Oxford social enterprise brewery, bakery, and hospitality organisation Tap Social Movement has announced two new senior advisory appointments.
Giles Thorley and Paolo Lanzarotti
Former Asahi Europe and International chief executive Paolo Lanzarotti and ex-Punch Taverns CEO Giles Thorley join the company as it embarks on its next key growth stage and seeks to expand its impact on the lives of prison leavers.
Lanzarotti brings extensive experience in the beer and brewing industry, with a particular focus on sustainably accelerating growth, and scaling brewery operations while maintaining quality and consistency.
At Asahi, he oversaw a group with 20 breweries and production facilities distributing across eight domestic markets and more than 80 internationally. He previously held a number of country managing director roles at SABMiller.
“For a number of years, I’ve admired how Tap Social have built a business balancing the delivery of growth in numbers alongside having a positive impact on people in prison and prison leavers,” said Lanzarotti.
“Now I’m excited to be part of the journey that will see this business having economic and social impact at greater scale. And the beer is pretty good too!”
Currently CEO of the Development Bank of Wales, Thorley joins Tap Social with nine years of hospitality management experience with Punch Taverns, which, under his leadership, became one of the largest pub groups in the UK.
In both 2007 and 2008, Thorley earned the top spot in the annual Top 50 Most Influential People in the Pub Trade list. Thorley has a proven track record in backing exciting early-stage businesses in the hospitality, leisure, and consumer goods sectors, including as an initial backer of Deliveroo.
Thorley said: “Tap Social is a fantastic business that combines a great multi-function business model with a strong ethical stance. A model that encompasses a hugely innovative brewery, an award winning bakery, unique retail spaces, entertainment, and a principled brand.
“Whether it is the support for the rehabilitation of offenders or sourcing of sustainable products and a focus on local suppliers, the Tap Social Movement is one to join and one that I am excited to support.”
A recipient of two Great Taste 2025 awards for Time Better Spent (5.1% ABV juicy IPA, 2 Stars) and Jobsworth (3.4% ABV session pale ale, 1 Star), Tap Social distributes beers to more than 240 Waitrose & Partners supermarkets in the UK.
Tap Social currently runs three Oxfordshire community venues, including its award-winning wholesale bakery and café Proof Social Bakehouse. Later this year, it will open Day Release, a purpose-built café, bar, bakery, and community venue at Milton Park, the UK’s largest science, business, and technology hub. There will be additional outlets later this year.
To date, Tap Social has created more than 112,000 hours of paid employment for people in prison and prison leavers. It was named the UK’s Consumer-Facing Social Enterprise of the Year in 2024, and is currently the Community-Based Social Enterprise of the Year.
