Tom Hawes’ Perk brings premium coffee and conversation to public transit hubs, making him a finalist in the prestigious Great British Entrepreneur Awards 2023.
Tom Hawes was determined to shine a light on the underrepresented issue of mental health in the UK. After suffering from mental illness himself, Tom wanted to find a way to raise awareness and support those in need. In 2022, Tom launched Perk, an innovative mobile coffee and bakery concept. Perk offers high-quality craft coffee and artisanal bakes at affordable prices through a fleet of mobile trucks stationed at public transport hubs across the UK.
While Perk is not qualified to provide therapy or medication, the business focuses on improving individuals’ social environments, the third aspect of the mental health pyramid according to psychiatrists. Perk achieves this through providing an uplifting space for people to connect over premium coffee and bakes, raising awareness of mental health issues, and donating a portion of revenue to related charities.
Frustrated with the mass market, low-quality options dominating the UK’s public transit systems, Tom saw an opportunity to disrupt the status quo with Perk’s mobile model. Without the considerable costs of a traditional brick-and-mortar cafe, Perk is able to offer premium, ethically-sourced ingredients at lower price points and scale rapidly to new locations.
In just its first year, Perk has already been nominated for the Great British Entrepreneur Awards’ National Early Stage Stand Out Award. Looking ahead, Tom aims to make Perk the most frequented coffee brand at public transit hubs across the UK.
Tom Hawes and Perk have been named finalists in the Great British Entrepreneur Awards 2023, known as “The Grammys of Entrepreneurship,” taking place November 20th in London. To learn more about this inspiring entrepreneur and innovative business, visit www.perkmobilecoffee.co.uk.
