PKL Group partners with Half the Story to donate a Modular Kitchen, Driving Social Impact

Modular Kitchen donation from PKL Group Empowers Social Enterprise Half the Story to Expand Job Opportunities and Transform Communities Across the UK

PKL Group, leaders in the supply of temporary and permanent kitchens, are proud to announce its partnership with the latest Grace Enterprise business: ‘Half the Story’, a social enterprise breaking down barriers to employment through baking biscuits. With the donation of a modular kitchen and catering equipment, this collaboration will enable the business to scale its operations and significantly enhance their production capacity, aligning with their mission to help create more job opportunities for individuals facing disadvantages, whilst providing them with the skills and stability to rebuild their lives.

This partnership grew from PKL’s involvement with Jubilee Events, another Grace Enterprise venture, during a successful sales and marketing mentorship program in 2023 that enabled Jubilee Events to optimise their digital and business growth strategies. Inspired by that collaboration, Matt Parfitt, Grace Enterprises CEO and Half the Story founder reached out to Karen Rumsey, Chief Operating Officer at Lowe Corporation Europe, to explore how PKL could support the bakery’s expansion.

Recalling their first discussions, Karen commented,

“During our early conversations, Matt shared his vision for scaling operations at Half the Story, and how a new kitchen could make a real difference. It wasn’t just about sourcing new equipment—it was about creating the infrastructure they needed to accelerate their production and consequently their ability to empower more people through employment. As a services-led organisation, we understand the power of collaboration to provide the right solutions at the right time, and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact through purpose-driven partnership felt like a natural extension of our work together.”

A sentiment echoed by Matt, who noted how the partnership has transformed their operations,

“The support from PKL has been a game changer for Half the Story. The new kitchen has not only enabled us to scale up our production, but it has also allowed us to provide even more employment opportunities for those who need them the most. Each job we create helps someone take a step towards financial independence, stability, and a brighter future. By helping us grow, this partnership is directly impacting the lives of our employees and the communities we serve. It’s about more than just making biscuits – it’s about changing lives”.

The outcome is a testament to how meaningful collaborations can drive real change, allowing businesses like Half the Story to grow and make a lasting difference in the communities they serve.

Emphasising the organisation’s commitment to meaningful impact, Karen added,

“At Lowe Corporation, we believe in the power of authentic action—and this partnership reflects what we strive to achieve in the implementation of our ESG strategy, where we aim to create lasting impact as part of Our Plan for Good. For us, we want to make sure the actions we take are not for the sake of satisfying a tick box exercise but to make positive changes that genuinely embody our commitment to good. Our partnership with Half the Story exemplifies this approach, and it is incredibly fulfilling to see the difference we’re making together”.

While immediate growth is focused on Nottingham, the social enterprise is exploring opportunities to extend its model nationally. Making an even greater difference in more communities across the UK with the support of founding partners like Green Pastures, a charity who provide housing to tackle homelessness, and are connecting Half the Story with individuals seeking employment. Yet another collaboration that is enabling Half the Story to replicate its impact in other communities and drive long-term, sustainable social change.

With a vision for expanding their social impact in mind, Matt expressed his appreciation for the support from PKL,

“What has been most rewarding about this partnership is working with a company that truly ‘gets it’ and shares our mission to drive meaningful change. With the new kitchen space, we’ve been able to grow, create more jobs, and change lives. We’re excited to continue scaling up with the support of PKL and Green Pastures and bring this model to other cities across the UK.”

Half the Story’s growth has been accelerated thanks to the new kitchen, allowing the social enterprise to expand its biscuit production and provide more employment opportunities to disadvantaged individuals. With continued support from PKL, Half the Story is well on its way to replicating in new locations and transforming even more lives.