Eat Out Round About Goes National

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Ali Gordon is the CEO of Not Usual Ltd, a software development company with an ambitious idea to support the rebuilding of the hospitality economy at a national level over 3 years.Covid-19 has had a major detrimental impact on the hospitality sector. Less reported is the fact that hospitality businesses have been struggling to survive for many years prior. Brexit has created additional uncertainty in the economy.During August 2020, 51 million meals were claimed in the Eat Out To Help Out scheme, demonstrating national demand to support the hospitality economy. Unfortunately the scheme was unsustainable by the Government.During the pandemic, Ali had an innovative idea to create a digital platform to create a way that people could dine out with 50% saving on their meal out up to £10 during off-peak times. Not Usual Ltd won an Innovate UK Smart grant for the idea and as a result has developed the platform called 'Eat Out Round About'. The app partners with hospitality venues, automates the process of scanning and claiming vouchers and automates administration of the system with hospitality. The project has enabled the creation of a range of digital products including tasteful greeting cards that help the local hospitality economy, and a range of employee and customer incentives for businesses including automated Birthday Vouchers and Christmas vouchers to help local firms build their culture.Our trials generated £15,636 into the Wakefield hospitality economy with a return on investment into the economy of voucher spend by over 600%. Ali is leading a plan to take Eat Out Round About to a national level over 3 years and will benefit from the support package in her personal development journey as well as:* building a strong network for rapid growth* helping to create skilled digital jobs in an economically deprived area* help safeguard jobs in hospitality* bring significant investment into the hospitality economy* open up new business opportunities in a sustainable way* drive additional revenue to the treasury in drinks duty and VAT.There is an 'appetite' in the UK to dine out off-peak and help local economy when there are incentives. Ali's success as an Innovate UK National Woman in innovation will help her springboard the innovation for the hospitality sector to drive economic growth at a national and then international level.