The University has long been renowned worldwide for its research links with business. Since its establishment, the HCfE has extended the University’s longstanding collaborative links with large and medium sized firms (especially through the University’s award winning Knowledge Transfer Centre) to develop close connections with the local Thames Valley SME business community. Drawing on content from Reading-based scholars following the Reading approach (and in collaboration with key local partners such as the Thames Valley Berkshire Business Growth Hub, Thames Valley Local Economic Partnership, Chambers of Commerce and Institute of Directors, among others), the HCfE hosts regular SME focused events, including speaker panels and talks on enterprise development. Attended by hundreds of local SMEs, these events serve the purpose of sharing best strategies for business growth, sales and marketing, financing, recruitment and development of staff.
Recent research by the Financial Times concluded that Reading had now risen to be the third most entrepreneurial city in the UK (after London and Cambridge) and tenth most entrepreneurial city in Europe. The investment by the University of Reading in entrepreneurship, in particular through the HCfE, has made a truly significant contribution to that achievement and impact on the Thames Valley economy.
The HCfE initiatives have assisted the University to build on its longstanding commitment to the local economy to become the key partner in the recent creation of the Thames Valley Berkshire Business Growth Hub. Building on the large existing provision for SMEs on-campus in our Science and Technology and Enterprise Centres, the University of Reading is about to become one of the UK’s leading proponents of university-affiliated science parks, opening the new Thames Valley Science Park in 2016. Many of these SMEs in turn benefit from their collaboration with University researchers by providing the University with contract research income and research grants, alongside offering placement and consultancy opportunities for our students and recruitment opportunities for graduates. Indeed, the University of Reading graduates disproportionately enter entrepreneurial careers, with many successful start-up ventures among our alumni community including Airbyte, KYMIRA, Rendez-Vous and Shine Media.