Colton Packaging thinks inside the box with social enterprise Half the Story

Colton Packaging thinks inside the box with social enterprise Half the Story

Family-run business Colton Packaging provide eco-conscious packaging solutions for a variety of businesses, and have recently partnered with Half the Story on their latest initiative.  Half the Story – a Nottingham-based organisation, part of Grace Enterprises – produce packaged biscuits for a variety of national transport clients including LNER. In the process, the organisation create…


Family-run business Colton Packaging provide eco-conscious packaging solutions for a variety of businesses, and have recently partnered with Half the Story on their latest initiative. 

Half the Story – a Nottingham-based organisation, part of Grace Enterprises – produce packaged biscuits for a variety of national transport clients including LNER. In the process, the organisation create work opportunities for individuals who may have barriers to employment; in particular, homelessness. Their commitment to plastic-free packaging for their products saw eco-focussed Colton Packaging offer the perfect solution for their packaged products with carefully designed, bespoke boxes. 

Every 100 biscuits sold creates one hour of Living Wage work for a baker at Half the Story, who also have access to in-work support and mentoring. 

Laura Colton-Smith, managing director at Colton Packaging, talks about the partnership, “As a business, we’ve always been committed to supporting worthwhile initiatives. Half the Story’s work makes a huge impact on the lives of those who may otherwise struggle to gain full-time employment in society.  

“By creating the opportunities they do through the creation of products like the biscuit packs, they quite literally change lives: so to be a part of that effort is something we are immensely proud of.” 

Matt Parfitt – CEO at Grace Enterprises who founded Half the Story – speaks highly of the service Colton Packaging have offered to the social enterprise – “We love our bespoke boxes from Colton Packaging. They’re a huge step up for us, they look professional and high quality. And even more importantly they help tell the story of the life-changing biscuits inside.  

“We’re super excited to be partnering with a local, socially-minded business to make a difference together. It’s about so much more than biscuits and boxes. Each pack represents hours of real Living Wage work for people who have experienced homelessness.” 

This partnership is set to continue – and grow – with a variety of upcoming projects on the horizon for Half the Story, and a continued dedication to supporting this organisation by Colton Packaging. 


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