<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:googleplay="http://www.google.com/schemas/play-podcasts/1.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[The Raikes Journal CIC: PR Wire]]></title><description><![CDATA[We'll leave it for the other websites to use the many brilliant press releases sent to us all as their main content. But many of those releases are just too good to ignore, written by the talented comms experts we are lucky to have serving Gloucestershire. Hence this channel - the pick of what came to us!]]></description><link>https://www.raikesjournal.co.uk/s/press-release-we-liked</link><image><url>https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!zlZq!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc934a761-261e-4bcc-949e-bdbd4b17654f_297x297.png</url><title>The Raikes Journal CIC: PR Wire</title><link>https://www.raikesjournal.co.uk/s/press-release-we-liked</link></image><generator>Substack</generator><lastBuildDate>Thu, 18 Jun 2026 03:23:16 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.raikesjournal.co.uk/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><copyright><![CDATA[Andrew Merrell]]></copyright><language><![CDATA[en]]></language><webMaster><![CDATA[andrew.merrell@raikesjournal.co.uk]]></webMaster><itunes:owner><itunes:email><![CDATA[andrew.merrell@raikesjournal.co.uk]]></itunes:email><itunes:name><![CDATA[Andrew Merrell]]></itunes:name></itunes:owner><itunes:author><![CDATA[Andrew Merrell]]></itunes:author><googleplay:owner><![CDATA[andrew.merrell@raikesjournal.co.uk]]></googleplay:owner><googleplay:email><![CDATA[andrew.merrell@raikesjournal.co.uk]]></googleplay:email><googleplay:author><![CDATA[Andrew Merrell]]></googleplay:author><itunes:block><![CDATA[Yes]]></itunes:block><item><title><![CDATA[Willans strengthens commitment to collaborative divorce with three Resolution Together-qualified family lawyers ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Three lawyers in Willans&#8217; family law team are now qualified practitioners in Resolution Together, a forward-thinking approach to divorce and separation which enables couples to work with a single lawyer to reach agreements constructively and cost-effectively.]]></description><link>https://www.raikesjournal.co.uk/p/willans-strengthens-commitment-to</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.raikesjournal.co.uk/p/willans-strengthens-commitment-to</guid><pubDate>Fri, 12 Jun 2026 08:01:20 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!WFKQ!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8407a92d-e28a-4837-83df-a4f10f33c8d0_2250x1500.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!WFKQ!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8407a92d-e28a-4837-83df-a4f10f33c8d0_2250x1500.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!WFKQ!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8407a92d-e28a-4837-83df-a4f10f33c8d0_2250x1500.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!WFKQ!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8407a92d-e28a-4837-83df-a4f10f33c8d0_2250x1500.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!WFKQ!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8407a92d-e28a-4837-83df-a4f10f33c8d0_2250x1500.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!WFKQ!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8407a92d-e28a-4837-83df-a4f10f33c8d0_2250x1500.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!WFKQ!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8407a92d-e28a-4837-83df-a4f10f33c8d0_2250x1500.jpeg" width="1456" height="971" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/8407a92d-e28a-4837-83df-a4f10f33c8d0_2250x1500.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:971,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:2327628,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.raikesjournal.co.uk/i/201625027?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8407a92d-e28a-4837-83df-a4f10f33c8d0_2250x1500.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!WFKQ!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8407a92d-e28a-4837-83df-a4f10f33c8d0_2250x1500.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!WFKQ!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8407a92d-e28a-4837-83df-a4f10f33c8d0_2250x1500.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!WFKQ!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8407a92d-e28a-4837-83df-a4f10f33c8d0_2250x1500.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!WFKQ!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8407a92d-e28a-4837-83df-a4f10f33c8d0_2250x1500.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p></p><p>Three lawyers in Willans&#8217; family law team are now qualified practitioners in Resolution Together, a forward-thinking approach to divorce and separation which enables couples to work with a single lawyer to reach agreements constructively and cost-effectively.</p><p>Willans is among a small number of firms in Gloucestershire able to offer the model through multiple specially trained lawyers, increasing local access to an approach designed to reduce conflict and help couples reach agreements together.</p><p>Family lawyers <strong>Jonathan Eager</strong> and <strong>Kristie Silsby</strong> have completed specialist training in the Resolution Together model, joining partner and head of family law <strong>Sharon Giles</strong>, who was among the first lawyers in the region to qualify.</p><p>Resolution Together is a process developed by <em>Resolution</em>, the national organisation for family justice professionals. It allows separating couples to receive legal advice and support jointly from one specially trained lawyer, helping them make informed decisions about arrangements for finances, property and children without the need for separate legal representation.</p><p>The qualification further strengthens Willans&#8217; commitment to helping families resolve issues in a constructive, non-confrontational way.</p><p>Jonathan Eager said: &#8220;Many couples want to separate amicably and find practical solutions without the stress, delay and expense that can sometimes arise when matters become adversarial. Resolution Together provides another option for those who are committed to working collaboratively and reaching fair outcomes together.</p><p>&#8220;It can be particularly effective where there is a shared desire to maintain a positive relationship going forward, especially when children are involved.&#8221;</p><p>Kristie Silsby added: &#8220;Every family is different, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to separation. By qualifying in Resolution Together, we&#8217;re able to offer our clients greater flexibility and help them choose the process that best supports their circumstances and goals.</p><p>&#8220;The model encourages open communication and transparency, enabling couples to make decisions with confidence and clarity.&#8221;</p><p>Sharon Giles, partner and head of family law at Willans, commented: &#8220;It is fantastic to see Jonathan and Kristie achieve this qualification and expand the number of Resolution Together practitioners within our team.</p><p>&#8220;At Willans, we are committed to helping clients resolve family matters in a way that minimises conflict wherever possible. Resolution Together offers a constructive and forward-thinking approach for couples who are willing and able to work together, and it complements the range of family law services we already provide.</p><p>&#8220;Having three qualified practitioners is a significant benefit for families in Cheltenham and Gloucestershire. It means more people locally can access specialist support through this innovative model and choose an approach that focuses on cooperation, transparency and finding practical solutions for the future.&#8221;</p><p>Willans&#8217; family law team advises clients on all aspects of relationship breakdown, including divorce, financial settlements, arrangements for children, cohabitation disputes and pre- and postnuptial agreements. The team is recognised by national legal guides <em>The Legal 500</em> and <em>Chambers UK</em> for its practical, sensitive advice and commitment to helping clients achieve positive outcomes for the future.</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Skyborne launches new career pathway to becoming a pilot]]></title><description><![CDATA[An pilot school that trains staff for some of the world's biggest airlines has announced a new 'accessible' course in its bid to open the door to more people into the high-flying profession.]]></description><link>https://www.raikesjournal.co.uk/p/skyborne-launches-new-career-pathway</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.raikesjournal.co.uk/p/skyborne-launches-new-career-pathway</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[The Raikes Journal]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 11 Jun 2026 10:00:58 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!TrZt!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7da93824-af3c-4e6f-8074-14c6f4e078c7_6720x4480.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!TrZt!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7da93824-af3c-4e6f-8074-14c6f4e078c7_6720x4480.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!TrZt!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7da93824-af3c-4e6f-8074-14c6f4e078c7_6720x4480.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!TrZt!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7da93824-af3c-4e6f-8074-14c6f4e078c7_6720x4480.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!TrZt!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7da93824-af3c-4e6f-8074-14c6f4e078c7_6720x4480.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!TrZt!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7da93824-af3c-4e6f-8074-14c6f4e078c7_6720x4480.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!TrZt!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7da93824-af3c-4e6f-8074-14c6f4e078c7_6720x4480.jpeg" width="1456" height="971" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/7da93824-af3c-4e6f-8074-14c6f4e078c7_6720x4480.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:971,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:3024676,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.raikesjournal.co.uk/i/201574367?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7da93824-af3c-4e6f-8074-14c6f4e078c7_6720x4480.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!TrZt!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7da93824-af3c-4e6f-8074-14c6f4e078c7_6720x4480.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!TrZt!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7da93824-af3c-4e6f-8074-14c6f4e078c7_6720x4480.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!TrZt!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7da93824-af3c-4e6f-8074-14c6f4e078c7_6720x4480.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!TrZt!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7da93824-af3c-4e6f-8074-14c6f4e078c7_6720x4480.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Skyborne, one of the world&#8217;s leading airline pilot training academies, is today announcing the launch of Fly First, a modular pilot training pathway that begins with practical flight experience from day one.</p><p>Through the programme, trainees will build 175 required hours of flight time for their US FAA Private Pilot Certificate, FAA Instrument Rating, and conversion to a UK CAA Private Pilot Licence over 26 weeks at the academy&#8217;s base in Vero Beach, Florida, USA.</p><p>UK CAA ATPL ground school can be completed independently at the pilot&#8217;s own pace and place of choosing, before returning to one of Skyborne&#8217;s UK facilities for the Multi-Engine IR and Airline Pilot Standards Multi-Crew Cooperation (APS MCC) phases of training.  <br> <br>Lee Woodward, CEO of Skyborne, says: &#8220;Our industry must make pilot training more accessible, and Fly First, a first for Skyborne, is an innovative opportunity for those looking for a modern, flexible route. </p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nQ-e!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F956aab82-1c44-4eb9-9ac7-5c9e155e96c6_5472x3648.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" 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srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nQ-e!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F956aab82-1c44-4eb9-9ac7-5c9e155e96c6_5472x3648.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nQ-e!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F956aab82-1c44-4eb9-9ac7-5c9e155e96c6_5472x3648.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nQ-e!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F956aab82-1c44-4eb9-9ac7-5c9e155e96c6_5472x3648.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nQ-e!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F956aab82-1c44-4eb9-9ac7-5c9e155e96c6_5472x3648.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>&#8220;We know the Integrated Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) may not work for everyone, and this modular structure ensures trainees can balance flight training with personal commitments, spreading the cost of their studies over time.&#8221;  <br> <br>Captain Christoper Harris, Head of Crew Training (NPCT), Jet2.com, says: &#8220;At Jet2.com, we recognise there is no single route into the flight deck. Skyborne&#8217;s Fly First programme offers aspiring pilots a flexible and accessible pathway into the profession, while maintaining the high standards of training that airlines expect.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a great example of how quality training and broader access can work hand in hand to support the next generation of pilots.&#8221; <br> <br>Skyborne&#8217;s Vero Beach campus offers over 350 days flying weather per year and an aircraft fleet of more than 60 fully owned, standardised aircraft. Trainees learn from more than 100 experienced flight instructors and benefit from state-of-the-art training facilities, dedicated career support and Skyborne&#8217;s multiple airline partnerships. <br> <br>Applications for Skyborne&#8217;s Fly First programme are open now.</p><div><hr></div><p><strong>This press release was sent to </strong><em><strong>The Raikes Journal</strong></em><strong> by the 8020 Communications&#8239;on 9 June 2026.</strong></p><p><em>* If you want to see your releases featured here, and included on our email editions, <a href="mailto:andrew.merrell@raikesjournal.co.uk">email the editor</a>.</em></p><p><em>The Raikes Journal is a digital magazine and community interest company whose supporters believe, like us, that journalism about Gloucestershire is worth keeping alive. Everything you read on The Raikes Journal is made possible by our incredible Founding Partners: <strong><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/2943a5bb-054f-4204-b0fc-5a0754a5f19f?j=eyJ1IjoiMzV4YnY2In0.42MF7rHuqz4Lh9PIW0fw7-IWTX77yYRmROLSyV_qFuY">QuoLux</a></strong>, <strong><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/3237af9f-f442-4e49-a6c1-b48270726063?j=eyJ1IjoiMzV4YnY2In0.42MF7rHuqz4Lh9PIW0fw7-IWTX77yYRmROLSyV_qFuY">Willans LLP</a>,</strong> <strong><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/21d6a441-a7a9-4056-a623-9bcc153eaeb0?j=eyJ1IjoiMzV4YnY2In0.42MF7rHuqz4Lh9PIW0fw7-IWTX77yYRmROLSyV_qFuY">Gloucestershire College</a>, <a href="https://substack.com/redirect/b91d4cfe-02c6-4440-b858-983816d5563e?j=eyJ1IjoiMzV4YnY2In0.42MF7rHuqz4Lh9PIW0fw7-IWTX77yYRmROLSyV_qFuY">Merrell People</a>, </strong>our sponsors<strong> and </strong>our Founding Members and wonderful paying subscribers.</em></p><p><em>If you upgrade to paid you will be able to see past the paywalls on our second and third email editions of the week, that lock all our archive after two weeks and lock our rolling Top 100 Businesses in Gloucestershire, the series that follows the financial fortunes of our biggest firms by turnover. You will be able to comment on our stories too. You&#8217;ll be helping make this CIC sustainable. Please do join us.</em></p><p><em><strong>You can do that for just &#163;2.30 a week - or &#163;1.80 a week if two or more people sign up at once.</strong></em></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Young people to help shape the future of cyber and technology innovation]]></title><description><![CDATA[A new youth advisory board will ensure young people play a direct role in shaping the future of Golden Valley, Gloucestershire's major business an residential development due to begin this summer.]]></description><link>https://www.raikesjournal.co.uk/p/young-people-to-help-shape-the-future</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.raikesjournal.co.uk/p/young-people-to-help-shape-the-future</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[The Raikes Journal]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 11 Jun 2026 09:12:40 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!QZ1U!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F491420f7-d6fa-43dd-830f-8b4412afd752_4256x2832.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!QZ1U!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F491420f7-d6fa-43dd-830f-8b4412afd752_4256x2832.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!QZ1U!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F491420f7-d6fa-43dd-830f-8b4412afd752_4256x2832.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!QZ1U!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F491420f7-d6fa-43dd-830f-8b4412afd752_4256x2832.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!QZ1U!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F491420f7-d6fa-43dd-830f-8b4412afd752_4256x2832.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!QZ1U!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F491420f7-d6fa-43dd-830f-8b4412afd752_4256x2832.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!QZ1U!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F491420f7-d6fa-43dd-830f-8b4412afd752_4256x2832.jpeg" width="1456" height="969" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/491420f7-d6fa-43dd-830f-8b4412afd752_4256x2832.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:969,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:7109157,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.raikesjournal.co.uk/i/201569989?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F491420f7-d6fa-43dd-830f-8b4412afd752_4256x2832.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!QZ1U!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F491420f7-d6fa-43dd-830f-8b4412afd752_4256x2832.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!QZ1U!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F491420f7-d6fa-43dd-830f-8b4412afd752_4256x2832.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!QZ1U!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F491420f7-d6fa-43dd-830f-8b4412afd752_4256x2832.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!QZ1U!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F491420f7-d6fa-43dd-830f-8b4412afd752_4256x2832.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>A new youth advisory board is being established to ensure that young people play a direct role in shaping the future of Golden Valley, the nationally significant cyber, AI, secure communications and emerging technology development soon to get underway in Cheltenham.</p><p>The board will provide a formal mechanism for young people aged 16-24 to contribute ideas, challenge thinking and advise on issues including skills development, education, careers, inclusion, emerging technologies and community engagement.</p><p>Acting as a shadow to the existing Golden Valley Advisory Board, the group will ensure that the perspectives and experiences of young people help inform the development of one of the UK&#8217;s most ambitious innovation ecosystems.</p><p>The initiative reflects a shared commitment among Golden Valley partners to ensure that the development not only creates jobs and economic growth, but also delivers meaningful opportunities for future generations.</p><p>Members of the youth board will come from a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences, including students, apprentices, early-career professionals and young people with an interest in technology, innovation and security.</p><p>Meeting quarterly, members will have opportunities to engage directly with senior leaders, contribute to consultations and pilot initiatives, and help shape communications and outreach activities aimed at young people.</p><p>Dame Clare Marchant, DBE, University of Gloucestershire Vice-Chancellor and Skills Lead for the Golden Valley Advisory Board, said: &#8220;Golden Valley is a long-term investment in the future of our region and the opportunities it can create for generations to come.</p><p>&#8220;It is therefore vital that young people have a meaningful voice in helping to shape that future.</p><p>&#8220;The Youth Advisory Board will provide a platform for young people to share their perspectives, challenge assumptions and contribute ideas that will help ensure Golden Valley remains inclusive, responsible and focused on the needs of future generations.&#8221;</p><p>Bianca Holland, education and community officer for University of Gloucestershire Students&#8217; Union, said: &#8220;Young people will be among those most affected by the technological, economic and social changes that Golden Valley will bring.</p><p>&#8220;We want to ensure they are not simply consulted, but actively involved in shaping decisions and influencing priorities.</p><p>&#8220;This Board will help create a genuine dialogue between young people and leaders from across industry, education and the public sector, ensuring that future opportunities are informed by the people who will inherit them.&#8221;</p><p>Young people interested in joining the board are invited to initially express their interest by completing a short online form.</p><p>&#8220;A series of online information session will then take place in June and July, providing opportunities for people to ask questions and learn more ahead of making an application via an informal process.</p><p>Applications will close on 31 August 2026, with interviews and selection taking place in September before the first meeting of the board in the Autumn.</p><p>More information is available on University of Gloucestershire&#8217;s <a href="https://email.cisionone.cision.com/c/eJwszE2O3CAQQOHTwA7LFP8LFrPxNUYFlKeJcTsBu62-fdRRtt-TXongs545Rem8nL0zVvFHxBwcoEmQwSVlstLratDIWRpvrM28RosQVFHZBAPhW8qUrJ2lU1I7pudRC231j9ixNupDGBeyTqs3WYx06zJ9Am_xcZ6_B1NfDBYGy33f0087xoR5ujYGy8_RCj3FC1ujt3gf1_kQWF51HP0t0oG9MFj4TqWi6NQIB4la4j_4_g9MfUHwxhneIz5Lp3vaqXdqjem5Y91o_Dqu_sQ25WO6Nj7OTrR_PgmCzckbQcpbofOcBGZVhPWrBchhLR75K8LfAAAA___Mt2Z6">website</a>.</p><div><hr></div><p><strong>This press release was sent to </strong><em><strong>The Raikes Journal</strong></em><strong> by the University of Gloucestershire.</strong></p><p><em>* If you want to see your releases featured here, and included on our email editions, <a href="mailto:andrew.merrell@raikesjournal.co.uk">email the editor</a>.</em></p><p><em>The Raikes Journal is a digital magazine and community interest company whose supporters believe, like us, that journalism about Gloucestershire is worth keeping alive. Everything you read on The Raikes Journal is made possible by our incredible Founding Partners: <strong><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/2943a5bb-054f-4204-b0fc-5a0754a5f19f?j=eyJ1IjoiMzV4YnY2In0.42MF7rHuqz4Lh9PIW0fw7-IWTX77yYRmROLSyV_qFuY">QuoLux</a></strong>, <strong><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/3237af9f-f442-4e49-a6c1-b48270726063?j=eyJ1IjoiMzV4YnY2In0.42MF7rHuqz4Lh9PIW0fw7-IWTX77yYRmROLSyV_qFuY">Willans LLP</a>,</strong> <strong><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/21d6a441-a7a9-4056-a623-9bcc153eaeb0?j=eyJ1IjoiMzV4YnY2In0.42MF7rHuqz4Lh9PIW0fw7-IWTX77yYRmROLSyV_qFuY">Gloucestershire College</a>, <a href="https://substack.com/redirect/b91d4cfe-02c6-4440-b858-983816d5563e?j=eyJ1IjoiMzV4YnY2In0.42MF7rHuqz4Lh9PIW0fw7-IWTX77yYRmROLSyV_qFuY">Merrell People</a>, </strong>our sponsors<strong> and </strong>our Founding Members and wonderful paying subscribers.</em></p><p><em>If you upgrade to paid you will be able to see past the paywalls on our second and third email editions of the week, that lock all our archive after two weeks and lock our rolling Top 100 Businesses in Gloucestershire, the series that follows the financial fortunes of our biggest firms by turnover. You will be able to comment on our stories too. You&#8217;ll be helping make this CIC sustainable. Please do join us.</em></p><p><em><strong>You can do that for just &#163;2.30 a week - or &#163;1.80 a week if two or more people sign up at once.</strong></em></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Charity clay shoot and dinner raises nearly £70,000 ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Sponsored by county businesses and hosted by the Berkeley family at their stunning Gloucestershire home, the Nelson Trust's Annual Clay Shoot and Charity Dinner has enjoyed another successful year.]]></description><link>https://www.raikesjournal.co.uk/p/charity-clay-shoot-and-dinner-raises</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.raikesjournal.co.uk/p/charity-clay-shoot-and-dinner-raises</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[The Raikes Journal]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2026 08:25:10 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3xOA!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9591c507-bdfb-4b55-8948-90acf97b1b9f_712x514.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3xOA!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9591c507-bdfb-4b55-8948-90acf97b1b9f_712x514.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3xOA!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9591c507-bdfb-4b55-8948-90acf97b1b9f_712x514.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3xOA!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9591c507-bdfb-4b55-8948-90acf97b1b9f_712x514.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3xOA!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9591c507-bdfb-4b55-8948-90acf97b1b9f_712x514.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3xOA!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9591c507-bdfb-4b55-8948-90acf97b1b9f_712x514.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3xOA!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9591c507-bdfb-4b55-8948-90acf97b1b9f_712x514.jpeg" width="712" height="514" 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srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3xOA!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9591c507-bdfb-4b55-8948-90acf97b1b9f_712x514.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3xOA!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9591c507-bdfb-4b55-8948-90acf97b1b9f_712x514.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3xOA!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9591c507-bdfb-4b55-8948-90acf97b1b9f_712x514.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3xOA!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9591c507-bdfb-4b55-8948-90acf97b1b9f_712x514.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>Now in its 18th year, the team and volunteers for South West charity The Nelson Trust hosted another successful annual Clay Pigeon Shoot and Evening Charity Dinner at Berkeley Castle on Thursday (21 May).</p><p>The action-packed event raised an incredible amount of nearly &#163;70,000  </p><p>With over 200 people in attendance, event is one of their most popular in the charity&#8217;s fundraising calendar. </p><p>The shoot saw the Nailsworth Mills Clay Smashers as the overall winners, and the Damson Gin Damsels as the top ladies&#8217; team. </p><p>The lunch and evening dinner featured some fantastic auction lots, with a total estimated value of &#163;28,000, including a Majorcan VIP holiday, specialist simulation days for attendees to continue honing their shooting skills, and a stay at one of the Cotswolds&#8217; award-winning inns, The Wild Duck at Ewen.</p><p>Every auction lot was donated, thanks to the Trust&#8217;s hugely generous support base, led by the Gloucestershire Fundraising Committee.  </p><p>Christina Line, CEO for The Nelson Trust said: &#8220;Every year our amazing fundraising committee host this incredible event, which is a truly unique experience to be part of.</p><p>&#8220;Every year we are astounded by the generosity of our sponsors, the companies and people donating such high value auction lots and the people who buy tickets and engage fully with the event.</p><p>&#8220;Thank you from the bottom of our hearts &#8211; the money raised makes a life changing difference to the people we serve. We have the best supporters.&#8221; </p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FjDA!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdfb36147-8b23-48e2-a373-56427585df21_612x541.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FjDA!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdfb36147-8b23-48e2-a373-56427585df21_612x541.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FjDA!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdfb36147-8b23-48e2-a373-56427585df21_612x541.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FjDA!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdfb36147-8b23-48e2-a373-56427585df21_612x541.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FjDA!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdfb36147-8b23-48e2-a373-56427585df21_612x541.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FjDA!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdfb36147-8b23-48e2-a373-56427585df21_612x541.jpeg" width="612" height="541" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/dfb36147-8b23-48e2-a373-56427585df21_612x541.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:541,&quot;width&quot;:612,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:99781,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.raikesjournal.co.uk/i/201421201?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdfb36147-8b23-48e2-a373-56427585df21_612x541.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FjDA!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdfb36147-8b23-48e2-a373-56427585df21_612x541.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FjDA!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdfb36147-8b23-48e2-a373-56427585df21_612x541.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FjDA!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdfb36147-8b23-48e2-a373-56427585df21_612x541.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FjDA!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdfb36147-8b23-48e2-a373-56427585df21_612x541.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>The funds raised from the days events are crucial to The Nelson Trust&#8217;s life-changing services across the South West of England and Wales, comprised of four residential rehabilitation treatment houses for men and women in recovery from substance use and their 10 women&#8217;s centres supporting women experiencing domestic abuse, homelessness, involvement in the criminal justice system and trauma.</p><p>The Clay Shoot Competition and Evening Charity Dinner will return to Berkeley Castle and the Folly on Thursday 13 May 2027. </p><p>This year&#8217;s event was sponsored by Enterprise Mobility, Howard Tenens, Nailsworth Mills Estate, The Grapevine Works and Stroud Farm Service, and hosted by the Berkeley family. </p><p><em>If you want to be a part of the action next year, contact <a href="mailto:fundraising@nelsontrust.com">fundraising@nelsontrust.com</a>  - there are sponsorship opportunities, and pre-sales tickets can be reserved. </em></p><p><em>To find out more about their services, upcoming events or to donate visit <a href="https://www.nelsontrust.com/">www.nelsontrust.com</a> </em></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Hartpury gears up for 170-mile charity cycle challenge in support of Goals Beyond Grass ]]></title><description><![CDATA[A Gloucestershire-based grassroots charity dedicated to reducing social isolation and improving wellbeing for disabled children and adults will benefit from an extraordinary effort this summer.]]></description><link>https://www.raikesjournal.co.uk/p/hartpury-gears-up-for-170-mile-charity</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.raikesjournal.co.uk/p/hartpury-gears-up-for-170-mile-charity</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[The Raikes Journal]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 01 Jun 2026 10:25:23 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Ah2F!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F16ce40c1-3dba-4470-a757-f49c651966cd_877x445.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>* Welcome to our PR Wire channel where we run the very latest unabridged and unedited press releases from companies connected to Gloucestershire that catch our eye. <strong>If you want to see your stories placed here, and featured on our email editions, please contact us and we&#8217;ll let you know how it&#8217;s done. </strong>Email <a href="mailto:andrew.merrell@raikesjournal.co.uk">andrew.merrell@raikesjournal.co.uk</a>.</em></p>
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   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Law firm names new appointment]]></title><description><![CDATA[A specialist Cheltenham law firm has named the latest solicitor to join its ranks, swelling the team at the niche practice to eight.]]></description><link>https://www.raikesjournal.co.uk/p/law-firm-names-new-appointment</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.raikesjournal.co.uk/p/law-firm-names-new-appointment</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[The Raikes Journal]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 01 Jun 2026 09:11:15 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!jP_q!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc76e98a4-b012-427f-b0cd-5cde890019e8_1272x762.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>* Welcome to our PR Wire channel where we run the very latest unabridged and unedited press releases from companies connected to Gloucestershire that catch our eye. <strong>If you want to see your stories placed here, and featured on our email editions, please contact us and we&#8217;ll let you know how it&#8217;s done. </strong>Email <a href="mailto:andrew.merrell@raikesjournal.co.uk">andrew.merrell@raikesjournal.co.uk</a>.</em></p>
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placed here, and featured on our email editions, please contact us and we&#8217;ll let you know how it&#8217;s done. </strong>Email <a href="mailto:andrew.merrell@raikesjournal.co.uk">andrew.merrell@raikesjournal.co.uk</a>.</em></p><div><hr></div><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!PLTN!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6ff80b60-549b-4820-88ec-992108e3e62a_1200x801.gif" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!PLTN!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6ff80b60-549b-4820-88ec-992108e3e62a_1200x801.gif 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!PLTN!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6ff80b60-549b-4820-88ec-992108e3e62a_1200x801.gif 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!PLTN!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6ff80b60-549b-4820-88ec-992108e3e62a_1200x801.gif 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!PLTN!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6ff80b60-549b-4820-88ec-992108e3e62a_1200x801.gif 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!PLTN!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6ff80b60-549b-4820-88ec-992108e3e62a_1200x801.gif" width="1200" height="801" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/6ff80b60-549b-4820-88ec-992108e3e62a_1200x801.gif&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:801,&quot;width&quot;:1200,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:3877758,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/gif&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.raikesjournal.co.uk/i/198817717?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6ff80b60-549b-4820-88ec-992108e3e62a_1200x801.gif&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!PLTN!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6ff80b60-549b-4820-88ec-992108e3e62a_1200x801.gif 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!PLTN!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6ff80b60-549b-4820-88ec-992108e3e62a_1200x801.gif 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!PLTN!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6ff80b60-549b-4820-88ec-992108e3e62a_1200x801.gif 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!PLTN!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6ff80b60-549b-4820-88ec-992108e3e62a_1200x801.gif 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Cllr Ashley Bowkett, Mayor of Gloucester, cuts the ribbon to open The Forum with Peter Langly-Smith (back, left) MD, Reef + Partners, and Cllr Jeremy Hilton, Leader of Gloucester City Council.</figcaption></figure></div><p>Business leaders, project partners and civic figures gathered to celebrate the official opening of The Forum on Friday (15 May), marking a major milestone in Gloucester&#8217;s ongoing regeneration.</p><p>Hosted by Reef + Partners and Gloucester City Council, the event welcomed guests from across the city and beyond to celebrate the completion of the landmark &#163;107m mixed-use development in the heart of Gloucester.</p><p>Widely regarded as one of the most significant regeneration schemes in Gloucester&#8217;s recent history, The Forum is already playing a central role in attracting investment, businesses and visitors into the city centre.</p><p>The event invited guests to reflect on the transformational impact The Forum has had on the city and the part it will play in Gloucester&#8217;s future.</p><p>Whilst the building has opened in phases over the past few years &#8211; with businesses including Patch and Fasthosts now operating from the site &#8211; the event marked the official opening of the mixed-use city centre space.</p><p>The ribbon was cut by Mayor of Gloucester, Cllr Ashley Bowkett, who said: &#8220;I want to thank everyone who has helped bring The Forum to this point, the many people across many years who worked through the detail so that we could stand here today and celebrate the result.</p><p>&#8220;The real success of this place will be seen in the years ahead: in the businesses that grow here, the visitors who return here, the young people who find work here, and the confidence it helps spread through the rest of the city centre.</p><p>&#8220;As Mayor of Gloucester, I am delighted to mark the official opening of The Forum today.&#8221;</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!62rE!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F57749fb5-94df-45af-b1d5-94423f6de716_1201x801.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!62rE!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F57749fb5-94df-45af-b1d5-94423f6de716_1201x801.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!62rE!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F57749fb5-94df-45af-b1d5-94423f6de716_1201x801.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!62rE!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F57749fb5-94df-45af-b1d5-94423f6de716_1201x801.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!62rE!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F57749fb5-94df-45af-b1d5-94423f6de716_1201x801.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!62rE!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F57749fb5-94df-45af-b1d5-94423f6de716_1201x801.jpeg" width="1201" height="801" 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srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!62rE!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F57749fb5-94df-45af-b1d5-94423f6de716_1201x801.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!62rE!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F57749fb5-94df-45af-b1d5-94423f6de716_1201x801.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!62rE!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F57749fb5-94df-45af-b1d5-94423f6de716_1201x801.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!62rE!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F57749fb5-94df-45af-b1d5-94423f6de716_1201x801.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>Momentum around The Forum has accelerated in recent months following the opening of Hotel Indigo in March. The 129-room boutique hotel attracted strong interest ahead of launch, with more than 1,000 bookings secured before opening day, underlining the growing excitement surrounding Gloucester&#8217;s landmark regeneration development.</p><p>Like many major office developments across the UK, occupation at The Forum is progressing in phases as businesses adapt to changing workplace patterns. The scheme continues to attract interest from organisations seeking high-quality, sustainable city-centre workspace, as well as interest from leisure and hospitality, including a new independent coffee shop which will open later this year.</p><p>Peter Langly-Smith, Managing Director at Reef + Partners, said: &#8220;The Forum represents a major step forward for Gloucester and a real vote of confidence in the city&#8217;s future. From the beginning, the ambition was to create a destination that brings new energy into the city centre &#8211; somewhere people want to work, stay, visit and invest in.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s fantastic to see that vision becoming a reality, with businesses already thriving on site and strong interest from new occupiers. The Forum will play an important role in supporting Gloucester&#8217;s continued growth and creating opportunities for years to come.&#8221;</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Dwc_!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F65b19415-5a86-4f1b-8f53-d762f03745f5_3508x1973.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Dwc_!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F65b19415-5a86-4f1b-8f53-d762f03745f5_3508x1973.jpeg 424w, 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srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Dwc_!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F65b19415-5a86-4f1b-8f53-d762f03745f5_3508x1973.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Dwc_!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F65b19415-5a86-4f1b-8f53-d762f03745f5_3508x1973.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Dwc_!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F65b19415-5a86-4f1b-8f53-d762f03745f5_3508x1973.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Dwc_!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F65b19415-5a86-4f1b-8f53-d762f03745f5_3508x1973.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>Guests at the event included representatives from Gloucester City Council, Reef + Partners, tenants including Patch and Fasthosts, Hotel Indigo and Forum Coffee, along with contractors and project partners involved in delivering the development.</p><p>Delivered by Gloucester City Council in partnership with Reef + Partners, The Forum development brings together Grade A office space, a 129-bedroom Hotel Indigo, retail and leisure space, and high-quality residential apartments.</p><p>Situated adjacent to Kings Square and the University of Gloucestershire&#8217;s new city centre campus, The Forum is designed to attract investment, support business growth and strengthen Gloucester&#8217;s position as a vibrant destination for work, leisure and city living.</p><p>The development also benefits from excellent transport connectivity, located just a short walk from Gloucester train and bus stations.</p><p>For more information or to enquire about available space, visit <a href="https://www.forumgloucester.com/">www.forumgloucester.com</a>.</p><div><hr></div><p><strong>This press release was sent to </strong><em><strong>The Raikes Journal</strong></em><strong> by Headon PR on 18 May 2026.</strong></p><p><em>* If you want to see your releases featured here, and included on our email editions, <a href="mailto:andrew.merrell@raikesjournal.co.uk">email the editor</a>.</em></p><p><em>The Raikes Journal is a digital magazine and community interest company whose supporters believe, like us, that journalism about Gloucestershire is worth keeping alive. Everything you read on The Raikes Journal is made possible by our incredible Founding Partners: <strong><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/2943a5bb-054f-4204-b0fc-5a0754a5f19f?j=eyJ1IjoiMzV4YnY2In0.42MF7rHuqz4Lh9PIW0fw7-IWTX77yYRmROLSyV_qFuY">QuoLux</a></strong>, <strong><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/3237af9f-f442-4e49-a6c1-b48270726063?j=eyJ1IjoiMzV4YnY2In0.42MF7rHuqz4Lh9PIW0fw7-IWTX77yYRmROLSyV_qFuY">Willans LLP</a>,</strong> <strong><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/21d6a441-a7a9-4056-a623-9bcc153eaeb0?j=eyJ1IjoiMzV4YnY2In0.42MF7rHuqz4Lh9PIW0fw7-IWTX77yYRmROLSyV_qFuY">Gloucestershire College</a>, <a href="https://substack.com/redirect/b91d4cfe-02c6-4440-b858-983816d5563e?j=eyJ1IjoiMzV4YnY2In0.42MF7rHuqz4Lh9PIW0fw7-IWTX77yYRmROLSyV_qFuY">Merrell People</a>, </strong>our sponsors<strong> and </strong>our Founding Members and wonderful paying subscribers.</em></p><p><em>If you upgrade to paid you will be able to see past the paywalls on our second and third email editions of the week, that lock all our archive after two weeks and lock our rolling Top 100 Businesses in Gloucestershire, the series that follows the financial fortunes of our biggest firms by turnover. You will be able to comment on our stories too. You&#8217;ll be helping make this CIC sustainable. Please do join us.</em></p><p><em><strong>You can do that for just &#163;2.30 a week - or &#163;1.80 a week if two or more people sign up at once.</strong></em></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[B2B data solutions agency expands with head of data and AI ]]></title><description><![CDATA[* Welcome to our PR Wire channel where we run the very latest unabridged and unedited press releases from companies connected to Gloucestershire that catch our eye.]]></description><link>https://www.raikesjournal.co.uk/p/b2b-data-solutions-agency-expands</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.raikesjournal.co.uk/p/b2b-data-solutions-agency-expands</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[The Raikes Journal]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 08 May 2026 08:53:03 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BVE3!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2997aaec-3767-439d-948e-1287ca184ee6_1587x866.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>* Welcome to our PR Wire channel where we run the very latest unabridged and unedited press releases from companies connected to Gloucestershire that catch our eye. <strong>If you want to see your stories placed here, and featured on our email editions, please contact us and we&#8217;ll let you know how it&#8217;s done. </strong>Email <a href="mailto:andrew.merrell@raikesjournal.co.uk">andrew.merrell@raikesjournal.co.uk</a>.</em></p><div><hr></div><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BVE3!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2997aaec-3767-439d-948e-1287ca184ee6_1587x866.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BVE3!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2997aaec-3767-439d-948e-1287ca184ee6_1587x866.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BVE3!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2997aaec-3767-439d-948e-1287ca184ee6_1587x866.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BVE3!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2997aaec-3767-439d-948e-1287ca184ee6_1587x866.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BVE3!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2997aaec-3767-439d-948e-1287ca184ee6_1587x866.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BVE3!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2997aaec-3767-439d-948e-1287ca184ee6_1587x866.jpeg" width="1456" height="795" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/2997aaec-3767-439d-948e-1287ca184ee6_1587x866.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:795,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:154872,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.raikesjournal.co.uk/i/196876558?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2997aaec-3767-439d-948e-1287ca184ee6_1587x866.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BVE3!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2997aaec-3767-439d-948e-1287ca184ee6_1587x866.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BVE3!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2997aaec-3767-439d-948e-1287ca184ee6_1587x866.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BVE3!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2997aaec-3767-439d-948e-1287ca184ee6_1587x866.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BVE3!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2997aaec-3767-439d-948e-1287ca184ee6_1587x866.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p><a href="https://acquirz.co.uk/">Acquirz</a>, an award-winning B2B data solutions and email marketing agency, has appointed Kevin Smith as head of data and AI, and Kelly Merchant as campaign manager.</p><p>The new hires continue a period of growth and recruitment for the agency, following its recent acquisition of Marketscan, a UK-based organisation with more than 40 years delivering full-service data led marketing.</p><p>Based in the company&#8217;s Cheltenham office, Smith joins Acquirz with over two decades of experience across data, analytics, and technology leadership, including overseeing global teams and delivering enterprise-scale data solutions.</p><p>Since starting out as an apprentice database consultant in 1999, Smith has built wide-ranging expertise across data and technology, from strategy and architecture through to AI machine learning integration, data engineering, analytics, governance and insight delivery.</p><p>Applying this expertise at Acquirz, Smith will further embed AI-driven insights across operations to accelerate commercial growth while benefiting clients from smarter customer targeting, data enrichment, and process automation.</p><p>Smith said: &#8220;Acquirz has built an impressive reputation for delivering award-winning services. From its data solutions and creative campaigns to its managed services, it&#8217;s a brand particularly well recognised for its breadth and accuracy of data.</p><p>&#8220;I&#8217;m looking forward to building on this success and pushing the boundaries of what&#8217;s possible &#8211; for the team, business and customers.&#8221;</p><p>Smith is joined by campaign manager, Kelly Merchant who brings almost a decade of experience in customer relationship management (CRM) and email marketing.</p><p>Skilled in building and optimising automated customer journeys, Kelly develops personalised content, data-driven segmentation and lifecycle marketing strategies. She has worked across a range of industries, from financial services to retail, optimising performance and generating measurable results.</p><p>Merchant added: &#8220;I&#8217;m delighted to be working closely with Acquirz&#8217;s diverse client base. What attracted me most to the role is the opportunity to combine creativity with data and being in an environment that encourages new ideas and strategies. I&#8217;ve already learnt a lot from the team, and I can&#8217;t wait to see what more there is to come.&#8221;</p><p>Chris Skinner, director and co-founder at Acquirz, said: &#8220;Since launching the business in 2019, we&#8217;ve focused on delivering innovative, award-winning solutions, whether that&#8217;s B2B data, customer acquisition, managed email marketing or more bespoke support.</p><p>&#8220;That delivery is driven by the strength of our team, and we&#8217;re delighted to welcome Kevin and Kelly at a pivotal time for the business. Following our recent acquisition of Marketscan, and with strong growth and an exciting product pipeline their expertise will play a key role in helping scale and drive the business forward.&#8221;</p><div><hr></div><p><strong>This press release was sent to </strong><em><strong>The Raikes Journal</strong></em><strong> by Headon PR on 6 May 2026.</strong></p><p><em>* If you want to see your releases featured here, and included on our email editions, <a href="mailto:andrew.merrell@raikesjournal.co.uk">email the editor</a>.</em></p><p><em>The Raikes Journal is a digital magazine and community interest company whose supporters believe, like us, that journalism about Gloucestershire is worth keeping alive. Everything you read on The Raikes Journal is made possible by our incredible Founding Partners: <strong><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/2943a5bb-054f-4204-b0fc-5a0754a5f19f?j=eyJ1IjoiMzV4YnY2In0.42MF7rHuqz4Lh9PIW0fw7-IWTX77yYRmROLSyV_qFuY">QuoLux</a></strong>, <strong><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/3237af9f-f442-4e49-a6c1-b48270726063?j=eyJ1IjoiMzV4YnY2In0.42MF7rHuqz4Lh9PIW0fw7-IWTX77yYRmROLSyV_qFuY">Willans LLP</a>,</strong> <strong><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/21d6a441-a7a9-4056-a623-9bcc153eaeb0?j=eyJ1IjoiMzV4YnY2In0.42MF7rHuqz4Lh9PIW0fw7-IWTX77yYRmROLSyV_qFuY">Gloucestershire College</a>, <a href="https://substack.com/redirect/b91d4cfe-02c6-4440-b858-983816d5563e?j=eyJ1IjoiMzV4YnY2In0.42MF7rHuqz4Lh9PIW0fw7-IWTX77yYRmROLSyV_qFuY">Merrell People</a>, </strong>our sponsors<strong> and </strong>our Founding Members and wonderful paying subscribers.</em></p><p><em>If you upgrade to paid you will be able to see past the paywalls on our second and third email editions of the week, that lock all our archive after two weeks and lock our rolling Top 100 Businesses in Gloucestershire, the series that follows the financial fortunes of our biggest firms by turnover. You will be able to comment on our stories too. You&#8217;ll be helping make this CIC sustainable. Please do join us.</em></p><p><em><strong>You can do that for just &#163;2.30 a week - or &#163;1.80 a week if two or more people sign up at once.</strong></em></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Networking events draws businesses to Gloucester Cathedral]]></title><description><![CDATA[More than 100 regional business leaders gathered for Gloucester Cathedral&#8217;s first networking breakfast.]]></description><link>https://www.raikesjournal.co.uk/p/networking-events-draws-businesses</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.raikesjournal.co.uk/p/networking-events-draws-businesses</guid><pubDate>Thu, 02 Apr 2026 15:13:15 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6koU!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F41bbb3a2-e962-49f0-85a2-6054db626efd_3776x2207.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>* Welcome to our PR Wire channel where we run the very latest unabridged and unedited press releases from companies connected to Gloucestershire that catch our eye. <strong>If you want to see your stories placed here, and featured on our email editions, please contact us and we&#8217;ll let you know how it&#8217;s done. </strong>Email <a href="mailto:andrew.merrell@raikesjournal.co.uk">andrew.merrell@raikesjournal.co.uk</a>.</em></p><div><hr></div><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6koU!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F41bbb3a2-e962-49f0-85a2-6054db626efd_3776x2207.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6koU!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F41bbb3a2-e962-49f0-85a2-6054db626efd_3776x2207.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6koU!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F41bbb3a2-e962-49f0-85a2-6054db626efd_3776x2207.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6koU!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F41bbb3a2-e962-49f0-85a2-6054db626efd_3776x2207.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6koU!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F41bbb3a2-e962-49f0-85a2-6054db626efd_3776x2207.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6koU!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F41bbb3a2-e962-49f0-85a2-6054db626efd_3776x2207.jpeg" width="3776" height="2207" 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srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6koU!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F41bbb3a2-e962-49f0-85a2-6054db626efd_3776x2207.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6koU!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F41bbb3a2-e962-49f0-85a2-6054db626efd_3776x2207.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6koU!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F41bbb3a2-e962-49f0-85a2-6054db626efd_3776x2207.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6koU!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F41bbb3a2-e962-49f0-85a2-6054db626efd_3776x2207.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>Gloucester Cathedral hosted its first-ever business networking event in collaboration with corporate partner WSP Solicitors - bringing over 100 business owners and the county&#8217;s professional community together in one of the city&#8217;s most inspiring settings.</p><p>Held in the Chapter House, located within the Cathedral&#8217;s famous Cloister, attendees &#8211; including businesses Cass Stephens, Handelsbanken, Hazelwoods, John Morgan Partnership, St James&#8217;s Place and Bruton Knowles - heard talks from The Very Reverend Andrew Zihni, Dean of Gloucester, and Antony Feltham King, architect for the Cloister Project.</p><p>The Cloister Project is part of a 12-year conservation programme focused on preserving one of the Cathedral&#8217;s most iconic and historically significant spaces. Work is currently underway on the East Walk, where urgent repairs are needed to protect historic stonework, roof structures and stained glass.</p><p>Dean Andrew also spoke about their wellbeing, education and cultural ambitions, as well as its music programme which includes Gloucester Cathedral Organ Festival taking place between the 13-15 June, celebrating the region&#8217;s musical talent and the unveiling of its new organ.</p><p>The festival will feature a range of high-profile events over two days, including a gala concert with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and internationally renowned organist Thomas Trotter, which will be recorded by BBC Radio 3.</p><p>Performances and educational activities involving young musicians from across Gloucestershire are also taking place. The event will mark the soft launch of the Cathedral&#8217;s Organ Academy - part of its wider <em>In Tune: Music &amp; Organ Campaign</em>, aimed at widening access to music and supporting the next generation of talent.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!eVYN!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdd769601-5109-45d6-b968-5916a24926c3_3363x2026.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!eVYN!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdd769601-5109-45d6-b968-5916a24926c3_3363x2026.jpeg 424w, 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class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>The Very Reverend Andrew Zihni, Dean of Gloucester, said: &#8220;We were delighted to welcome the local business community to Gloucester Cathedral for this Networking Breakfast in partnership with our friends at WSP Solicitors.</p><p>&#8220;It was wonderful to continue that legacy of bringing people together within these sacred walls - a tradition the Cathedral has upheld as part of its Christian mission and Benedictine tradition for more than 900 years.</p><p>&#8220;We hope guests shared meaningful conversations, formed new connections and gained a deeper insight into the Cathedral&#8217;s fabric and music projects, which are helping to secure the future of this remarkable space. The Cathedral is a place for everyone, and we hope many attendees will return for future visits and events.&#8221;</p><p>Camella Cephas, Managing Director at WSP Solicitors, added: &#8220;We are proud to have partnered with Gloucester Cathedral for its first networking breakfast &#8211; it was fantastic to have so many local businesses in attendance, both to support the Cathedral, and to network, build ongoing relationships, and to collaborate.</p><p>&#8220;The Cathedral is an iconic part of our city and an important focal point for different communities across the region. It was fantastic to hear directly from them on the scale and cultural importance of the restoration projects currently underway as well as all the other exciting educational programmes it has coming up this year.&#8221;</p><p>For more information on Gloucester Cathedral Organ Festival and further events, including up-and-coming business breakfasts, please visit - <a href="https://gloucestercathedral.org.uk/whats-on">https://gloucestercathedral.org.uk/whats-on</a>.</p><div><hr></div><p><strong>This press release was sent to </strong><em><strong>The Raikes Journal</strong></em><strong> by Headon PR in April 2025.</strong></p><p><em>* If you want to see your releases featured here, and included on our email editions, <a href="mailto:andrew.merrell@raikesjournal.co.uk">email the editor</a>.</em></p><p><em>The Raikes Journal is a digital magazine and community interest company whose supporters believe, like us, that journalism about Gloucestershire is worth keeping alive. Everything you read on The Raikes Journal is made possible by our incredible Founding Partners: <strong><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/2943a5bb-054f-4204-b0fc-5a0754a5f19f?j=eyJ1IjoiMzV4YnY2In0.42MF7rHuqz4Lh9PIW0fw7-IWTX77yYRmROLSyV_qFuY">QuoLux</a></strong>, <strong><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/3237af9f-f442-4e49-a6c1-b48270726063?j=eyJ1IjoiMzV4YnY2In0.42MF7rHuqz4Lh9PIW0fw7-IWTX77yYRmROLSyV_qFuY">Willans LLP</a>,</strong> <strong><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/21d6a441-a7a9-4056-a623-9bcc153eaeb0?j=eyJ1IjoiMzV4YnY2In0.42MF7rHuqz4Lh9PIW0fw7-IWTX77yYRmROLSyV_qFuY">Gloucestershire College</a>, <a href="https://substack.com/redirect/b91d4cfe-02c6-4440-b858-983816d5563e?j=eyJ1IjoiMzV4YnY2In0.42MF7rHuqz4Lh9PIW0fw7-IWTX77yYRmROLSyV_qFuY">Merrell People</a> </strong>and<strong> Randall &amp; Payne, </strong>our sponsors<strong> and </strong>our Founding Members and wonderful paying subscribers.</em></p><p><em>If you upgrade to paid you will be able to see past the paywalls on our second and third email editions of the week, that lock all our archive after two weeks and lock our rolling Top 100 Businesses in Gloucestershire, the series that follows the financial fortunes of our biggest firms by turnover. You will be able to comment on our stories too. You&#8217;ll be helping make this CIC sustainable. Please do join us.</em></p><p><em><strong>You can do that for just &#163;2.30 a week - or &#163;1.80 a week if two or more people sign up at once.</strong></em></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.raikesjournal.co.uk/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.raikesjournal.co.uk/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Gloucester City Homes delivers 13 new houses - with more to follow]]></title><description><![CDATA[It doesn't say it in the story below, but the most recent batch of homes from GCH is an investment worth &#163;3.4m. It's a welcome boost for a county with 5,000 households on the waiting list.]]></description><link>https://www.raikesjournal.co.uk/p/gloucester-city-homes-delivers-13</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.raikesjournal.co.uk/p/gloucester-city-homes-delivers-13</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrew Merrell]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 02 Apr 2026 14:59:45 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!oW8d!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1df63470-7965-440d-b46a-94a5673a9560_1200x747.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>* Welcome to our PR Wire channel where we run the very latest unabridged and unedited press releases from companies connected to Gloucestershire that catch our eye. <strong>If you want to see your stories placed here, and featured on our email editions, please contact us and we&#8217;ll let you know how it&#8217;s done. </strong>Email <a href="mailto:andrew.merrell@raikesjournal.co.uk">andrew.merrell@raikesjournal.co.uk</a>.</em></p><div><hr></div><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!oW8d!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1df63470-7965-440d-b46a-94a5673a9560_1200x747.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!oW8d!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1df63470-7965-440d-b46a-94a5673a9560_1200x747.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!oW8d!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1df63470-7965-440d-b46a-94a5673a9560_1200x747.jpeg 848w, 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424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!QsLw!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fae2c0d5b-b8a4-4b46-a026-64e8a222141d_657x232.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!QsLw!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fae2c0d5b-b8a4-4b46-a026-64e8a222141d_657x232.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!QsLw!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fae2c0d5b-b8a4-4b46-a026-64e8a222141d_657x232.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!QsLw!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fae2c0d5b-b8a4-4b46-a026-64e8a222141d_657x232.jpeg" width="657" height="232" 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srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!QsLw!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fae2c0d5b-b8a4-4b46-a026-64e8a222141d_657x232.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!QsLw!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fae2c0d5b-b8a4-4b46-a026-64e8a222141d_657x232.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!QsLw!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fae2c0d5b-b8a4-4b46-a026-64e8a222141d_657x232.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!QsLw!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fae2c0d5b-b8a4-4b46-a026-64e8a222141d_657x232.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"></picture><div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>&#163;3.4m investment helps tackles Gloucestershire&#8217;s &#8220;urgent need&#8221; for new homes</p><p>Seventeen new houses have come on the market thanks to Gloucester City Homes and its construction partner Cape Homes, as the county battles to house 5,000 households.</p><p>Attached to every story of housebuilding comes stories of joy, as people look to get the keys to their new homes. And then there is the bigger picture of the many thousands still waiting for their own happy ending.</p><p>Gloucester City Homes announcement that it has just completed 13 energy efficient homes in Longford, just north of Gloucester, with four more due in the coming months, is more good news for those waiting.</p><p>&#8220;Demand for secure and genuinely affordable homes is rising sharply in the local area,&#8221; according to the city-based housing association, adding that there was an &#8220;urgent need for more&#8221;.</p><p>The one and two-bedroom maisonettes and two and three-bedroom houses all come with dedicated parking and private gardens and will be allocated through a system independent of GCH, which will manage the properties - along with the 5,000-plus is is already in charge of.</p><p>The waiting list is held by Gloucester City Council through the county-wide choice-based lettings scheme, Homeseeker Plus. Anyone looking for social housing in Gloucestershire applies through this scheme and is given a priority band based on their level of need.</p><p>&#8220;Once registered, applicants can bid for available properties across all participating housing providers, including GCH. Shortlists are then created, with those in the highest priority, typically Gold band, placed at the top. Given the level of demand, in reality it is usually only households in this highest band who are successful.</p><p>&#8220;The scale of the challenge is significant. There are more than 5,000 households currently on the waiting list, while GCH typically has no more than around 250 homes become available each year. This means demand for social housing far outstrips supply.</p><p>&#8220;When a property becomes available, GCH works through the shortlist in priority order. Prospective tenants are contacted, invited to view the home, and go through pre-tenancy checks, including affordability assessments. If the property is not suitable, the offer moves to the next person on the list.</p><p>&#8220;For these particular homes in Longford, Tewkesbury Borough Council has an additional condition that applicants need to have a local connection to Tewkesbury i.e. they must work or have family in the area to be eligible.&#8221;</p><p>Guy Stenson, GCH&#8217;s CEO said &#8220;Everyone deserves a high-quality, secure and genuinely affordable home as the foundation for a healthy and stable life. These are homes for life &#8211; thoughtfully designed and sustainable. They will give families and individuals the foundation to plan for the future, stay close to schools, jobs and support networks, and be part of a thriving community.&#8221;</p><p>All homes in the scheme are for social rent and built to high environmental standards, achieving EPC A ratings thanks to features such as air source heat pumps and solar PV panels. More than one third are designed to support independent living, with step-free layouts, wider doorways, level thresholds, accessible parking and wet rooms. One home includes a height-adjustable kitchen for wheelchair users.</p><p>Councillor Alex Hegenbarth, Lead Member for Communities and Housing at Tewkesbury Borough Council, said the development &#8220;set a benchmark for sustainable living&#8221;.</p><p>All GCH homes are advertised through Gloucestershire&#8217;s Homeseeker lettings system <a href="https://eu-west-1.protection.sophos.com/?d=sophos.com&amp;u=aHR0cHM6Ly9ldS13ZXN0LTEucHJvdGVjdGlvbi5zb3Bob3MuY29tP2Q9aG9tZXNlZWtlcnBsdXMuY28udWsmdT1hSFIwY0RvdkwzZDNkeTVvYjIxbGMyVmxhMlZ5Y0d4MWN5NWpieTUxYXc9PSZwPW0maT1Oak0zTjJFMllXTTJOemt5WkRVeE0yTTBPV000T1RoayZ0PVdUbFFOVnB0VXpKUFdrUkRNR00xSzBkU2NFZGFNRFZUUTNGMlNtTnViV1YyYVVGSllsVlVhVFkwTUQwPSZoPTRiM2QyMjBiY2JmODQxOWNiZjZlNzk3ZDE4MzkxYWYwJnM9QVZOUFVFaFVUME5GVGtOU1dWQlVTVmFSU2VNZW1DeG9EVnBxY0JzdFZWZzFaLW5mYkZmbDhOTHpCS1lUVm83cG9xVTFTc1BfTWVIT3RvMUZPbzUxSzM4&amp;p=m&amp;i=NjM3N2E2YWM2NzkyZDUxM2M0OWM4OThk&amp;t=R3FENHI3YXpsSnhTT1p2QVVwWktNOFk4L3FUQVhIWEtoZXJQOXV1Q1FrST0=&amp;h=73daf099ad5c4cd299f22507cb72fb1c&amp;s=AVNPUEhUT0NFTkNSWVBUSVaRSeMemCxoDVpqcBstVVg1Z-nfbFfl8NLzBKYTVo7poqU1SsP_MeHOto1FOo51K38">www.homeseekerplus.co.uk</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Tech firm joins B Corp movement]]></title><description><![CDATA[After announcing a three-year deal with Gloucester Rugby, and earlier this week staging a county focused growth forum, a Gloucestershire tech firm has revealed its also achieved B Corp status.]]></description><link>https://www.raikesjournal.co.uk/p/tech-firm-joins-b-corp-movement</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.raikesjournal.co.uk/p/tech-firm-joins-b-corp-movement</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrew Merrell]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 20 Mar 2026 09:33:40 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ZIy2!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc354446e-01a2-4115-b2fd-fd9986d1f81f_3434x2137.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>* Welcome to our PR Wire channel where we run the very latest unabridged and unedited press releases from companies connected to Gloucestershire that catch our eye. <strong>If you want to see your stories placed here, and featured on our email editions, please contact us and we&#8217;ll let you know how it&#8217;s done. </strong>Email <a href="mailto:andrew.merrell@raikesjournal.co.uk">andrew.merrell@raikesjournal.co.uk</a>.</em></p><div><hr></div><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ZIy2!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc354446e-01a2-4115-b2fd-fd9986d1f81f_3434x2137.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ZIy2!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc354446e-01a2-4115-b2fd-fd9986d1f81f_3434x2137.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ZIy2!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc354446e-01a2-4115-b2fd-fd9986d1f81f_3434x2137.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ZIy2!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc354446e-01a2-4115-b2fd-fd9986d1f81f_3434x2137.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ZIy2!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc354446e-01a2-4115-b2fd-fd9986d1f81f_3434x2137.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ZIy2!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc354446e-01a2-4115-b2fd-fd9986d1f81f_3434x2137.jpeg" width="3434" height="2137" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/c354446e-01a2-4115-b2fd-fd9986d1f81f_3434x2137.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:2137,&quot;width&quot;:3434,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:2025431,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.raikesjournal.co.uk/i/191563004?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa31d4842-9f6f-4f40-ae51-7ec012db7aaa_4080x3072.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ZIy2!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc354446e-01a2-4115-b2fd-fd9986d1f81f_3434x2137.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ZIy2!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc354446e-01a2-4115-b2fd-fd9986d1f81f_3434x2137.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ZIy2!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc354446e-01a2-4115-b2fd-fd9986d1f81f_3434x2137.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ZIy2!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc354446e-01a2-4115-b2fd-fd9986d1f81f_3434x2137.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">(Left to right - Mark Atkinson, Nigel Church CEO, Tom Henson MD, and the Emerge Digital team at the Gloucestershire Growth Forum at Kingsholm Stadium)</figcaption></figure></div><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Yllj!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F084bdd2c-a015-48d2-a888-4f9fb417d85f.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Yllj!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F084bdd2c-a015-48d2-a888-4f9fb417d85f.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Yllj!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F084bdd2c-a015-48d2-a888-4f9fb417d85f.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Yllj!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F084bdd2c-a015-48d2-a888-4f9fb417d85f.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Yllj!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F084bdd2c-a015-48d2-a888-4f9fb417d85f.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Yllj!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F084bdd2c-a015-48d2-a888-4f9fb417d85f.jpeg" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/084bdd2c-a015-48d2-a888-4f9fb417d85f.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:null,&quot;width&quot;:null,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:3878457,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.raikesjournal.co.uk/i/191563004?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F084bdd2c-a015-48d2-a888-4f9fb417d85f.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Yllj!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F084bdd2c-a015-48d2-a888-4f9fb417d85f.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Yllj!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F084bdd2c-a015-48d2-a888-4f9fb417d85f.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Yllj!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F084bdd2c-a015-48d2-a888-4f9fb417d85f.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Yllj!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F084bdd2c-a015-48d2-a888-4f9fb417d85f.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"></picture><div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>Gloucestershire-based technology and managed service provider (MSP) Emerge Digital has announced its B Corp Certification, setting the benchmark for the scaling business, its services and client growth.</p><p>The certification marks a period of strategic growth for the business following its recent expansion into South Wales and the appointment of business development director, former professional rugby player Alex Cuthbert.</p><p>Last month the company also revealed a new three-year deal as part of its technology partnership with premiership team, Gloucester Rugby.</p><p>The business now employs 24 team members, turnover has grown 15 per cent year-on-year and the number of supported users has increased by 30 per cent over the last 12 months.</p><p>B Corp Certification places Emerge Digital among a growing global movement of purpose-led organisations.</p><p>The UK is home to more than 2,700 certified B Corporations, making it the largest community of this type in the world, with 60 based in the county alone.</p><p>Among these UK businesses are several of the technology provider&#8217;s own clients including Gloucestershire-based education food supplier Green Gourmet,&#8239;Lakes Showering Spaces and Equimedia, as well as Worcestershire businesses, Hewett Recruitment and Cytoplan UK.</p><p>A recent addition to Emerge&#8217;s client base is Widgit, a pioneering software company specialising in symbol-supported communication, which received its own B Corp certification in July last year.</p><p>Meeting all environmental, social and governance standards, supporting its certification, Emerge Digital has introduced a range of people-led initiatives.</p><p>These include formalised training programmes, an employee assistance programme, a profit-sharing scheme, and up to two additional days&#8217; paid leave each year for employees to support its chosen charities - Cheltenham Animal Shelter and Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust &#8211; as well as a charity of their choice.</p><p>This people-first approach has also informed the planned launch of the firm&#8217;s new ApexAI service, designed to place employee digital wellbeing at the centre of AI adoption.</p><p>By combining leadership alignment, foundational skills training, real-world workflow development, and ongoing community support, the programme helps teams adopt AI safely and sustainably, encouraging the use of technology to create positive, measurable impact for people.</p><p>Nigel Church, CEO, said: &#8220;At Emerge Digital, we&#8217;ve always believed that how you do business matters just as much as what you deliver.</p><p>&#8220;B Corp Certification validates the culture we&#8217;ve built, one that puts people, community and integrity at the heart of what we do, and it reflects the way we approach AI too, using technology to support people, reduce pressure and create positive impact.&#8221;</p><div><hr></div><p><strong>This press release was sent to </strong><em><strong>The Raikes Journal</strong></em><strong> by </strong>HeadOn PR<strong> on 19 March 2025.</strong></p><p><em>* If you want to see your releases featured here, and included on our email editions, <a href="mailto:andrew.merrell@raikesjournal.co.uk">email the editor</a>.</em></p><p><em>The Raikes Journal is a digital magazine and community interest company whose supporters believe, like us, that journalism about Gloucestershire is worth keeping alive. Everything you read on The Raikes Journal is made possible by our incredible Founding Partners: <strong><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/2943a5bb-054f-4204-b0fc-5a0754a5f19f?j=eyJ1IjoiMzV4YnY2In0.42MF7rHuqz4Lh9PIW0fw7-IWTX77yYRmROLSyV_qFuY">QuoLux</a></strong>, <strong><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/3237af9f-f442-4e49-a6c1-b48270726063?j=eyJ1IjoiMzV4YnY2In0.42MF7rHuqz4Lh9PIW0fw7-IWTX77yYRmROLSyV_qFuY">Willans LLP</a>,</strong> <strong><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/21d6a441-a7a9-4056-a623-9bcc153eaeb0?j=eyJ1IjoiMzV4YnY2In0.42MF7rHuqz4Lh9PIW0fw7-IWTX77yYRmROLSyV_qFuY">Gloucestershire College</a>, <a href="https://substack.com/redirect/b91d4cfe-02c6-4440-b858-983816d5563e?j=eyJ1IjoiMzV4YnY2In0.42MF7rHuqz4Lh9PIW0fw7-IWTX77yYRmROLSyV_qFuY">Merrell People</a> </strong>and<strong> Randall &amp; Payne, </strong>our sponsors<strong> and </strong>our Founding Members and wonderful paying subscribers.</em></p><p><em>If you upgrade to paid you will be able to see past the paywalls on our second and third email editions of the week, that lock all our archive after two weeks and lock our rolling Top 100 Businesses in Gloucestershire, the series that follows the financial fortunes of our biggest firms by turnover. You will be able to comment on our stories too. You&#8217;ll be helping make this CIC sustainable. Please do join us.</em></p><p><em><strong>You can do that for just &#163;2.30 a week - or &#163;1.80 a week if two or more people sign up at once.</strong></em></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.raikesjournal.co.uk/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.raikesjournal.co.uk/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Not‑for‑profits Tewkesbury-based Cleaner Safer Group and BCTA join forces]]></title><description><![CDATA[Two Gloucestershire-based businesses have merged with a third to create a powerful single organisation for delivering for delivering key certificates for firms working across the built environment.]]></description><link>https://www.raikesjournal.co.uk/p/notforprofits-tewkesbury-based-cleaner</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.raikesjournal.co.uk/p/notforprofits-tewkesbury-based-cleaner</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[The Raikes Journal]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 12 Mar 2026 09:45:46 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!m4MQ!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbf0657d3-5bf5-48ff-8977-70e4a4d9bbe1_4032x2695.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>* Welcome to our PR Wire channel where we run the very latest unabridged and unedited press releases from companies connected to Gloucestershire that catch our eye. <strong>If you want to see your stories placed here, and featured on our email editions, please contact us and we&#8217;ll let you know how it&#8217;s done. </strong>Email <a href="mailto:andrew.merrell@raikesjournal.co.uk">andrew.merrell@raikesjournal.co.uk</a>.</em></p>
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   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Global expert to provide senior leaders with
essential skills to defend against cyber attacks]]></title><description><![CDATA[A special programme aimed at helping business leaders keep their organisations safe from cyber attacks is due to be staged by the University of Gloucestershire, led by a global expert.]]></description><link>https://www.raikesjournal.co.uk/p/global-expert-to-provide-senior-leaders</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.raikesjournal.co.uk/p/global-expert-to-provide-senior-leaders</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[The Raikes Journal]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 10 Mar 2026 11:10:19 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!b2qv!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5b6de7cd-a7f7-460c-bbd9-13decd26303c_1024x1024.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>* Welcome to our PR Wire channel where we run the very latest unabridged and unedited press releases from companies connected to Gloucestershire that catch our eye. <strong>If you want to see your stories placed here, and featured on our email editions, please contact us and we&#8217;ll let you know how it&#8217;s done. </strong>Email <a href="mailto:andrew.merrell@raikesjournal.co.uk">andrew.merrell@raikesjournal.co.uk</a>.</em></p>
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   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Sustainable heating specialists names new business development manager]]></title><description><![CDATA[As it looks to more growth, Gloucestershire firm Hewer signs a new business development manager with a track record for developing routes to market for new products.]]></description><link>https://www.raikesjournal.co.uk/p/sustainable-heating-specialists-names</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.raikesjournal.co.uk/p/sustainable-heating-specialists-names</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[The Raikes Journal]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 23 Feb 2026 10:20:01 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!7HbO!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fca0139bd-5b9e-4296-a6b4-d36c34c4cc6f_1920x1173.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>* Welcome to our PR Wire channel where we run the very latest unabridged and unedited press releases from companies connected to Gloucestershire that catch our eye. <strong>If you want to see your stories placed here, and featured on our email editions, please contact us and we&#8217;ll let you know how it&#8217;s done. </strong>Email <a href="mailto:andrew.merrell@raikesjournal.co.uk">andrew.merrell@raikesjournal.co.uk</a>.</em></p>
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   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Housing association signs deal to deliver 19 new affordable homes Gloucestershire]]></title><description><![CDATA[Two Rivers Housing association has revealed its part in a deal with a Midlands developer that will help it build 19 affordable homes in the county, and deliver]]></description><link>https://www.raikesjournal.co.uk/p/housing-association-signs-deal-to</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.raikesjournal.co.uk/p/housing-association-signs-deal-to</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[The Raikes Journal]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 16 Feb 2026 16:16:07 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Z2Jt!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3e67463e-a247-4741-85c0-bafd960b8a18_3000x2000.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>* Welcome to our PR Wire channel where we run the very latest unabridged and unedited press releases from companies connected to Gloucestershire that catch our eye. <strong>If you want to see your stories placed here, and featured on our email editions, please contact us and we&#8217;ll let you know how it&#8217;s done. </strong>Email <a href="mailto:andrew.merrell@raikesjournal.co.uk">andrew.merrell@raikesjournal.co.uk</a>.</em></p>
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   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[£1m investment from trust to benefit Gloucestershire]]></title><description><![CDATA[A &#163;1m investment from The Summerfield Charitable Trust is to support an exciting new age-friendly Cotswolds initiative.]]></description><link>https://www.raikesjournal.co.uk/p/1m-investment-from-trust-to-benefit</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.raikesjournal.co.uk/p/1m-investment-from-trust-to-benefit</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[The Raikes Journal]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 08 Feb 2026 17:51:59 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6X4J!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6b548ccf-80fb-4419-ae70-f4961d3d1c34_1024x647.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>* Welcome to our PR Wire channel where we run the very latest unabridged and unedited press releases from companies connected to Gloucestershire that catch our eye. <strong>If you want to see your stories placed here, and featured on our email editions, please contact us and we&#8217;ll let you know how it&#8217;s done. </strong>Email <a href="mailto:andrew.merrell@raikesjournal.co.uk">andrew.merrell@raikesjournal.co.uk</a>.</em></p>
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   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Multi-million pound growth for food wholesaler predicted]]></title><description><![CDATA[Following significant investment, a Gloucester-based business has revealed it is targeting a doubling of turnover to &#163;15 million in its wholesale food business.]]></description><link>https://www.raikesjournal.co.uk/p/multi-million-pound-growth-for-food</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.raikesjournal.co.uk/p/multi-million-pound-growth-for-food</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[The Raikes Journal]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 06 Feb 2026 13:06:52 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!23A4!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7f548b4a-0b7d-4c57-8a5d-fb410bf4f19d_3129x1699.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>* Welcome to our PR Wire channel where we run the very latest unabridged and unedited press releases from companies connected to Gloucestershire that catch our eye. <strong>If you want to see your stories placed here, and featured on our email editions, please contact us and we&#8217;ll let you know how it&#8217;s done. </strong>Email <a href="mailto:andrew.merrell@raikesjournal.co.uk">andrew.merrell@raikesjournal.co.uk</a>.</em></p>
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   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[UoG celebrates apprentices, staff and employer partners to mark National Apprenticeship Week 2026]]></title><description><![CDATA[University of Gloucestershire is celebrating the contribution of apprenticeships to the regional economy, to mark National Apprenticeship Week 2026.]]></description><link>https://www.raikesjournal.co.uk/p/uog-celebrates-apprentices-staff</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.raikesjournal.co.uk/p/uog-celebrates-apprentices-staff</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[The Raikes Journal]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 06 Feb 2026 10:17:14 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!smHj!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F034f494a-ec12-4220-ab2f-140c5356cfd3_2560x1703.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>* Welcome to our PR Wire channel where we run the very latest unabridged and unedited press releases from companies connected to Gloucestershire that catch our eye. <strong>If you want to see your stories placed here, and featured on our email editions, please contact us and we&#8217;ll let you know how it&#8217;s done. </strong>Email <a href="mailto:andrew.merrell@raikesjournal.co.uk">andrew.merrell@raikesjournal.co.uk</a>.</em></p>
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   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Coffee business founded in Gloucester to open at The Forum]]></title><description><![CDATA[Perhaps the most ethically sourced, and certainly one of the best tasting coffees you can ever hope to drink, will be supplied by a Gloucester business to a new caf&#233; in the &#163;107m Forum building.]]></description><link>https://www.raikesjournal.co.uk/p/coffee-business-founded-in-gloucester</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.raikesjournal.co.uk/p/coffee-business-founded-in-gloucester</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[The Raikes Journal]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 30 Jan 2026 14:03:40 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ZiRz!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3f18f55b-0411-46cd-806f-5daedfbcde0b_960x702.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>* Welcome to our PR Wire channel where we run the very latest unabridged and unedited press releases from companies connected to Gloucestershire that catch our eye. <strong>If you want to see your stories placed here, and featured on our email editions, please contact us and we&#8217;ll let you know how it&#8217;s done. </strong>Email <a href="mailto:andrew.merrell@raikesjournal.co.uk">andrew.merrell@raikesjournal.co.uk</a>.</em></p>
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