This group will bring together those working across Oxfordshire in the impact food and drink sector to share ideas and challenges.

About this Event
What can I expect from the peer to peer Group?

From sustainable food products to alternative employment models, supply-chain innovation to alternative farming methods, the food and drink sector has long had a reputation for disrupting business as usual. It is also a sector facing some of the biggest challenges as a result of the pandemic, but also embracing some of the most exciting opportunities.

This group will bring together individuals working across Oxfordshire in the impact food and drink sector. The facilitated sessions will enable participants to share their ideas and challenges in a confidential setting. The sessions will focus on knowledge-sharing, problem-solving and exploring new connections and collaborations.

The content of the sessions will ultimately be determined by the group but could include areas such as:

– Procurement of ‘good’ food: how can social enterprises and mission-driven food businesses sell in to more public and private venues?

– Food justice – how can Oxfordshire’s food and drink community help deliver better food security at a time of increased food poverty?

– How can the sector work together better? From buying groups to cross-promotion?

– How to escape from mission tunnel-vision to gain a more holistic zoomed out view of doing ethical food and drink – learning from enterprises with a different focus, whether by drilling down into supply chains or looking at employment practices and wider social impacts.

Who is it for?

This peer group is for anyone working in the food and drink sector in Oxfordshire, from production, to retail, catering and hospitality, as well as food education and distribution.

The agenda is set by the group. The context is supporting peers to develop new ways of working and building knowledge and skills to expand and develop your business or organisation’s impact.

Why participate?

Participating in a peer group can help you gain fresh perspectives, inspire new ideas and change habits of thinking. It can also help you form new contacts, build networks and gain valuable professional and personal support from a team of like-minded peers.

The group is a place to try out new ideas before they are fully formed, and to share your difficulties as well as celebrate successes.

How will the peer group work?

This will be a small group of around 8 – 10 successful applicants. Spaces are limited in order to maximise the benefit for those participating. Applicants will be required to complete a short questionnaire to help assess suitability and compatibility. You may receive a phone call as part of the application process.

Dates & Structure

There will be six 2.5 hour sessions from February to April 2021.

This group will begin online via Zoom but may move to face-to-face meetings held at Tap Social, Oxford, OX2 0LX, if current restrictions are eased and all members of the group are willing to meet face to face. You must be able to attend all 6 sessions.

Dates: 10th February, 24th February, 10th March, 24th March, 31st March, 21st April

Times: 6 pm to 8.30 pm

Facilitators

Paul Humpherson, Co-Founder – Tap Social Movement

As well as co-founder of the Tap Social Movement, Paul is a practicing criminal barrister and visiting fellow in law and criminology at the University of Oxford.

Started in 2016, Tap is an award-winning craft brewery, events and hospitality business, which grew out of a passion for great beer and social justice. It provides training and employment to people serving and recently released from prison sentences to assist in effective rehabilitation and seeks to champion the cause of inclusive employment in the hospitality industry.

Ashley Cavers, Co-Founder – The Wonky Food Company

As well as programme manager for eScalate, Ashley is co-founder of The Wonky Food Company, which makes products from imperfect and surplus fruit and vegetables.

Ashley is also a business adviser with OxLEP, specialising in marketing, story-telling and network-building. She previously spent twenty years working in media, PR and communications.

For more information about the eScalate programme, visit www.oxfordshirelep.com/escalate