Graduate careers in Reading
Just a 25 minute train journey from London, Reading is a fast-growing, busy town in Berkshire which most students will be familiar with due to its reputation for hosting the Reading music festival.
Reading's centre boasts many modern office compounds and is well suited to graduates interested in the banking, finance, IT and engineering sectors. This does not mean that other opportunities are not available though; many of the businesses based in Reading advertise careers in their marketing and sales departments and Reading Borough Council is often seeking PR input from dynamic graduates.
Reading is also well situated for easy access to towns such as Slough, Oxford, Bracknell, Wokingham, Newbury, Basingstoke and Guildford. These locations should not be discounted when considering moving to the Reading area as excellent opportunities are available with companies that are just a short train or car journey away. The BBC monitoring service in Caversham offers careers in journalism and editing, and GlaxoSmithKline produces familiar products such as Aquafresh and Ribena in its factory in Slough, with internships available for food science students.
In and around Reading | Drink at... | Dance at... | Eat at... | Shop at... | The cost of living in Reading | Getting work in the Reading area
In and around Reading
Reading's continuous development has seen the recent opening of the Madejski Stadium, which is frequented by premier-league football games, recruitment fairs and other events. The busy town centre has also been enhanced by the arrival of The Oracle, an attractive modern complex situated on the river which has brought 90 new shops, a range of world cuisine and ample parking to Reading.
Drink at...
- Purple Turtle Basement style bar with live rock bands, popular with students and graduates.
- Pavlov's Dog Pound-a-pint on Mondays, this Scream bar is well situated in the town centre with great drinks deals and a fun quiz night.
- Back of Beyond A Wetherspoons pub, once voted best in the country, it is non-smoking and notoriously cheap.
Dance at...
- After Dark This dark and exciting club is well hidden in the town centre and plays live music as well as various DJ styles.
- The Fez Club A slice of London nightlife in Reading. Every night is different here so pick the one that suits you for a great night out.
- Q Bar This is a lively bar with a buzzing dance floor. Drinks are not that cheap but themed nights make up for it.
Eat at...
- Sardar Palace Often referred to as the best Indian in Reading, this is great venue for a more sophisticated evening.
- Chilis Reasonably priced and situated on the river, Chilis is a busy restaurant with excellent food.
- Global Café Slightly less well known, this is a quaint café with an attached shop selling world gifts and fair trade food and goods.
Shop at...
- Budget stores Primark, Prarmani, Pradamark... whatever you call it, it's cheap.
- High street shops The Oracle shopping centre hosts popular high street names such as H&M, TopShop and Zara.
- Supermarkets Asda, Tesco, Morrisons, Sainsbury's dotted all over Reading, there are plenty of grocery options.
The cost of living in Reading
Along with the rest of the South-east, the cost of living in Reading is high, making it comparable with parts of London. The average cost of a house has risen to £210,000 in the last year so that many people find that unless they are sharing accommodation with a partner or friends it is near impossible to survive on the average graduate wage.
It really all depends on how much longer you want to live the student life and share your terraced house with three other similarly situated professionals. If this does not sound appealing and you are not expecting a particularly high pay cheque to begin with then Reading is probably not a good starting point for launching your solo life.
Substantial building development around the town means that prices are expected to fall within the next few years but it is still one of the most expensive areas in the country.
Here are a few pointers to guide you in your search for property in Reading:
- Many house contracts run from the beginning of July to time with first year students being kicked out of halls. This is only specific to student housing but if you are a new graduate this may be the most suitable type of accommodation to seek initially.
- In Reading most of the shared and rented accommodation suitable for students and graduates is concentrated in one area by Cemetery Junction. As such, this is a prime target for burglars so check that the property you move in to is suitably secure.
- Copperfields and Adams are the main agents for budget accommodation but many rooms and properties are advertised through the university and in local shops and newspapers.
Getting work in the Reading area
Reading is known as the Silicon Valley of England; it is a thriving hub of technological development and is well suited to any graduate aiming to work in IT, telecoms and engineering.
Details of employers are continuously being updated so news of recent and upcoming vacancies can be found through the Reading Borough Council, the University of Reading careers centre and local newspapers such as the Reading Chronicle. Below is listed a brief suggestion of some of the graduate recruiters which are accessible from Reading. (Note: these companies may not be currently recruiting. Their names have been provided as a guideline to the type of work available and areas to look in.
- PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC): (banking and finance, business and management, Reading)
With offices scattered all over the country PwC has recently been voted the number one graduate employer. Their website gives comprehensive details about their graduate schemes. Tel: 0118 959 7111. 9, Greyfriars Rd, Reading, Berkshire RG1 1JG
- Shoosmiths: (law, Reading)
Shoosmiths offer training contracts for would-be solicitors in many locations including Reading. Tel: 0870 0868800. Apex Plaza, Forbury Rd, Reading, Berkshire RG1 1SH
- RFI Global Services Ltd: (engineering, IT and telecoms, Basingstoke, 30 minute drive)
A large, globally recognised company, RFI supplies a range of services to the cellular, wireless, smartcard and electronics industries. Tel: 01256 312000. Pavilion A, Ashwood Park, Ashwood Way, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG23 8BG
- Reading Borough Council: (public sector, various locations in and around Reading)
Teachers are in short supply in Reading, particularly in maths and science, so the council posts regular updates of positions available. Tel: 0118 939 0900. Reading Borough Council, Civic Centre, Reading, RG1 7AE
- MMR Research Worldwide Ltd: (food industry, sales and marketing, Wallingford, 20 minute drive)
This is a market research company that works on all elements of brand and product cycles but specialises in sensory branding, online methods and retail research. Tel: 01491 824999. Wallingford House, 46 High St, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 0DB
- Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE): (vacancies in numerous departments, Reading)
AWE offers various graduate training schemes in departments from science to manufacturing and IT. It is one of the largest high technology research, design development and production facilities in the country. Tel: 0118 981 4111. Aldermaston, Reading, Berkshire RG7 4PR
- HW Chartered Accountants: (banking and finance, Reading)
This is a national company with some offices in Reading, offering graduate training in chartered or certified accounting. Tel: 0118 958 4111. 7-11 Station Road, Reading, Berkshire RG1 1LG
- Peek Traffic: (engineering, Basingstoke, 30 minute drive)
Peek specialises in traffic technology and each year seeks to recruit graduates into its project and engineering division. Tel: +44 (0)1256 891800. Hazelwood House, Lime Tree Way, Basingstoke, Hants RG24 8WZ
- Ross Brooke Chartered Accountants: (banking and finance, Newbury, 30 minute drive)
A reasonably small but busy practice, this company takes on graduates as trainee accountants. Tel: 01635 555 666. 21/22 Park Way, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 1EE
- Oxford University Press (OUP): (publishing, Oxford, 40 minute drive)
One of the top publishing companies in the country, OUP has been established for over 500 years, employs over 1,400 staff and distributes a diverse range of publications all over the world. Telephone: +44 (0) 1865 556767. Oxford University Press, Great Clarendon Street, Oxford OX2 6DP
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