A SADDLEWORTH man who turned his own experience of prison into a mission to help others build a better future has been recognised at the Oldham Business Awards.
Lee Wakeham, founder of social enterprise bakery HM Pasties, received the Special Recognition Award at the 18th annual awards, which recognise achievements across Oldham’s business community.
Lee served two prison sentences before turning his life around and launching HM Pasties seven years ago.
The bakery now produces around 15,000 pies, pasties and sausage rolls every week, supplying a chain of 46 pubs as well as sports teams and major foodservice groups. But its work goes beyond making food.
Around a quarter of the workforce at any one time is made up of people either still in prison on day release or recently released.
Prison leavers are referred by prison or probation services and spend three months working at the bakery on Pennant Industrial Estate, while Lee and his team help them find permanent employment elsewhere.
That then creates an opportunity for another prison leaver to come through the business.
The name HM Pasties stands for Hand Made Pasties, while also playing on the prison system Lee knows only too well.
Speaking to The Grocer earlier this year, Lee explained that a recommendation from his barrister to seek counselling during his second prison sentence became a turning point in his life.
He had grown up in and out of foster care and later began working with prison leavers in different roles before developing the idea for HM Pasties.
He has also founded the HM Pasties Foundation, a charity working with prisons, probation services and local organisations to provide mentoring, skills training and tailored support.
The bakery is now on course to make a profit for the first time this year.
The awards ceremony, held at The Loom in Oldham, attracted more than 450 guests for a Great Gatsby-themed evening. It was the first time the event had moved venue after 17 years at Queen Elizabeth Hall.
First Choice Homes Oldham was among the biggest winners, taking home three awards – Business of the Year £5m+, Supporting Young People and Workforce Health and Wellbeing.
Three new categories were also introduced. Recycling PVC Ltd won Sustainable Innovation, ZUTTI Co took the Heart of the High Street award, while Fullcircle Community Interest Company NW won Community Impact.
The full list of winners was:
- Special Recognition: Lee Wakeham, HM Pasties
- Business of the Year £5m+: First Choice Homes Oldham
- Business of the Year £1m-£5m: BS Entwistle Electrical Contractors Ltd
- Business of the Year up to £1m: Sports Physio UK
- Businessperson of the Year: Melvyn Pryce, Heyside Group
- Micro Business of the Year – Dawn Torrington Award: Eternal Health
- Start-Up: Emplas Commercial (North) Ltd
- Young Entrepreneur: Iona Ackerman, Eternal Health
- Community Impact: Fullcircle CIC NW
- Supporting Young People: First Choice Homes Oldham
- Workforce Health and Wellbeing: First Choice Homes Oldham
- Sustainable Innovation: Recycling PVC Ltd
- Heart of the High Street: ZUTTI Co
The evening was hosted by ITV Granada Reports presenter Caroline Whitmore, with entertainment from comedian and actor Justin Moorhouse and live music from The Not Quite Big Band.
Raffle proceeds from the event went to Mahdlo Youth Zone and Dr Kershaw’s Hospice.
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