Heavyweight tech duo now employs 250-staff
Two of Gloucestershire’s biggest tech success stories have announced profitable years, with joint turnover now totalling more than £140 million. And ‘no’, they're not headquartered in Cheltenham.
Dear readers,
For all the excellent goings-on down the Cheltenham end of the Golden Valley to do with cyber and a certain major development, the Gloucester end also continues to deliver some interesting stories that match or better its near neighbour.
Which is the thrust of the main story below. Admittedly the Golden Valley Development, when it happens, will be on a much grander scale, but Gloucester’s Forum is already up and running and one of its tenants is part of a major group of companies with a turnover of more than €6.3 billion (euros).
And, as we run into the final couple of days in which you can vote to influence the winners in this year’s Believe in Gloucester Awarda, staged by Gloucester BID, we appeal to your heartstrings by featuring another of the excellent charities shortlisted in just one of the 15 awards.
You may not be interested in Gloucester, but if you are interested in Gloucestershire, then you should be. The awards shortlist is a great chance to get sight of county organisations and businesses you may never have heard of and should probably know about.
We hope you have a great weekend.
Best regards,
Andrew Merrell (editor).
Believe in Gloucester Awards 2025: The James Hopkins Trust
This is the last of our four mini-features showcasing those organisations shortlisted in this year’s Believe in Gloucester Awards charity of the year category - and this is your last chance to vote for which you want to win.
To be more precise, you have until Sunday, 28 September, to vote for the winners across 15 categories all in the running for this year’s awards, which are staged by Gloucester BID and sponsored by Gloucester Quays and WSP Solicitors.
Just a perusal of the shortlist, which can be found via the link below, will introduce you to some of the organisations you should know about if you want to better understand what makes Gloucestershire tick.
Among those seeking votes in the charity of the year are the Rotary Club of Gloucester, Gloucestershire Music Academy, Sunflowers Suicide Support and the James Hopkins Trust.
Ann Price, a director of the Trust, which is headquartered in Barnwood, Gloucester, said: “It is a huge honour that the charity has been shortlisted and feels an affirmation that the work of everyone involved is valued and respected.
“One of the charity’s values is to help our families make precious memories as no one can tell them how long their child will live, the only given is that they need constant care. We live this value through the work we do in providing respite sessions with the children, by giving a simple act of kindness or involving them in a fun event.
“While it is easy to forget day to day of the difference we make to the families we support, the recognition of being nominated and shortlisted has given us a chance to reflect on the work we do. We feel truly privileged each day to work at Kites Corner and thank Believe in Gloucester for the opportunity to be recognised.”
Every year the charity supports at least 100 families, half of those on a weekly basis.
“James Hopkins Trust believes that every child deserves to experience joy, laughter and love, regardless of their complex medical needs, diagnosis or condition.
“For over 30 years, we have been dedicated to providing unwavering support to children in Gloucestershire who are life-limited or life-threatened, empowering them to live life to the fullest.
“Our mission is simple: to provide family-centred care and support adapted to the children’s individual needs, either at Kites Corner or in the home,” said Price.
You can find out more about the Believe in Gloucester Awards 2025 by clicking here.
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Briefing notes…
🏗️ The long-running saga that is the Golden Valley Development wrote another line this week when the lead contractor for the Cheltenham Borough Council-led planned development, HBD, revealed Bowmer + Kirkland has been appointed to deliver the first phase of the scheme. This includes what HBD calls “two flagship buildings”. Bowmer + Kirkland has its headquarters in Derbyshire and a regional office in Bristol. Construction is now due to begin in Spring 2026 and doors open in autumn 2027.
🍞 Gloucestershire institution, the ever-popular Jane’s Pantry, has been sold. Long-standing owners, husband and wife team Neville and Tania Morse, have sold the Tuffley-headquartered operation to Yeovil-based Percy’s Baking (UK) Ltd. All 100 jobs at the business are understood to be safe.
💻 Cyber security and technology community, CyNam, has revealed its global line-up for the Secure Futures Series – a week-long programme from 13 to 17 of October. Partners include Google, Cambridge Consultants, Surevine, and Hexiosec. As part of the series, CyNam is supporting two events at The Times and Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival featuring former Deputy Prime Minister and ex-president for global affairs at Meta Sir Nick Clegg and Harvard Law School’s Professor Cass Sunstein.
💷💷💷 There was good news for 22 rural communities in the Cotswolds, with the district council for the patch announcing 22 communities are to benefit from £238,000 investment. The money comes from the Government’s Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) and will benefit organisations like Remnant Revolution, a female-led, fully sustainable social enterprise that empowers local women through upskilling classes and provides employment. Other successful projects include the installation of solar panels at Didmarton Village Hall, energy efficiency upgrades at New Brewery Arts in Cirencester, new floodlights at Moreton-in-Marsh Tennis Club, and footpath extensions in Somerford Keynes. More here.
🏉England’s women take on Canada in the Women’s Rugby World Cup on Saturday and it’ll be shown live via a big screen in King’s Square, Gloucester, by hosts King’s Walk. First up will be the battle for second and third place between New Zealand and France from 12.30pm, with the final from 4pm. In between you’ll also be treated to a documentary covering the incredible run of form that has made women’s rugby team Gloucester Hartpury legends. There’s even a bar and food.
👨🏫 The University of Gloucestershire is hosting a free public lecture on 8 October 2025, where leading economist Professor Malcolm Prowle will look at why the UK struggles to achieve economic growth. Prowle, professor of performance management at the university, will examine why growth has remained elusive, what role small and medium-sized businesses might play, and whether alternative economic pathways could be more sustainable in the face of climate change and other global challenges. More here.
🍕 Once popular Cheltenham restaurant Ask Italian, based at the Grade II-listed Hanover House in Montpellier, has closed its doors for good. It follows a spate of closures in the town this year, including The Find cafe and Domaine 16, both on Regent Street in the town centre, and The Ox Cheltenham steakhouse in Cambray Place.
Are we missing any important updates? Want to see your stories featured here? Email is here.
Ideas for the weekend
Friday:
🎶 Graham Gouldman from the band 10cc is due to play Stroud’s Sub Rooms tonight from 8pm. Doors open at 7pm.
💃🏼 The Great Gatsby Ball in Cheltenham Town Hall - A Night of 1920s Glamour. Cheltenham Town Hall.
Saturday:
🎶 Tetbury Music Festival, The Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin and St Mary Magdalen, Church St, Tetbury GL8 8JG. More here.
🏉 The Women’s Rugby World Cup final is due to be staged in King’s Square, live, on a big screen - plus the third and fourth-place playoffs. See the Briefing Notes above.
😂 Britain’s favourite German? Comedian Henning Wehn brings his show to Cheltenham Town Hall from 8pm.
Sunday:
🎪 The legend that is Giffords Circus entertain from 1pm at Fennells Farm, Lypiatt, Stroud GL6 7NE.
Heavyweight tech duo now employs 250-staff
Two of Gloucestershire’s biggest digital tech firm success stories have announced profitable years, with joint turnover now totalling more than £140 million. And ‘no’, they're not headquartered in Cheltenham.
Why group two of Gloucestershire’s most successful and sizeable digital businesses together in the same article will become apparent.
Between them they employ more than 250 staff and show that if you want success as a player in the digital economy, you can do it from here in the county - and you don’t have to be cosying right up close to GCHQ.
You can do it down Golden Valley in Gloucester too.
One of those companies has already had a high-profile year after it moved into new headquarters in Gloucestershire’s most high-profile building development - or at least the one that’s actually happened to date, anyway.
It’s also been shortlisted in Gloucester BID’s forthcoming Believe in Gloucester Awards in the Business of the Year category (sponsored by WSP).
And the other is a major player in the UK web-hosting market, and more.
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