Support, Empower & Connect
At The Engine we work to inspire local entrepreneurs to develop new social businesses that connect and empower to generate opportunities in our community. We support social business start-ups by providing leadership, mentoring, investment and by launching our own local examples. We aim to:
• Support and connect local businesses to help them thrive and grow
• Provide education and training to give local businesses and residents the opportunity to gain skills, develop ideas and be inspired
• Provide leadership and mentoring opportunities through developing successful local social enterprises
Limited Edition Programme
2026 - New gelato
Due to launch at the services this summer. Charlie has been working with a lovely bunch of year 9 students at Gloucester Academy to develop a new flavour for the wonderful family owned Wholly Gelato Taking on the product brief to come up with a new flavour in time for Wimbledon on sale at Gloucester Services this Summer.
2025 - A new Brownie!
Working again on this fabulous project supported by Gloucestershire Gateway Trust, Gloucester Services, Gloucestershire County Council with Gloucester Academy students and staff team. This year we joined forces with a new supplier Hetty’s Kitchen to develop a new brownie to go on sale at the service station on the M5.
If your passing, go treat yourself to a fudgey gooey speciality!
Limited Edition 1 & 2 Hobbs House Bakery
Four budding producers got the chance to create a brand new product, which is now on sale at the award-winning Gloucester Services. The Limited Edition Milk Loaf with Fenugreek, was created by aspiring food producers from our local communities, and baked by our friends at Hobbs House Bakery.
The project is part of the Limited Edition business skills course expertly delivered by Charlie from The Engine. The previous team Charlie worked with were the pioneers of this great programme working with Hobbs House to create the GEM Scone that remains on the wholesale list of products at Hobbs House to this day.
“Enterprising People” with Rednock School
We are developing an Enterprising Project with Rednock School, based around Personal Development with Year 12 students, and we have hosted a workshop at the school to start the ball rolling.
We were also happy to host a work experience placement in June 2023: “It sounds like it was a very successful week….. which will stand her well in the future.”
More news to follow - watch this space!
2024 a new source for a sauce
A team of talented students from Gloucester Academy have reached the pinnacle of months of hard work. They presented two mouth-watering sauces they’ve created as part of an exclusive Limited Edition course, skillfully run by our very own Charlie, to a distinguished panel. The panel included Gloucestershire Gateway Trust, Tubby Tom’s & Gloucester Services.
The winning sauce ‘Smokin Beets’ has now gone into production at Tubby Tom’s and will soon grace the shelves of Gloucester Services Farm shops as a limited edition.
The Limited Edition course, a collaborative effort between Gloucestershire Gateway Trust and Gloucester Services, provides aspiring food producers with a unique opportunity. Through hands-on experience, they learn how to create and launch their own products.
HUGE thanks to Tom for generously sharing his time and passion with us during this exciting Limited Edition project. UPDATE - you can still purchase this bottle of yumminess at selected outlets!
“Thank you for today, it’s given them lots to talk about for their assignment.”
“Thank you so much for today, I know it’s great for them to get other people to talk to them and they appreciate it”
