Only A Pavement Away, the hospitality sector charity aiding prison leavers, veterans and those facing homelessness find employment in the hospitality sector, has announced UK premium spirits distributor Speciality Brands has agreed to a 2-year partnership as a Primary Partner for the charity.

Having already launched activities with Only A Pavement Away this year, Speciality Brands has now committed to working even more closely with the hospitality charity moving forward, providing strategic input and delivering fundraising initiatives including donations and members of the team taking part in the charities’ various activities in 2023.

These vital resources have allowed Only A Pavement Away to grow its coaching offer by bringing in a new employment development coach Will Andrews, to help facilitate the charity to get even more members ‘job ready,’ providing tailored support during the recruitment process to ensure that prison leavers, veterans and those facing homelessness have the resources they need to find fulfilling, long term employment in the hospitality industry, and necessary assistance throughout their career.

Dolores Panetier, Only A Pavement Away’s Head of Employment Partnerships said, "The role of the Development Coach is to prepare our candidates for interviews through 1-to-1 sessions and workshops, and keep in touch with them once in employment. Will’s impact has been phenomenal in boosting our candidates’ confidence and skills to get them ready to start and sustain their new job. Since Will started, Only A Pavement Away has supported 67 people into sustainable careers within the hospitality industry."

The Partnership with Only A Pavement Away is a core tenant of Speciality Brands’ approach to purpose with members of the team acting as ambassadors for the charity by raising awareness with their customer base and volunteering in Only A Pavement Away campaigns throughout the year to raise further funds.

Chris Seale, Speciality Brands’ MD says “Only A Pavement Away’s mission to support people who have faced homelessness getting into hospitality jobs has resonated immensely with us. We’re really proud that our involvement has already made a difference for the charity with the appointment of Will – and more importantly for its members. Our team has wholeheartedly taken part in various actions throughout 2022 and we’ll continue to support and raise awareness of the charity as much as we can next year.” 

Increasing the number of corporate partners, like Speciality Brands, is a primary ambition of the charity which this Autumn laid out a bold 5-year strategy to expand and scale up its programme to operate in every major city/town in the UK and place 1,000 people back into employment by June 2024. 

Greg Mangham, CEO & Founder of Only A Pavement Away, says “We’re thrilled that Speciality Brands are committed to help us achieve our strategic goals over the next 2 years. The funding they have already provided has made a huge difference to the charity, allowing us to recruit a much-needed permanent employment development coach. Formalising this partnership with Speciality Brands will be crucial in ensuring we are able to provide all necessary resources to help our members secure sustainable employment and support them as they develop in the hospitality industry. We are determined to help significantly more prison leavers, veterans and people facing homelessness find stability through employment as the charity grows, and support from corporate partners such as Speciality Brands is vital for us to do this. A massive thanks to the team at Speciality Brands.”

Only A Pavement Away is seeking further hospitality partners interested in supporting the charity as part of its commitment to help people facing homelessness, prison leavers and veterans develop life skills, become job ready and provide them with a direct route into employment.

For further information, visit www.onlyapavementaway.co.uk

 

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To find out more or enquire about becoming an Only A Pavement Away Charity Partner, please contact Karen Wallin Head of Marketing & Fundraising karenwallin@onlyapavementaway.co.uk

Notes to editors:

About Only A Pavement Away:

Only A Pavement Away was established by hospitality industry consultant, Greg Mangham & his wife Gill, on World Homeless Day, 10th October 2018, to help those facing homelessness, prison leavers and veterans, find employment in the hospitality industry. Its bespoke hospitality Jobs Board - which is free of charge - has been developed to help streamline and alleviate the burden of the processes that employers go through in employing people who are struggling to reconnect with society. To date, the charity has placed 270 people into work, adding an approximate value of £5m to the economy through reduced government support, financial independence and household expenditure. It has ambitious plans in place to support a further 1,000 people - who are either experiencing or at risk of homelessness - into work over the next 5 years. www.onlyapavementaway.co.uk

 

About Speciality Brands:

Speciality Brands is a premium drinks agency representing some of the world’s finest spirits, including Nikka, Kavalan, Michter’s, Diplomático, Cocchi, Black Tot rum and Tapatio. A dedicated team of well-respected drinks industry personalities including award-winning mixologists, top brand ambassadors, experienced account managers and marketing experts is led by Managing Director Chris Seale. The agency’s passion is delivering first class products, in-depth educational trainings and impeccable service levels to the premium on-trade and retail sectors.

https://specialitybrands.com/