Basingstoke

Jobs in Basingstoke

Situated in north-east Hampshire, less than 50 miles from London and just 16 miles from Reading, Basingstoke is a lovely town that has expanded significantly since the end of the 20th century. Today, it offers a variety of possibilities for those seeking vacancies.

With its beginnings as a Saxon village, Basingstoke was a fairly large settlement at the time of the Domesday Book, with a population of around 200, three water-powered flour mills and a weekly market.

By the 13th century, this population had nearly tripled and the town was granted a charter in 1257 - at the time, its economy mainly relied on the production of wool and cloth.

The railway arrived in Basingstoke in 1839, simplifying transport and trade between the town and London, as well as offering connections the following year to Winchester and Southampton.

Later in the 19th century, Thomas Burberry set up his first shop in Basingstoke, and his brand grew to become a household name - one which continues to be known for its luxury fashion and tartan pattern, although the company is now headquartered in London.

These days, Basingstoke is an economic hub and home to the UK headquarters of a number of large financial, insurance and technology companies - including Motorola, Sony Professional Solutions, Sun Life, The Automobile Association and ST Ericsson. Meanwhile, pharmaceuticals facilities are operated by the likes of Mercona, Valeant, Steris, Shire and Biomerieux.