ROUS+

Working with Britain's best businesses in luxury, education, motoring, charity and sustainability.

24/06/2026

According to a new study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, taking 5 minutes "movement snacks" every hour is the best way to boost wellbeing at work without losing productivity.

Fortunately, being based in a World Heritage Site, that's something we're only too happy to do.

17/06/2026

📣 Mainstream media still matters.

Yesterday, we talked about the Reuters Institute's report in declining trust in the news. So if that's the case, why should being seen in the press matter?

Because the way people are finding out about you and your business is changing. Today people are as likely to turn to ChatGPT for answers as they are to 'just Google it'. AEO (Answer Engine Optimisation) is becoming every bit as important as SEO (Search Engine Optimisation).

And when people ask AI tools:
💬 “Who’s the best company in this space?”
💬 “Can I trust this company?”
💬 “What does this brand actually do?”

…the answers are often informed by information available from across the web, including independent reporting and other public sources.

That means a feature in a major publication isn’t only about reaching readers anymore.

It also contributes to the wider public record that helps shape how your brand is described and discovered.

In 2026, good PR isn’t just about publicity. It’s about building a credible digital footprint to get you noticed in the place where people are looking.

16/06/2026

Trust in the news has fallen to an all-time low globally - the lowest since annual reports by the Reuters Institute began more than a decade ago.

Why is that? It appears to be down to the way news is consumed, as more people look to social media and video networks rather than traditional news websites and apps (it's one of the reasons we work with our clients to ensure they get their visuals right - these are becoming just as important as the words that accompany them).

BUT here's the thing...trust in the most widely used news brands IS holding up - and doing better than trust in the news overall.

That's why, despite all the developments in the industry over the years, we always come back to our little black book - building relationships with the journalists and titles that people DO trust.

But when people no longer trust everything they see and hear, businesses and PR teams can't rely on headlines alone to build credibility.

Instead:

🔎 Lead with evidence, not spin.

🔨 Be transparent about mistakes and how you're fixing them.

👷‍♀️ Put experts and frontline voices ahead of executives.

📈 Publish data and methodology where possible.

📰 Build relationships with niche and local communities, not just national media.

🎯 Stay consistent - trust is earned through repeated actions, not one campaign.

In a sceptical world, authenticity becomes a competitive advantage.

11/06/2026

It's almost time for one of the biggest sporting events on the planet - the men's football World Cup. But here's the thing - most brands get major sporting events like this wrong.

They see the World Cup and think:
"Let's post a football graphic."

But audiences don't engage with events, they engage with relevance.

The brands that win are the ones that answer the questions:

- Why does this matter to our customers?

- What unique perspective can we offer?

- What are people talking about?

A restaurant can own match-day dining.

A travel brand can own fan journeys.

A fintech can own spending trends.

Don't chase the event. Find the angle.

Take a look at our tips on how to make the most out of the World Cup, whether it's coming home or not...

09/06/2026

We said there had been some great coverage of last week's HYKIT launch - and here is just some of it.

National coverage ✔
Sector press ✔
Regional news ✔

Through a combination of one-to-one interviews and targeted press releases, we reached almost 350,000 people, securing over £17,000 worth over coverage (so far!)

Find out what we can do for you - email [email protected]

04/06/2026

Busy, but excellent day in Oxfordshire yesterday for the launch of green pioneer Jo Bamford's latest venture HYKIT.

A joint venture between Jo's HydraB group of companies, construction giant JCB, and investment firm HyCap, HYKIT has developed a purpose built factory in Bicester, creating 30 high-skilled jobs in the process.

And it was a timely launch with the CBI revealing the impact and potential of the green economy:

💷 The net zero economy, is worth more than £100bn a year.

➕ For every £1 in value generated, an additional £1.85 in wider economic activity is generated.

📈 Higher wages for net zero workers, with the average over £43,000 – 11% higher than the national average of £39,000.

👩‍💻 Over 300,000 people employed directly in net zero businesses, but when supply chains and related businesses are taken into account, this reaches 1.1m.

The launch marks another major step in HydraB's wider hydrogen strategy. The group owns a growing portfolio of clean energy businesses including world-leading zero-emission bus manufacturer Wrightbus, hydrogen distributor Ryze Power and hydrogen producer Hygen Energy.

Some great coverage from the event already - and more to come.

21/05/2026

The team at School of Coding is having quite the month. Two week. Two major announcements.

First, the news that SoC is looking to create up to 1,000 jobs over the next five years at it continues to expand at pace.

That was followed this week by the announcement of a partnership with Harper Adams University to bring a new city hub to Birmingham.

One of the biggest rules in PR is don’t speak just to fill space; speak when you have something to say.

The best coverage rarely comes from being the loudest one in the room. It comes from having a clear story, real momentum, and something meaningful to share.

Strong PR is built on timing, substance, and consistency, not constant noise.

14/05/2026

The boss Nathan Rous had the privilege of getting up close and personal with the incredible JCB Hydromax, which in August will take to the famous Utah salt flats aiming to set a land speed record for hydrogen with speeds of over 350mph.

AT ROUS+ we've worked with the Bamford family for over seven years on a variety of products and launches, from zero-emission buses (including the world's first hydrogen double decker) through to pothole repairers that drastically reduce roadwork times.

Never content with the status quo, their push to be the best is inspirational.

We can't wait to see this beast in action in August.

12/05/2026

What a fab story - more than 320 pupils and their families have taken part in a 5k colour run to support a fellow student with cystic fibrosis, raising £1,700.

Wycliffe College first staged the 5km run in 2023 as boys at the school looked for ways to add more sporting challenges to their calendar. It has grown ever since, and now acts as a way to support worthwhile causes.

A great story, accompanied by some super imagery ensured some great coverage.

07/05/2026

Car blimey! (No? Please yourself!)

It's been some week for BOTB with media coverage of four of the latest winners.

Press up and down the country have shared the news of winners Mark Wright, Darren Bayliss, Helen Atkinson, and Cosmin Tugui, who have landed themselves a Ford Ranger Raptor, Porche 718 Cayman GT4, Mini Cooper S Sport, and a Audi RS6 respectively.

We absolutely love talking to the winners and hearing the difference these prizes make to their lives.

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