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News & Insights
Diversity at The Blade
We’re often asked what size and type of organisations choose The Blade. And there really is no obvious answer! The truth is that we encourage and celebrate a diverse range of businesses at our office space. In turn this is helping us create a vibrant and successful business community. So why might The Blade be the right fit for your organisation?
Elizabeth Delivers!
It’s now just over a year since The Elizabeth Line arrived in Reading, connecting the town to the centre of London, reducing commuting times. With The Blade just over 5 minutes’ walk to the station, the Crossrail connection, as it was originally named, meant that our occupiers could go from their desks to the West End in an hour and all the way to Canary Wharf in less than an hour-and-a-half.
A Fresh New Welcome at The Blade
If you’re visiting The Blade soon, be ready for a new encounter following our recent reception makeover. Welcoming a stream of occupiers and their guests every day, our reception area is always a hive of activity. From early in the morning until the last few dedicated workers depart in the evening, there’s always someone passing through reception, stopping for a coffee or a chat, taking a call or just taking five minutes away from their desk – so we felt it deserved a little refurb!
Supporting Our Local Community at Christmas
During December, we ran our Reverse Advent Calendar campaign, encouraging occupiers to bring in food, drink and other store cupboard items which could be left under our Christmas Tree for donation to local food banks.
The Wow Factor – event space with a difference in the heart of Reading
Choosing an event space which offers something of a "wow factor" can be tricky especially in an urban environment such as Reading. Attendees can be keen to experience something fresh, original and different, helping give them an extra reason to leave their desks or home office space to come and meet others, or join a seminar or conference.
Lunchtime Workshops at The Blade: Creative Writing
In late September, we hosted a creative writing workshop for occupiers at The Blade. Our Reception space transformed into a productive hub with a 45 minute guided session led by George Hamilton.
Inspiring creativity at The Blade
TYPE! is encouraging high-potential writers to write more, write better, write now — including at The Blade. Think writing, think Reading. The Blade’s hometown has a long-standing claim as a hot bed of literary talent. Oscar Wilde was incarcerated and inspired in Reading Gaol. The Wind in the Willows was conceived in nearby Pangbourne. And today the town is home to a thriving writing scene of open-mic nights, poetry readings and a new writing movement and magazine called TYPE!
Inward Investment: Why Now is the Right Time to Choose Reading
Reading is buzzing right now and it’s easy to see why. Whether you’re looking at the latest reports from property experts Savills and Knight Frank or reading the annual health of the economy report from PWC/Demos, you’ll see that Reading is ticking all the boxes for residents and businesses alike.
Reading’s Growing Importance as a Centre for Business
Reading has long been a successful centre for business, largely due to its location. Sitting at the heart of the Thames Valley, surrounded by major business parks and with easy access to motorway and airport connections, it’s clear why many household names and blue chips have chosen the area for their UK, or even global, base. But even with such a strong pedigree, the last few years have seen Reading grow in prominence and attract more than its fair share of new occupiers. And with good reason, particularly as the town has much to offer both established and new businesses.
Listening and Learning
As a landmark building and centrally located, The Blade is one of the most desirable business addresses in the Thames Valley. We’re proud custodians of the building and love the rich and diverse range of companies that call it home. But it’s not something we take for granted. Earning and maintaining a top spot in a highly competitive market takes work and the people best placed to determine whether we’re still pushing all the right buttons are our occupiers. So, we’re pleased to share the first insights from our 2023 occupier survey.
Taking a Lunchtime Walk Around Reading
Taking a break half-way through the day is always a good idea – it’s great for productivity, focus and wellbeing. Our friends at Walk Works have shared some useful tips about why it’s important not to skip breaks away from your desk, and some of the best places to take a lunchtime walk around The Blade.
The Blade – an agent’s perspective
As you’d expect, those of us who look after and manage The Blade think it’s pretty amazing. But it’s important for us to appreciate what businesses are looking for when it comes to office space, and what the drivers are when moving here. To help, we asked some of our agents why The Blade appeals to businesses, and some of the reasons why it’s fast becoming the space of choice in Reading.
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