Top 100: Engineering firm crowns winning year with 'record orders'
An engineering firm and one of the county’s most successful exporters has revealed its best ever year of trading. If you want to lift your spirits, read this story about a Forest of Dean legend.
🔒 You’re reading a members only edition of The Raikes Journal. We let you have a look at the top of the edition, and maybe give you a taste of the big story that is today’s focus – but that’s all, unless you upgrade to paid. As well as being able to read the second and third editions of the week in full, you will be able to see beyond the paywall that locks all our archive after two weeks, view our rolling Top 100 Businesses in Gloucestershire series and comment on our stories. And you will be helping make sustainable this community interest company dedicated to supporting your community – Gloucestershire. All for just £2.30 per week!
Dear Readers,
We hope you have had a great week and welcome to another member’s only edition of The Raikes Journal, where we are dropping the paywall on our main story - as we do on all copy after two weeks and across almost all of our Top 100 stories, the series which follows the financial fortunes of Gloucestershire’s biggest firms by turnover.
It’s been another busy week here at Raikes and there is a growing interest in what we are doing - providing a journalistically-led platform for the county dedicated to championing the business, education & training and charity sectors and building community. Afterall, we are a community interest company.
As we said in yesterday’s edition we were one of those who attended the final GFirst LEP event at the University of Gloucestershire’s Business School at Oxstalls, but we’ve also been preparing copy to reveal to you another of our founding partners.
In fact, we have a number of them to unveil, all of whom will join the name of QuoLux already featured on every one of our stories as our first incredible founding partner to be named.
Speaking of QuoLux, the firm will be headlining a business event on Monday evening of interest to anyone who is interested in how to make their company a true force for good. We are talking B Corp and more.
That’s due to take place at Brickhampton Court Golf Complex and also feature Creed Foodservice and Hobbs House Bakery. You can find out more here.
Have a great weekend.
Group subscriptions can get a 20 per cent discount here…
* Everything you read on Raikes is made possible by the generous support of our partners (we’ve already let you know about QuoLux and more will be revealed over the coming weeks), our founding members and our paid-up subscribers. A massive ‘thank you’ to all our other subscribers too. The support of all of you is invaluable! Find out about commercial opportunities on our About page. To get in touch email andrew.merrell@raikesjournal.co.uk.
Why today’s main story?
We wanted to sign off the week with something super positive for our members - payback for their support. And what better than news of a major Gloucestershire business that has delivered a record year for sales growth!
This Forest of Dean-headquartered international operator and major exporter has grown turnover by almost 20 per cent in a year which also saw it walk away with a major industry award for its manufacturing skills.
For those who like firms that make stuff, this business has been doing it for 140 years-plus and is in demand around the world for its wares. Sometimes it seems like it’s all cyber or agri-tech or something else - so it’s good to remember we have some of the best manufacturer firms and engineering innovators anywhere right here in little old Gloucestershire.
And if you are old enough to remember Kevin Keegan (Liverpool and England footballing legend - not to mention BBC’s Superstars. Google him if you don’t know!!!), yes - he does indeed feature!
The story is not our usual long read - we know you have a weekend to get into! If you’ve not guessed who it is yet, find out more below.
Enjoy!
Your Raikes’ briefing
⚖️️ Words like diversity have become commonplace, but what does it mean? How do we break down barriers? Here’s an uplifting story about Cheltenham law firm Willans that has been doing something quite simple, but pro-active - quietly building relationships with schools (and taking care to include all schools) to make sure it is understood its work experience placements are for everyone. Raikes took a look to make sure it’s more than just good PR. As one school said, work experience like this can prove ‘inspirational’ for its students. And for the firm, it’s a great way of spotting talent. There are still spaces available this year too! Find out more here.
🏠️ A family run business from Cheltenham has become the latest in Gloucestershire, and one of growing number nationally, to not just see the benefits of B Corporation status but actually achieve it too. Proving it is not just the very biggest firms with the greatest resource who can clear the high bar and qualify for the certification, Beechurst Serviced Apartments has now joined the fold. You can find out more here.
👊🏽 ‘We feel crushed and disempowered’ is how Tom Herbert sums up the news his Five Valleys community food business, The Long Table, and other Brimscombe Mill tenants, were told they must move out. Herbert said he was in conversation with the previous landlord about potentially staying, but a new landlord means the situation has changed and between 50 and 100 jobs are now at risk. Other businesses include The Bike Drop, Kids Stuff, Stroud Furniture Bank and The Grace Network. He talks to Faye Hatcher of the Stroud Times about it here.
Top 100: Engineering firm crowns winning year with 'record orders'
An engineering firm - one of the county’s most successful exporters - has revealed its best ever year of trading. If you want to lift your spirits about the economy, read this story about a Forest of Dean legend.
By Andrew Merell

Story continues below for paid-for subscribers….
🔓 You can read free of charge across much of The Raikes Journal, but some of our stories - including our Top 100 series - are available in their entirety only to paid-up subscribers who enjoy the privilege for what amounts to as little as £2.30 a week (ask us about 20 per cent off for groups of two or more subscribers!). These subscribers are helping this community interest company exist, grow and achieve its aims - to champion Gloucestershire’s business community, its charities and vital education and training sector, to help bring people together, make connections and build an even stronger community. They’re also supporting the renaissance of quality journalism in Gloucestershire - and for all that we’re truly grateful.
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