The Impossible Network

Reconstructing Lives Through Food: The Vision of Simon Boyle

Apr 17, 2023

01:19:17

This week's guest is Simon Boyle, a London-based difference-maker and driving force behind the Beyond Food Foundation and Brigade Bar+Kitchen.

In 2010, Simon partnered with PwC, De Vere Venues, and the Homes and Communities Agency to launch Brigade restaurant in London Bridge. This innovative space soon became the hub for distinctive training programs designed to uplift those affected by homelessness. Amidst the Covid pandemic, his Ecolab broadened its mission through a collection of transformative, interactive workshops that leverage the power of food to motivate and inspire individuals whose lives have unraveled, providing crucial support and encouragement to help them re-knot the fabric of their lives.

Shout out to Melanie van de Velde for the connection.

What we discuss

00:00 Intro

03:53 Who is Simon Boyle?

08:20 Being let down by the education system.

09:45 Who made Simon the person he is?

15:25 Simon discusses how to deal with mental health in hospitality

17:40 Simon’s intentional path to explore many genres of cooking and hospitality.

22:25 How the 2004 Tsunami led him to his focus on social impact.

26:30 His focus on creating social enterprise through food and events.

32:00 How after a Dragons Den experience, serendipity led him to find an investor and form his PWC partnership and open Brigade Bar & Kitchen.

37:50 The urgency to address human unraveling.