Melissa Arkinstall

Reading Borough Council

Reading Borough Council - providing services for residents of Reading Borough. One of the fastest growing towns in the UK, Reading's forward momentum is remarkable. Transport connections are excellent with exceptional access to Heathrow, central London and beyond. Around an already thriving retail heart, our new Abbey business quarter has opened up a hidden heritage gem in the middle of Reading, and we're committed to enhancing our cultural infrastructure. We've the 7th highest employment rate in the UK, the working population is the 6th most well-educated, and the average weekly salary is 18% above the national average. Extensive new housing of all tenures (including through our own housing company), and a flourishing university complete the picture for inward investors. We're proud that the Council, through our Team Reading approach, is driving much of this transformation. We are determined to ensure that our growth is good growth: low carbon, sustainable and - most important of all - to the benefit of local people.