SCALE served a truly inspiring scaleup story - on a plate

This week, members of the SCALE team travelled to Oxford to meet the three co-founders of Tap Social Movement, the brewery and bakehouse transforming the lives of people currently serving, or recently released from, prison sentences.

Between bites of freshly baked croissant, SCALE’s Chairman Andrew Morris and Communications Director Amy Knight asked Paul Humpherson, his wife Amy Taylor, and her sister Tess Taylor about the Tap Social story and whether illegitimate business experience can be put to positive use.

Eight years ago, Tap Social grew out of Tess Taylor’s experience managing craft beer bars, combined with barrister Paul’s and former MOJ policy advisor Amy’s experience working within the criminal justice system.

Hospitality has proven to be a good fit, and Social Proof Bakehouse is a place that hums with purpose. On our visit, on a drizzly Thursday morning, the space was buzzing with happy customers of all ages: old friends catching up, remote workers with their laptops, mums and babies, all enjoying the bakes and beverages on offer.

Their fifth venue, Day Release, will open early next year on Oxford’s largest business park. It will serve a range of pizzas and salads as well as the artisan coffee and Bakehouse pastries the team are rightly proud of.

The quality of the food and drink on offer is extremely high. So good, in fact, that Waitrose now lists Tap Social’s beer in all 228 of its supermarkets. “We want people to buy our product because it’s good, not because it’s a charity case,” said Paul. Food critics are taking notice. 

Customer service isn’t compromised either. It’s a quality that Assistant Manager Mark,* who spent 16 years in prison, describes as his number one strength.

“It’s a busy and successful business and expectations are high,” said Paul. “Mark has earned his management position. He’s great in a front-of-house role, and customers ask for him all the time.”

Alongside three years of continuous employment at Social Proof Bakehouse, Mark  managed to study business and management with Oxford Brookes University during the latter part of his sentence.

Combining his love of fitness with his “entrepreneurial side,” Mark has already dabbled in businesses of his own. He created a sustainable streetwear brand, learned about e-commerce and dropshipping, and has developed plans for a fitness app. However, without access to capital, he’s unsure whether his ideas have a future.

“Coaching could help turn these ideas and this entrepreneurial potential into a viable enterprise,” said Andrew Morris, who heads up SCALE Ventures.

Why it works 

Employment and economic security, combined with housing and community, are three vital support structures on which self-esteem can be (re)built.

Many people coming out of the criminal justice system have entrepreneurial skills and ambitions like Mark. Nurturing and channelling these in the right direction is a key part of how Tap Social develops its people. They recruit highly talented staff (including Michelin star chefs) into senior roles, who then train up prison leavers to an impressive standard.

“People putting real faith in you – that’s the thing that’s been missing in their lives. We give them the belief that there is opportunity for them in the legitimate business world.” - Amy Taylor

Taking a chance on former offenders sometimes comes with sleepless nights, and the level of responsibility afforded to Tap Social employees can raise eyebrows. “We give people a key to the building within a few months. Putting our trust in them and giving them that responsibility is massive,” said Tess.

Second chances 

Some of the prison leavers Tap Social employs are highly skilled and qualified before they end up inside.

“Businesses get a huge discount on what that person would be worth in the labour market if they're prepared to look past their conviction. If you’re willing to take a risk on someone, there’s a lot of reward.” - Paul Humpherson

James* emerged from the bakery and extended a flour covered hand, before telling us how he had trained as a chef before he “took a wrong turn” and got caught up in drugs and violence.

It took 18 months of group therapy at HMP Grendon, at the end of a lengthy sentence, for him to “work through all the issues” he had struggled with since childhood. When Tap Social advertised a role in 2020, James applied and was successful at the interview. 

“I was chomping at the bit to use my skills,” he told us. “I knew that if I went back to [his home town] I’d fall back into what I did before. So I wanted to move to Oxford.”

James now has ambitions to set up a mentorship programme to help more ex-offenders get a second chance. 

Community is key

Tap Social is a mission-focused brand working to get employment for prison leavers higher up the national agenda. They walk the talk, providing more than 100,000 hours of paid employment for people in prison or recently released from prison to date.

Amy described how Tap Social team members frequently ask to stay on in their roles once their sentence has ended, for the continuity and community their job provides.

“Getting into a rhythm of going to work avoids that ‘cliff edge’ feeling many prison leavers experience on release.” - Amy Taylor