Lessons from Silicon Valley: Could business cluster make Maidenhead a 'key' tech hub?

Maidenhead could become a hub for ‘technology excellence’, according to a leading firm in the town, as a plan to create a new Berkshire business ‘cluster’ gets underway.

Drawing on lessons learned from Silicon Valley - California’s computing capital - Reading Tech Cluster aims to link big money investors to opportunities in the Thames Valley.

With its ‘excellent’ transport links to London, university connections and international companies like Vodafone and Microsoft, there is hope the Thames Valley could become a hotbed for investment.

So, could a new tech cluster see the Thames Valley become the next Silicon Valley?

Baroness Theresa May opening tech firm Ultra Intelligence and Communications' site in Foundation Park, Maidenhead. 

Dr Keith Arundale – one of Reading Tech Cluster founders – said the Thames Valley had ‘a lot to offer’ potential business investors.

Mr Arundale, a Windsor resident, has more than 35 years’ experience in venture capitalism in the UK, Europe and the United States.

Laterly he has worked for big four accountancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), running its European venture capital programme.

He also undertook a study into Silicon Valley tech firms.

“That actually was the starting point for this initiative because I found that in Silicon Valley everybody is so well connected with each other,” Mr Arundale, 72, told the Advertiser.

“It’s quite amazing: the venture capitalists are talking to each other; but also with big tech companies, growing tech companies, they’re just meeting 24/7 non-stop.

"But we just don’t seem to have this in the Thames Valley, Berkshire area.”

Venture capitalism sees investors purchase a stake in a company, with a view to boosting its growth and then selling it on for a profit in the future.

“We have a lot things going for us in the Thames Valley,” Mr Arundale said.

“The excellent infrastructure; the closeness of places like Maidenhead to Heathrow; the fast link into London now with the Elizabeth line - we’ve got a great network for international investors.”

(L-R) Reading councillor Biyi Oloko with Reading Tech Cluster founders Prof Robert Van den Noort CBE, DL, Michael Cooper OBE and Dr Keith Arundale.

Maidenhead has itself seen major players in the tech world set up shop.

Ultra Intelligence and Communications (Ultra C&U), a leading cyber security firm owned by US conglomerate Advent International, opened a new base in the town last year.

Advent also owns UK defence firm Cobham which is a world-leader in air-to-air refuelling technology.

Shonnel Malani, managing partner at Advent International and chair of the board of Cobham and Ultra Electronics Group said:

“As the economy evolves, and security challenges become more complex, cyber capabilities are increasingly sought after.

"We were proud to open Ultra I&C’s new £30 million Cyber Centre of Excellence in Maidenhead last year which will help ensure the UK has a pipeline of talent in cyber skills.

“At full capacity, the centre will support around 250 high-tech jobs, and we hope that this investment will contribute to positioning Maidenhead as a key hub for cyber, engineering and technology excellence in the years ahead.”

Mr Arundale said: “We have the innovation; the skills available; all the connections for companies that want to locate in this area.

“It’s not all about Oxford and Cambridge.”

Reading Tech Cluster is set to be launched on July 4 with an event at Henley Business School.