HIRING: Freelance Web Developer & Graphic Designer (Gloucestershire Based)
Help build and design The Uplift - a new independent, solutions-focused digital news platform launching in Cheltenham & Gloucester.
Good afternoon, Substackers!
If you are new to the Move Mountains Media Substack, then welcome. It was originally a journalism, social media, and communications job blast, but then life got on top of me, and I let it slip. So now I use it occasionally to update my loyal 65 subscribers on what I’m up to.
In this edition, I have some really exciting news to share. As opposed to listing other people’s jobs... I’m listing my own!
I’ll start by sharing what I’ve been up to for the last few months that has led me to being able to open up these opportunities.
Back in early June, I was encouraged by my lead lecturer at the University of Central Lancashire, where I’m studying for a PGcert in Journalism, Innovation and Leadership, to follow up on my goals and dreams to launch my own news platform in the area I love and live in.
This kicked off a two-month journey of researching, building, and refining a business plan for The Uplift, a brand-new, hyper-local news platform built specifically for our region, designed to scale.
I’ve always wanted to do things a little differently when it comes to local media. I’m in awe of the regional and national journalists I’ve worked with; they work incredibly hard under strict constraints.
But since losing my job in October 2025, finding work has been tough. So many talented journalists are out of work through no fault of their own, and the market is wildly oversaturated. To be totally honest, I was at the end of my tether.
I realised I needed to build something I was genuinely passionate about.
If nobody else was going to hire me, I’d build the outlet myself.
Thanks to the mentorship of my lecturer, François Nel, and startup advisor Craig Lawrenson, I now have the backing to make it happen.
I am thrilled to share that I have secured competitive seed funding through a Santander start-up grant, supported by the University of Central Lancashire!
Which brings me to the sell: I’m hiring!
I am initially looking for two local freelancers to join the launch team: a Freelance Web Developer and a Freelance Graphic Designer.
Full details, budgets, and application instructions are below.
Even if these roles aren’t for you, sending this post to any Gloucestershire-based tech or creatives would mean the world to me!
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We’re hiring! (Gloucestershire Based)
Location requirement: Gloucestershire Applicants Only
Because The Uplift is a community-first, independent news site built on local trust, we are strictly seeking freelancers based in Gloucestershire (Cheltenham, Gloucester, or surrounding local areas). Please do not apply if you are located outside the county.
Role 1: Freelance Web Developer
About the Role:
The Uplift UK is a funded, independent, solutions-focused digital news platform launching in Gloucestershire before scaling across the South West. We are building a modern, fast, mobile-first alternative to local press.
An experienced web developer is needed to customise a premium Ghost theme, configure regional news routing (splitting news between Cheltenham and Gloucester, with scope to expand across Gloucestershire and the broader South West in future years), and set up integrated sponsor ad slots and voluntary membership workflows.
Fixed Fee: £1,200 (Website Development)
Payment Structure: Paid via milestone instalments (e.g., 30% upfront on project start, 30% upon initial theme/routing setup, 40% upon final sign-off and site launch).
Scope of Work:
Theme Customisation & Setup: Customise a premium Ghost news/magazine theme using our brand guidelines (colours, typography, responsive headers, logo assets).
Regional Routing (
routes.yaml): Configure dynamic collections and custom landing pages for geographical sections (e.g.,/cheltenham/,/gloucester/) alongside core topic categories, styled like mini-BBC regional hubs.Ad Banner Architecture: Build responsive, fast-loading direct sponsor ad slots (Leaderboard, In-Article, Sidebar) with light JavaScript logic for banner rotation/cycling.
Contextual Ad Logic: Enable basic tag-based ad matching (e.g., displaying local green business ads automatically on Environment articles).
Voluntary Memberships: Configure Ghost’s native Stripe integration for “pay-what-you-want” or tiered voluntary subscriptions—with 100% open access and zero paywalls.
SEO & Analytics: Configure custom domain, SSL, site performance optimisation (Core Web Vitals), and privacy-friendly analytics integration (e.g., Plausible or GA4).
Infrastructure & Hosting Setup: Assist with setting up the hosting environment (e.g., Magic Pages or Ghost Pro), connecting our custom domain/DNS, and installing the chosen theme.
Skills & Requirements:
Essential: Demonstrated, hands-on experience building and customising Ghost CMS websites (
routes.yaml, Handlebars.js, CSS/HTML). Deep understanding of mobile-first performance, page speed, and editorial layouts.Desirable: Prior experience building digital publishing/media sites; knowledge of light JavaScript for ad rotation.
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Role 2: Freelance Graphic Designer
About the Role:
We need a creative, digital-first graphic designer to build the visual brand identity, digital design guidelines, and launch templates for The Uplift across web and social media.
Fixed Fee: £500 (Brand Identity & Launch Package)
Payment Structure: Paid via milestone instalments (e.g., 50% upfront on concept approval, 50% upon final asset handoff).
Scope of Work:
Brand Identity & Logo Suite: Primary publication logo (The Uplift), responsive variants for mobile headers, favicons, and social app icons.
Brand Guidelines: Accessible digital colour palette (high-contrast for web reading), typography hierarchy, and visual usage rules.
Sponsor Ad Banner Templates: Blank design templates for local sponsor ad banners (Leaderboard
728x90, In-Article300x250, Billboard970x250).Social & Editorial Kit: Profile/header graphics for social channels plus 2–3 editable Canva templates for editorial quotes and story promotion.
Skills & Requirements:
Essential: Proven portfolio in visual brand identity, publication design, or digital media. Expertise in Adobe Creative Cloud or Figma with an understanding of web accessibility. Ability to deliver editable templates in Canva.
Desirable: Experience designing for news outlets, magazines, or digital content platforms.
Why Work With Us?
The Uplift is dedicated to high-quality, community-first journalism. Working on this launch gives you complete creative ownership over a high-visibility local build—whether that’s shaping the tech architecture from scratch or crafting the visual identity that defines our brand across Gloucestershire.
You’ll get direct collaboration with the founder, prompt milestone payments, full credit for a standout portfolio piece, and the chance to help shape a brand-new media outlet right on your doorstep.
How to Apply
To apply, please email editor@theupliftnews.co.uk with the subject line:
[Role Title] Application - [Your Name]
(e.g., “Web Developer Application - Jane Doe” or “Graphic Designer Application - John Smith”)
A quick note on applying:
No formal CVs or corporate cover letters required. There are no AI scanners or automated filters here—just me, a human founder, reading every application.
All I need in your email is:
A brief introduction highlighting your Gloucestershire location or local connection.
A link to your portfolio or 2–3 live links/examples of past work.
Your estimated timeline to complete the project.
🛎️ 🗓️ Applications close: Sunday, 9th August at 11:59 PM.
Thank you for your time, and I hope to connect soon!
Kindest, Z