The Thames Valley is fast becoming one of the leading tech hubs in the UK, with over 240,000 companies currently present. The Thames Valley has seen huge growth over the decade with the likes of HP making the area their headquarters in 2019 and Objective Corporation in 2017. With 70% of international companies that set up in the UK for the first time choosing a location within one hour of Heathrow Airport, it's no wonder the Thames Valley has reaped success, with office space available just a short drive away.
In case you're considering an office move, here are four reasons you should choose the Thames Valley as your new location:
1. International HQ
You'll be in good company here - the Thames Valley is known as the Silicon Valley of the UK, home to the likes of Microsoft, Vodafone and HP who are just a few of the world-wide companies who have set up base in the region. Read more about some of the Thames Valley's residencies here.
2. Transport links
For any company that is looking to relocate, accessibility is one of the top priorities - ensuring that clients, employees and prospects can get around with ease. The Thames Valley has great transport links whether you're coming from out of town, from across the country or internationally.
By car: The Thames Valley surrounds the M4 stretch of tech-companies, from Microsoft to Intel to Vodafone. Most towns within the Thames Valley are within a one- or two-hour drive of central London, ideal for London commuters and arranging meetings in the city-centre should you need to.
By bus, train and tube: In today's business world, time is more precious than ever, which is why commuting via bus and rail service has become increasingly popular. Getting around the Thames Valley is made easy with the Great Western Railway, looping the likes of Reading, Oxford and Slough. Other areas such as Stockley Park and Uxbridge are made accessible by the Underground and bus routes. Find your route with Transport For London.
By air: The UK's largest and busiest airport, London Heathrow, is just a short journey from the Thames Valley. Whether you're already a global business or have aspirations to become one, it's the ideal location to provide a launchpad for international development.
3. The area offers more than just office space
The Thames Valley is made up of towns and villages such as Slough, Uxbridge and Stockley Park as well as larger areas such as Reading and Oxford, all of which boast excellent restaurants and a range of entertainment outlets. Whilst this is great for attracting and retaining employees, do you have international clients flying in for a day of meetings? Treat them to a night of music or an evening at the theatre. The vibrancy of the Thames Valley is what makes it so attractive to businesses, offering its residents so much more than office space.
4. The future of Thames Valley
From 2016 to 2017, 37,000 SMEs were launched in the Thames Valley, contributing to the future growth of the region. However, the success of the Thames Valley isn't slowing down any time soon, in fact, EY predicts that the Thames Valley will show growth of 2.3%, making it the UK's fastest-growing region by 2021. The thriving region is said to be ahead of the game with its international accessibility and London links. This combined with the growing sectors of technology, life sciences and advanced engineering is what will continue the Thames Valley's strong success - something all businesses will want to be a part of.
Do you want your business to be a part of this developing region? Take a look at the key Orega office locations based in Thames Valley and start planning your next move.
Header Image Credit: Orega
