Tony Elvin has worked with youth and disenfranchised communities for two decades. Working in cities as diverse as London, Amsterdam, Melbourne and Cape Town, he found and cultivated his gift in managing and mentoring people with challenging backgrounds . The most well known of his successes is Jamie Oliver’s acclaimed Social Enterprise , – the ‘Fifteen Foundation’ – a network of restaurants set up to transfer chef skills and create employment. Responsible for skills development, Once described as Jamie Oliver’s ‘right hand man’, Tony was the architect of the ‘Fifteen training model’ and developed the program across the franchise.

Tony’s passion for South Africa continued to grow. Believing that his approach to social enterprise – one based on fairness, inclusion and hands on experience, could help address some of the issues facing post apartheid South Africa, he moved his business, Tony Elvin Associates (TEA) to Cape Town in 2008.

He has remained at the forefront of social enterprise innovation, advising both the public and private sector in the area of social enterprise strategy and sharing his experience and insights (not to mention skills as an award winning stand up comedian) with audiences at corporate speaking events.

The ‘Langa Quarter’ a prototype – Social Enterprise Precinct (SEP) is Tony’s latest initiative developed under his NPC ikhaya le Langa. Using PPP principles and sustainable business tourism, the vision behind this hugely ambitious undertaking is to to regenerate what is the ‘oldest black township in the whitest city in Africa’ – creating the first multi racial social destination in a black suburb . ‘Proof of Concept’ was established in March 2017 when Airbnb founder Brian Chesky flew in specifically to endorse the partnership with ikhaya le Langa. Brian sees the potential for SEP’s to accelerate the growth in entrepreneurial activity in communities previously designated as ‘market avoidance’ areas.