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Reading
Enews – February 2009
Reading UK CIC
To view a copy of our Annual Report for 2007/2008 please view the
e-brochure at:
http://tinyurl.com/aof4ob using the on-screen instructions for best
results. For a hard copy please contact Tim Smith on 0118 900 1625
or tim@livingreading.co.uk.
Surviving the recession
Two recent reports have reiterated Reading’s potential to withstand
the recession better than most towns and cities: Experian’s
Policy Insight of Winter 2008 shows Reading as the number one location
in terms of annual average GVA growth between 2010 and 2026. This
is based on the local authority area rather than greater Reading.
And Centre for Cities reports in its ‘Cities Outlook 2009’ that
Reading is one of five ‘cities’ ranked among the top
ten in all three indices of: economic prosperity, built environment
and social deprivation. C4C define ‘Reading’ along similar
lines to its functional economic area, i.e. Reading, Wokingham & Bracknell.
Beat the Crunch
A Reading company is ready to help local
businesses beat the ‘Credit
Crunch’. A government-backed report has shown that companies
can increase revenue and reduce costs by introducing workplace wellness
programmes, and achieve a Cost Benefit ratio of up to 85:1.
Wellness programmes can increase productivity and reduce the costs
of sickness absence, staff turnover, and accidents and injuries.
How much is absenteeism costing your company?
Did you know that “presenteeism”, where employees are
present but due to health issues have reduced performance and are
less productive, costs up to seven times more than absenteeism?
NSG Services provide wellness programmes designed to increase turnover
and reduce costs, and is providing free evaluations and assessments
during February. For more information please call Nick on 0118 966
0274, visit www.wiseaboutstress.com or email nick@wiseaboutstress.com.
Inward investment
4,590 sq ft of industrial space has been let at Suttons Business
Park to Ray Hudson Limited (RHL), which has signed a 10 year lease
on Unit 43, relocating from Henley-on-Thames. RHL provides low energy
fans for domestic and commercial use, as well as the manufacture
of controls, ventilation panels, grilles, ducting and design bespoke
ventilation systems.
The Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
has announced funding of GBP 250m to create 44 science training centres
across the country, including a GBP 6m site at the University of
Reading, to study zero-carbon buildings.
Precycle is to create about 100 jobs at recycling depots across the
country and at its Reading headquarters over the next few months,
with new depots due to open in Bristol, Bury St Edmunds, Falkirk
and Newcastle. Precycle, 46-48 Portman Road, RG30 1EA http://www.precycle.eu
Celloglas has sold five printing sites in Reading, Birmingham, Leicester
and two in Leeds out of administration to a new company called Newcelloco,
securing the future of 140 jobs.
Celloglas, Headley Road East, Woodley, RG5 4UA http://www.celloglas.co.uk
Engineering giant CCE has set up its first overseas base in Kings
Road to support its growing engineering services business. The new
office in Berkshire House will be offering mechanical design and
engineering services to companies with operations in the UK. Established
in Michigan in 1989, CCE operates from offices across the US including
New Jersey, Charleston, South Carolina and Illinois. The corporation
has now turned its attention to developing the firm’s worldwide
presence, with the Reading office the first of many planned across
Europe in 2009.
Planning
An application has been submitted for a change
of use to 7 - 11 Cross Street, from B1 (business) to A1 (shop)
or A2 (financial & professional
services) or D1 (non-residential institution) on the basement and
ground floor levels.
The application for a change of use at 38-40 Oxford Road and 3-7
Cheapside has been withdrawn.
An application has been submitted to change the use of 10 Gun Street
from offices to A1 at ground floor with offices above, to include
demolition of existing extensions and erection of new extension and
internal alterations.
An application has been submitted for internal alterations to the
ground Floor of 2 King’s Road (kitchen and bathroom showroom),
to accommodate new use requirements. Existing use: A1 retail; proposed
use: A3 restaurant and cafe.
Barratt Thames Valley has submitted an application for a mixed use
development comprising 333 new residential units and 509 sq m of
commercial floorspace, together with associated car parking, access,
open space and landscaping at the former Kodak and Ventello Sites
on 38-41 Kenavon Drive.
The planning authority has granted consent for the refurbishment
of the existing office building and the inclusion of two additional
floors at Aldwych House, 2 Blagrave Street.
An application has been submitted for a T-shaped pontoon on the riverside
of the Crowne Plaza Hotel, along with a change of use to provide
the hotel with additional services for guests using vessels moored
alongside the pontoon.
An application has been submitted for the change of use of the
Horse & Jockey
Public House at 120 Castle Street into 3 flats.
An application has been submitted for 7-11 Station Road to add 2
floors to accommodate a residential (C3) apartment at each level,
the conversion of 4 upper floors from commercial (A2, B1A) to contain
12 no. 1-bedroom residential units. The conversion of commercial
space at street level to ancillary residential storage and utility
accommodation and partly to extend the retained retail unit.
Retail
The M&S Simply Food unit in St Martin’s Centre, Caversham
has this week gone under offer to an undisclosed retailer. The shop,
which is 6,863 sq ft on the ground floor and 5,990 sq ft on the first
floor, has a rent of £70,000 on a lease expiring in 2032. The
proposed assignment is reported to be at a 'substantial six figure'
premium.
KIK Sport have signed a new lease on 27 Harris Arcade (relocating
from Market Place)
Teams needed for the Annual Charity Pancake Race
This year's Annual Charity Pancake Race takes
place in Broad Street on Tuesday 24 February at 12 noon. Teams
of four are needed for this fun lunchtime event in aid of the Reading
Single Homeless Project. All you need is a frying pan and we'll
provide the pancakes! Entry is just £20 per team. If you
would like more information, please call 0118 939 0373 or email
jo.keen@reading.gov.uk
Reading Half Marathon (+) Sunday 29 March
The Reading Half Marathon is now full although you can still enter
the GreenPark Challenge or Osborne Clarke Business Challenge:
The GreenPark Challenge is a 2.8km run open to all the family. From
serious athletes wanting a shorter race, to complete beginners wanting
to have fun, get fit and raise money for charity all at the same
time. Start time is 8:30am.
Osborne Clarke Business Challenge is part of the Reading Half Marathon;
this corporate relay sees teams, made up of four people, run the
designated half marathon course. Start time is 10.05am.
For information on the Half Marathon, GreenPark Challenge and the
Osborne Clarke Business Challenge, visit www.readinghalfmarathon.com
Full details of road closures will be available later this week at
www.reading.gov.uk
Creating Profit Through Community Involvement
The next Connect Reading conference will
be on Thursday 19 March between 9.30am - 4pm at The Waterfront,
Oracle Corporation, Thames Valley Park. An event for everyone who
believes Community Involvement is vital, especially during challenging
times and a must-attend for anyone who wonders if it is an expendable
luxury. Speakers include:
Steve Downing -Associate Professor of Strategy (CSR), Henley Business
School
Jenny Dawkins - Head of Corporate Responsibility Research, Ipsos
MORI Reputation Centre
Paul Briggs - Chief Executive, Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce
Michael Coughlin - Chief Executive, Reading Borough Council
Visit www.connectreading.co.uk and click on Events & Forums
for further details.
Reading Civic Society
On 26 February Reading Civic Society will be unveiling an Information
Board, which it has commissioned to explain the history of H+G Simonds
Ltd, the brewery that formerly occupied the site in The Oracle where
House of Fraser now stands. H+G Simonds was founded in 1785 and Sir
John Soane designed the brewery and residence in 1789. H+G Simonds
held a Royal Warrant from 1929 until it merged with Courage in 1960
and the brewery closed in 1980 on moving to Worton Grange.
The project has been funded in the main by contributions from Society
members and its own funds. Guests at the unveiling will be The Mayor
and Mayoress of Reading along with members of the Simonds family,
Society Donors and committee members, Simonds Brewery Pensioners,
The Clerk of the Brewers Company and representatives from Courage
and the Soane Museum.
A specially commissioned brew of beer is being bottled and labelled
specifically as an H+G Simonds Ale to mark the event. The Society
is very appreciative of the support given to this project by The
Oracle management team and to the manager of STRADA. The Board is
situated in front of STRADA on the south side of the Kennet, opposite
to House of Fraser. We would encourage people to visit from 1pm on
26 February.
News from jelly
jelly has been one of the guardians of a temporary exhibition space
in Reading Town Centre which will close its doors for the last time
on 1 March 2009. The space known as Gallery 10, next door to The
Purple Turtle, has shown work by over 100 local artists since July
2008 when Zoe Funge-Smith (Rogues Gallery) and Suzanne Stallard (jelly)
took it over. It was set up in the spirit of generosity from the
owners Greg Muden, Danny Fraifield and Steve Tait and is the sort
of place that thrives when recession looms.
Current exhibition: DEEP FILLED, Gallery 10, 10 Gun Street, Tues
- Sun 11am - 6pm, until 8 Feb.
The last show: LOVE IS AWESOME is a mischievous, offbeat celebration
of the awesomeness of love. Featuring Relics of an Awesome Love knitted
in stone-like yarn by Rachael Matthews, an informative Love documentary
(Love-U-Mentary) by performance artist Stavroula Kounadea; various,
completed Love Assignments from Felicity Ford and assorted works
by Emmylou Laird. The show will help you to consider for yourself
the proposition that LOVE IS AWESOME and promises to be a surprising
antidote to the asinine syrup of Valentine’s Day and a marvellous
tonic for the heart. LOVE IS AWESOME opens for cake and wine on 14
February at 6pm, and continues until 28 February.
Tim Smith
Executive Director
Reading UK
CIC
2 Feb 2009
This newsletter
is for general information only. Whilst it is
believed to be
correct, it should not be relied
upon for any commercial or
other decision
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