More than food

The coronavirus pandemic has had a profound impact on all of our lives, risking not least our health, but also our lifestyles, work and mental wellbeing. Now more than ever we need bright ideas that will rebuild our communities and support those most affected by Covid-19.

Ideas like Fat Macy’s – the social enterprise caterer and member of the Investec Beyond Business alumni, who have cleverly adapted their business to continue running during lockdown, while also supporting key workers.

Usually, Fat Macy’s serve delicious home cooked food and experiences at supper clubs, events and offices across London. They use their profits to train and support young Londoners living in temporary accommodation and help them move into their own homes.

In the wake of coronavirus restrictions, Fat Macy’s have taken on an even more ambitious social mission. By moving their restaurant online, people are able to order dine-in meals, hampers and freshly baked delights. They also redeployed their catering resources to support the NHS, and have already provided hundreds of meals to front-line staff.

Founder Meg Doherty feels strongly about their role.

“Supporting young Londoners to get back on their feet has shown us that creating a tight-knit, loving community is an essential part of preparing individuals to overcome adversity. It’s really important that we are able to share the work we’re doing to widen our impact”.

Meg hopes to increase their support to reach more vulnerable Londoners in the near future.

Do you have an idea for a social enterprise? Investec Beyond Business has extended its deadline for applications to capture enterprising ideas conceived in response to the current crisis.

Find out more about the programme. Applications close at 5pm on 30th October 2020.