Happy with using gmail, but would really like a "return receipt'

[Icedcakeandflower]

so I know my email has been read.

Is there an easy way of achieving this, or should I be looking at another provider?

I doubt many of the online services offer either "read receipt" or "return receipt" options. GMail offers only "read" receipts to (paying) business customers.

You can turn on Return receipts in the Thunderbird mail client (since I don't know if you are using a Mac or Windows system, and I think Thunderbird is available for those and Linux), and then you'd need to use the SMTP settings for GMail within Thunderbird to transmit the e-mail via their servers.

requesting receipt in Thunderbird

GMail SMTP settings

Some software will prompt the recipient as to whether they want to acknowledge receipt, which can be considered intrusive, but it may be the case mostly for read receipts, rather than return receipts.

I've not tested whether the SMTP settings for GMail are correct, but from some time ago, they certainly look right. Good luck!

Thank you for your detailed reply! I will take a closer look when I'm not on my phone.

... but there is not much point asking for receipts as the receipient can simply turn them off - by default most email clients are set to ask each time. Forced receipts only work in a closed Microsoft Exchange/Outlook network, as soon as the message hits the internet this "functionality" no longer exists.