Reading and Northampton are similarly sized business centres with 23,946 and 21,899 active companies respectively. This close match makes their industry mix, growth trajectory, and formation history all the more interesting to compare. Both cities share strength in Buying and selling of own real estate and Information technology consultancy activities.
Reading has 23,946 active companies compared to 21,899 in Northampton — 2,047 more.
Northampton has a higher 2020s company formation rate (62.3%) compared to Reading (55.0%).
Both cities share these top industries: Buying and selling of own real estate, Information technology consultancy activities, Management consultancy activities other than financial management, Other business support service activities n.e.c., Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate. Reading is uniquely strong in Activities of other holding companies n.e.c. and Business and domestic software development, while Northampton stands out in Development of building projects and Dormant Company.