Booming industries in the Thames Valley

Over the past few years, the economic crisis has dominated the mind of every businessperson in the country. Regardless of size and industry, every company has been forced to make cutbacks and to streamline their businesses; however, as the market comes back to life in the Thames Valley region, some industries are flourishing more than others. But which ones should job seekers be looking to for new opportunities?

Traditionally referred to as 'Silicon Valley', the Thames Valley region is occupied by some of the largest well-know brand names within the hi-tech industry, such as Microsoft, Oracle, Dell, and Hewlett-Packard. It is no wonder then that these household names have made the Thames Valley a flagship region for larger companies looking to expand to Europe, and smaller companies looking for somewhere to house their headquarters.

The dominance of the hi-tech industry has played a significant part in helping Thames Valley towns such as Reading and Bracknell be named the towns and cities most likely to do well in the economic recovery, according to a CBI report. This industry has remained relatively stable throughout the economic crisis and recruitment has continued to flow, albeit at a slower pace. For candidates searching for a role within a relatively stable and growing industry, the larger hi-tech companies offer both the salary and the career progression that many are hungry for, making it an attractive industry choice for all. But it's not the only industry booming in the Thames Valley.

The perceived dominance of hi-tech and telco companies in the Thames Valley has eclipsed other leading industries. To many, hearing that the pharmaceutical industry is a prominent player in the region comes as a surprise. In actual fact, 15 of the UK's top 25 pharmaceutical businesses are located in the Thames Valley, with the likes of Johnson & Johnson, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Eli Lilly housing their headquarters in the region.

The Thames Valley area offers companies excellent transport links, not only to many of the UK's biggest towns and cities, but also to countries outside of the UK due to the proximity of Heathrow airport (particularly important for clinical research).

Whilst many of the regions companies have had to 'streamline' in order to protect profits, the pharmaceutical industry has weathered the storm relatively well due to the necessity of their products and their cash-rich nature. The industry has continued to prosper throughout the tough period and is showing no signs of slowing down, which makes the pharmaceutical industry well worth considering to those who are on the hunt for a new career path.

For candidates looking to make their next career move within the Thames Valley region, it’s worth exploring industries beyond hi-tech. The reputation of the region has come to cast other industries into the shadow of hi-tech companies, but the opportunities in other industries – pharmaceuticals in particular – can offer a candidate the stability, salary and room for progression that most job seekers look for.

Lucy Zimmerman works in the Thames Valley team at Marks Sattin.