Only A Pavement Away
Only A Pavement Away is a UK charity that connects hospitality employers with people facing homelessness, prison leavers, and veterans through a dedicated jobs board and wraparound employment support, placing candidates via 100+ employer and charity partner networks.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Only A Pavement Away does
Only A Pavement Away (OAPA) is a UK Charitable Incorporated Organisation founded in 2018 by CEO Greg Mangham and co-founder Gill to address homelessness, prison-leaver reintegration, and veteran unemployment by placing vulnerable individuals into long-term hospitality roles. The organization operates a two-sided intermediary model: charity and referral partners (Crisis, Centrepoint, St Mungo's, Clink Charity, Forces Employment Charity, the Department for Work and Pensions, and the Ministry of Justice, among 100+) supply pre-screened candidates, while 100+ hospitality employer partners — including Hilton, Greene King, Stonegate Group, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Nando's, Fullers, Pret, and Young's — list vacancies. Since founding, OAPA has placed 795 individuals into employment and publicly targets 5,000 placements per year by 2030.
The technology layer is a dedicated jobs board platform (jobboard.onlyapavementaway.co.uk) that enables employer vacancy postings, candidate applications by category (kitchen, front of house, administration, management), and location/job-type filtering, supported by a main charity website, a podcast (Hospitality Against Homelessness), and an annual flagship fundraising event called Cook & Dine. Integrations are limited to standard off-the-shelf tools: JustGiving for donations, Shopify for the online shop, Google Analytics, and Facebook Tracking Pixel. The organization does not provide an API, SDK, or mobile application, and there is no disclosed AI/ML capability.
OAPA's revenue model is donations and philanthropy-based: individual giving (one-off and recurring), corporate donations, event fundraising (Cook & Dine raised £73,741 in 2025), and recurring grants from the Hilton Global Foundation (2022, 2023, 2024). The charity states that 85p of every £1 donated goes directly to supporting members into work and aftercare. There is no charge to job seekers or employers; employer and charity engagement is partnership-driven rather than transactional. The organization is UK-only and does not transfer data internationally.
Only A Pavement Away firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Only A Pavement Away
- Legal name
- Only A Pavement Away CIO
- Website
- https://onlyapavementaway.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Only A Pavement Away is a UK charity that connects hospitality employers with people facing homelessness, prison leavers, and veterans through a dedicated jobs board and wraparound employment support, placing candidates via 100+ employer and charity partner networks.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Only A Pavement Away industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Charitable Employment Services
- NAICS
- Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)
Keywords
Where Only A Pavement Away is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Only A Pavement Away business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Fundraising: Only A Pavement Away generates revenue through individual donations (one-off and recurring), corporate donations, and event fundraising. The charity also offers text-to-donate options and accepts online banking transfers. Corporate sponsors support events like Cook & Dine.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Monthly | Donation-based funding model |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Only A Pavement Away product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Only A Pavement Away is a UK-registered charity (CIO) founded in 2018 that connects hospitality employers with vulnerable individuals — people facing homelessness, prison leavers, and veterans — to place them into long-term, stable employment. The charity operates a dedicated jobs board platform (jobboard.onlyapavementaway.co.uk), runs an employment programme with wraparound support (job matching, training, and aftercare), and works through a network of 100+ employer partners and 100+ charity/referral partners.
Product overview
Only A Pavement Away operates as a charity organization with two primary digital platforms: a main charity website for outreach, donations, and partner engagement, and a dedicated Jobs Board connecting hospitality employers with vulnerable job seekers. The organization supplements its digital offerings with flagship fundraising events like Cook & Dine, and provides an employment programme that offers wraparound support services to help individuals rebuild their lives through sustainable hospitality employment. The vision is to support 5,000 individuals each year by 2030 through employment opportunities, financial support, and tailored learning and development.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- OAPA Jobs Board
Quantifiable outcome
- 795 individuals placed into employment since 2018
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Only A Pavement Away
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Only A Pavement Away technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature1 record
Only A Pavement Away partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
26 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, supporting and core.
- Tom Aikens (Patron)flagshipCelebrity chef and patron of Only A Pavement Away, supporting the charity's mission and events.
- The Waldorf HiltonsupportingHosted Cook & Dine 2025 event, the charity's largest annual fundraiser.
- BidfoodsupportingFood wholesaler and event sponsor for Cook & Dine 2025.
- HIT TrainingsupportingHospitality training provider and event sponsor for Cook & Dine 2025.
- SonasupportingHospitality industry partner and event sponsor for Cook & Dine 2025.
- Greene KingcoreLeading pub operator and brewer providing employment opportunities for OAPA candidates. One of the key employer partners supporting the charity's mission to place homeless individuals, prison leavers, and veterans into hospitality roles.
- HiltoncoreGlobal hotel chain providing employment opportunities for OAPA candidates through their UK properties.
- Stonegate GroupcoreOne of the largest pub companies in the UK providing job opportunities for vulnerable candidates referred through OAPA.
- IHG Hotels & ResortscoreInternational hotel company FTSE 100 offering positions across their UK portfolio to OAPA candidates.
- Caterer.comsupportingEvent partner for Cook & Dine 2025, supporting the annual fundraising event.
- CrisiscoreNational charity for homeless people referring members to OAPA's employment program. Employment Services Manager Dulal Ahmed: 'Through collaborative working, OAPA has opened up a range of roles within the hospitality sector which provide homeless members the opportunity to go back into work and take a step forward in ending their homelessness.'
- CentrepointcoreUK's leading youth homelessness charity providing accommodation, health support and life skills to help homeless young people aged 16-25 get into education, training and employment.
- St Mungo'scoreCharity working to end homelessness, referring clients to OAPA for employment support.
- Clink CharitycoreUnique charity training serving prisoners in catering and horticultural skills, with extensive post-release support. Helps prison leavers transition into hospitality employment through OAPA.
- Forces Employment CharitycoreProvides life-long, life-changing support, jobs and training opportunities to Service leavers, veterans, reservists and their families regardless of circumstances.
- Walking With The WoundedcoreSupports vulnerable veterans to re-integrate back into society and sustain independence through employment. Part of the charity referral network.
- StollsupportingLeading provider of supported housing for vulnerable and disabled Veterans, referring veterans to OAPA's employment program.
- Caritas Anchor HousesupportingResidential and life skills centre for single homeless adults in Newham, supporting residents through their Aspirations Programme and referring to OAPA for employment.
- Help for HeroessupportingCharity supporting veterans with physical, mental or social disadvantages from military service, referring to OAPA for employment pathways.
- Nando'scoreRestaurant chain providing employment opportunities for OAPA candidates.
- FullerscorePub and hotel operator with over 200 managed pubs across London and southern England, hiring OAPA candidates.
- PretsupportingCoffee and food retailer offering employment opportunities.
- AsahisupportingBeverage company and event sponsor for Cook & Dine 2025.
- The Corbett NetworksupportingNetwork of 45 rehabilitation charities providing jobs for ex-offenders. Lady Val Corbett: 'Only A Pavement Away goes further by concentrating on the homeless and former veterans as well as ex-offenders.'
- Department for Work and PensionscoreGovernment department working with employers and ex-offenders within local prisons to match skills to employment opportunities.
- Ministry of JusticecoreGovernment department supporting prison leavers' transition to employment through OAPA.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Only A Pavement Away competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- The Clink Charity: UK charity training prisoners in catering and horticultural skills, with extensive post-release support and a network of training restaurants. Direct sector peer — prison leavers into hospitality employment, overlapping with two of OAPA's three beneficiary segments.
- Switchback: UK charity helping prison leavers sustain employment through one-to-one mentoring and real-job experience. Direct peer in the prison-leaver employment pathway, though Switchback is sector-agnostic while OAPA focuses on hospitality.
- Walking With The Wounded: UK charity supporting vulnerable veterans to reintegrate into civilian life through employment pathways. Direct peer in the veteran employment segment, with comparable beneficiary focus and partnership-driven model.
- Tomorrow's People: UK employment charity supporting disadvantaged individuals (long-term unemployed, ex-offenders, vulnerable young people) into sustained work via training and employer engagement. Comparable mission and beneficiary base with a broader sectoral reach than OAPA.
- Beam: UK charity that supports homeless individuals into stable, long-term employment through training, coaching, and employer matching. Direct peer in the employment-for-vulnerable-populations model, though Beam serves all sectors rather than specialising in hospitality.
- The Poppy Factory: UK charity supporting veterans with physical and mental health conditions into meaningful employment. Direct peer on the veteran employment pathway with a longer operational history and supported-employment specialism.
- Smart Works: UK charity helping women into employment through coaching, interview preparation, and clothing. Comparable employment-focused charity model with strong corporate partner engagement, though serving a different beneficiary group.
- Forces Employment Charity: UK charity providing lifelong employment support, training, and jobs for service leavers, veterans, reservists, and their families. Direct peer on the veteran beneficiary segment, though operating across all sectors rather than hospitality only.
Broad incumbents
- Crisis: Major UK national homelessness charity providing housing, education, and employment support. Listed as an OAPA referral partner; comparable end beneficiary population (homeless individuals) but with a much broader service portfolio beyond employment.
- The Prince's Trust: One of the UK's largest youth-focused charities, helping 11-30 year-olds into education, training, and employment. Comparable youth/employment mission at significantly greater scale, funding, and brand recognition; serves as a broad incumbent in the same general space.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Only A Pavement Away social profiles
Digital presenceOnly A Pavement Away financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Only A Pavement Away leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Only A Pavement Away funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Only A Pavement Away M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Only A Pavement Away
What does Only A Pavement Away do?
Only A Pavement Away is a UK-registered charity (CIO) founded in 2018 that connects hospitality employers with vulnerable individuals — people facing homelessness, prison leavers, and veterans — to place them into long-term, stable employment. The charity operates a dedicated jobs board platform (jobboard.onlyapavementaway.co.uk), runs an employment programme with wraparound support (job matching, training, and aftercare), and works through a network of 100+ employer partners and 100+ charity/referral partners.
Is Only A Pavement Away a public or private company?
Only A Pavement Away is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Only A Pavement Away founded?
Only A Pavement Away was founded in 2018. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Only A Pavement Away based?
Only A Pavement Away is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Only A Pavement Away make money?
One revenue line is on record: donations and Fundraising.
Who are Only A Pavement Away's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are The Clink Charity, Switchback, Walking With The Wounded, Tomorrow's People, Beam, The Poppy Factory, Smart Works and Forces Employment Charity. Broad incumbents are Crisis and The Prince's Trust.
Does Only A Pavement Away have an API?
No public API is recorded for Only A Pavement Away.
What industry is Only A Pavement Away in?
Only A Pavement Away's product category is Charitable Employment Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIANAC, Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services, with a secondary code of BPAGAEAG, Disability Services & Independent Living Support. Its NAICS code is 624230.