Greggs, a leading food-on-the-go operator in the UK, today announces it has launched a new partnership with Only A Pavement Away as National Inclusion Week gets underway (27 September to 3 October 2021).

Through the partnership, Greggs will work closely with Only a Pavement Away to bring more people that are at risk of homelessness into secure and sustainable employment and help them to rebuild their lives.

Only A Pavement Away is a charity that supports employment of people facing homelessness within the hospitality industry, acting as a conduit to employment and helping people that struggle to get into work, and ultimately transform lives though careers in hospitality. By 2024 the charity aims to create more than 700 jobs within the hospitality sector for individuals facing homelessness, prison leavers and veterans.

Greggs already runs a number of initiatives and schemes aimed at supporting diversity and inclusivity in the workplace, and create opportunities for current and new colleagues, including:

• Fresh Start programme – a programme aimed at recruiting people with convictions from prison or probation.
• Workfit - working with the Down’s Syndrome Association’s employment programme to provide sustainable employment for candidates.
• BITC Refugee - partnered with Business in the Community (BITC) to offer employment training and permanent roles for refugee workers.
• Shaw Trust – running cohorts of virtual employability workshops which support disabled and disadvantaged individuals into employment and independent living.
• Signatories of The Armed Forces Covenant and partners with Forces Families - We recognise the value of serving personnel, reservists, veterans and military families by working alongside Forces Families to offer sustainable employment within Greggs.
• EFFRR – Greggs is a member, and Roisin Currie, People and Retail Director is Chair of the Employers Forum for Reducing Reoffending (EFFRR), a group of businesses committed to employing people with convictions with the aim of assisting in the reduction of people reoffending due to lack of employment.

Greggs’ latest partnership with Only A Pavement Away along with its numerous initiatives, that aim to support diversity and inclusion, form part of the Company’s wider sustainability plan ‘The Greggs Pledge’. Greggs is committed to embracing diversity and ensuring that there are no barriers that might prevent colleagues from growing a successful career within the business. Greggs signed up to the National Equality Standard in 2017 and renewed its commitment in 2020. By 2025, Greggs aims for its workforce to reflect the communities in which it serves.

Roisin Currie, People and Retail Director, at Greggs, said:
“Diversity and inclusivity is a hugely important part of our values at Greggs, both as a business and a much-loved brand. We want to ensure that we do our part in supporting this and are delighted to announce our new partnership with Only A Pavement Away which will enable us to provide further support to people facing homelessness and those in need.
“We’ve a long-standing history of working with people from disadvantaged backgrounds. At Greggs, we believe that by not overlooking any potential employees because of their past, we can select the right person and develop them to their full potential. The passion and energy for work that comes from people who are given an opportunity to kick-start their careers, or to turn their lives around is clear for all to see and as a business, we feel extremely motivated to do all we can to give these people a fresh start.”

Greg Mangham, Chief Executive at Only A Pavement Away, said:
"I am delighted that Greggs have decided to become an Employer partner with us.  This is another great step forward for Only A Pavement Away as the Greggs’ culture and ethos in helping people rebuild their lives mirrors our own beliefs and strategy. Yet another pathway open to our members in a company that puts its team first."