Berwyn Pies join showcase of local food as VIP drops in to town
The Custodial Pie Corporation have turned up the heat to serve up some tasty pastry and winning fillings to HRH Prince Andrew.
The Royal was at the town’s Enterprise Hub for a ‘Pitch@Palace’ event yesterday that saw multiple businesses give three minute pitches infront of a range of businesspeople and a judging panel. Three winners were then selected by the judges to then further pitch in London in November.
The ‘VIP’, judges and all attendees had a memorable lunch that included HMP Berwyn’s now famous pies.
The award winning pies, made by the men at Berwyn under the Custodial Pie Corporation brand, use high quality local ingredients and are sold at the prison’s staff facility and at each of Dylan’s restaurants across North Wales, including their ‘food slam’ food fairs across North Wales and other national events.
The men not only make the pies but as part of their rehabilitation back into the community they deliver pies to the restaurants.
HMP Berwyn Pie Champion and Project Manager Nick Dann who was at the event said: “The men are learning important skills as part of the Custodial Pie Corporation. We help prepare them for life outside of prison so they can find jobs and become valuable members of the community. I’m proud of what we’ve achieved so far with this project”
Mr Dann went on to add: “While reoffending costs society £15 billion a year, ex-offenders in employment are up to nine percentage points less likely to commit further crime. Reducing reoffending helps protect the community and prevent creating future victims of crime. At present, just 17% of offenders are in P45 employment a year after release.
“That is why last month we launched the Education and Employment strategy which sets out new measures to boost prisoners’ skills while in custody and improve their chances of securing work on release. In this strategy, education and training, work in custody, and the availability of employment opportunities in the community are highlighted as the key areas of focus in achieving this.”
The Army were also set up on Queens Square, with Wrexham Council’s Lead Member for Economy – Economic Development and Regeneration Terry Evans presenting the forces with a sample of the pies.
The catering inside the event was provided by the team behind the local eatery Plât Bach who are in Tŷ Pawb, and they said it was a ‘pleasure’ on their Instagram, with Wrexham Lager, The King Street Coffee Co, and Custodial Pie Corp all taking part in the event either having stands, catering or both.
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