a prime location for any high-growth tech business, and we expect to cater for a mixture of local companies, as well as businesses relocating from the capital.”

Home to multinational companies including Microsoft, Oracle and Cisco systems, Reading’s digital economy has grown in recent years. Reportedly, at least one startup launched in the city every day in 2016, and tech businesses brought in a turnover of £12.5bn.

Central Working connects its members to contacts for growth, including clients, collaborators and suppliers. CityMapper and JustEat are amongst its former members.

The new site will connect Reading’s businesses with Central Working’s network of 3,500 companies across the country, providing the town with new links to the UK’s enterprise and tech community.

Alongside Central Working’s newly-opened club in Slough, the Reading location means the shared workspace provider will be providing a supportive environment and business links for more than 500 Thames Valley startups.