Tim Parkhouse, founder of Get Fed Coffee CIC

Tim Parkhouse is a Youth Worker and Social Entrepreneur with years of Youth Justice experience. Fed up with seeing teenage lads falling out of school and into drug dealing, he offered them a chance to sell coffee instead! Safely and legally - #caffeinenotcocaine. Get Fed trains young entrepreneurs when school is not working; learning about enterprise and barista skills on our coffee van. When they work a gig in their community they can earn 50% of the profits. Founded in Nov '22 and trading from February '23, Get Fed are a small start up on a mission to change mainstream education - reducing exclusion and exploitation + increasing exposure to enterprise. As a not-for-profit they are grateful for resources from many sources invested in change and equality of opportunity.

What is your background? What made you decide to become an entrepreneur?

20+ years of Youth Work in Criminal Justice! Youth Clubs closed, resources shrank and some young people were so neglected they took to dealing drugs. Children from 12 or 13 years of age were so desperate they were taking that level of risk; who was I, not to be risk-taking with them?

What is your definition of entrepreneurship?

The energy that moves you from your comfort zone to your dream 'home'.

How and when did you know your idea was good enough to develop it?

It wouldn't go away... and people I loved and respected told me I should do it.

What would you say are the top 3 skills that needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
Imagination because you have to 'see' the vision before it exists.
Creativity so the problem-solving doesn't feel too much like work.
Connecting because you're going to need other people to believe and fuel the above.

What is your favourite part of being an entrepreneur?

It's my story.

What individual, company or organization inspires you most? Why?

Paddy @ Buzzy Beans, Deddington. The most available business genius.

If you had 5 minutes with the above individual/ company/organization, what would you want to ask or discuss?

Anyone can have 5 minutes with Paddy weekdays 5:30 - 14:30 in a lay-by just north of Deddington. Normally we talk coffee business, football, gigs and how great it is to be alive.

What has been your most satisfying or successful moment in business?

When I've realised that people who aren't valued, value what I do for others. It's the most sincere recognition you can get.

What would you say have been some of your mistakes, failures or lessons learned as an entrepreneur?

Taking it too seriously
Being bothered by what some people think
Losing my perspective.

How have you funded your ideas?

Initially, working 3 part time jobs and cutting back on expenses, fund-raising and working hard, and learning constantly how to develop the model.

Are there any sector-specific awards/grants/competitions that have helped you?

We are the pre-eminent, non-award winning CIC in our sector. We rely on people liking what we are doing and wanting to help eg. Oxford University.

What is good about being an entrepreneur in Oxfordshire? Bad?

Good: Beautiful county with lots of need and some great resources.
Not so great: Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council are fairly impenetrable.

If a new entrepreneur or startup came to you looking for entrepreneurship resources, where would you send them?

BIPC always! Incredible free resources with the amazing Ryan Johnson making it magical and exciting.
Makespace, Jericho.
Buzzy Beans, Deddington.

Are there any Business or Entrepreneurship Related Courses that you would recommend?

Great adhoc support from BIPC, EnSpire, SKOLL, OxLEP and University colleges. Get Fed hustles in the community to grab attention and opportunity for a generation who need enterprise, meaning and purpose more than ever.

Any last words of advice?

Only do what you would regret not doing x

You can keep up to date with Tim and Get Fed Coffee by following them on Facebook, Instagram and checking out their website. You can also get in touch with Tim by emailing him at parkhousetim@gmail.com.