Reading is the UK’s best area to work in an

READING is the UK’s best place to work in an office, based on transport costs, Internet accessibility, wages and fuel costs.

The town came ahead of Cardiff and Coventry, while Stoke-On-Trent, Portsmouth and Bournemouth among the worst places.

The study, by marketing agency School of Marketing, analysed data including transport costs, fuel costs, average salaries, and Internet access to see which areas came out on top.

And it was The Ding that topped the list, performing best all-round on transport costs and wages.

It scored third for the highest salaries, behind London and Oxford, with an average wage of £2,617 a month.

The town has seen big companies move in with new offices, with the likes of Huawei, Three UK and Microsoft all operating in the area.

The survey looked at the average maximum broadband speed, which in Reading was 494Mbps. This will increase as more of the area gets connected to fibre broadband offering much faster speeds.

Other criteria included the cost of a litre of unleaded petrol, a monthly bus pass, and a single fare, as well as the average monthly salary.

A spokesperson from the School of Marketing, which offers digital marketing apprenticeships in more than 20 countries, serving more than 4,000 learners worldwide, said: “With many companies and workers alike moving away from London for office work due to increasing living and transport costs, it’s interesting to see what areas offer alternatives to the capital.

“The constantly rising cost of living may also see an influence on where whitecollar workers move to, and this list may help job seekers and employers alike.”