Paying it Forward: How to be a Social Entrepreneur

After 10 amazing, challenging, remarkable, and rewarding years of Social Bite, our Co-Founder, Josh Littlejohn, is publishing his first-ever book entitled ‘Paying it Forward’ – to be published on August 17th.

Paying It Forward is part memoir, part manifesto for social entrepreneurship, and part manual for putting purpose ahead of profit. When Josh co-founded a small sandwich shop in his home city of Edinburgh, he would never have thought that within ten years it would be frequented by Hollywood megastars, that we would have opened a string of successful cafés across the UK, and that he would be honoured with an MBE by the Queen. Not to mention creating a range of initiatives that have raised over £25 million to combat homelessness around the world. And all set in motion by a Big Issue seller, named Pete, walking into the café one day and sheepishly asking for a job.

The book tells this amazing story and reveals what social entrepreneurship is and how it can make a difference. In the book, Josh talks about the ways we can end homelessness and shares inspirational stories from people he has met with backgrounds of homelessness over the years. Josh also shares all of the lessons he has learned along the way to help budding social entrepreneurs on their own journey.

The book has attracted praise from early readers including Sir Bob Geldof who said: “Throughout this book, you will be taken on a remarkable journey—a journey that encapsulates the power of entrepreneurship and the indomitable spirit of the human heart.’ Sir Bob Geldof

Josh Littlejohn MBE said: “Paying it Forward encapsulates my life and career so far as a social entrepreneur, and all the ups and downs, trials and tribulations, the long hours and humour along the way. I hope it offers practical lessons to inspire all entrepreneurs to value purpose and people as much as just profit. Most importantly, I hope it shines a light on the remarkable people who have motivated me to spark change and who are making a remarkable difference in the world in their own ways, too. It’s been a pleasure to work with Rik and the team at Heligo Books on Paying it Forward and I can’t wait for people to read the book next month.”

Rik Ubhi said: “I could not be prouder to publish the remarkable Josh Littlejohn and to share his inspirational story with the world. Josh is a true trailblazer of social enterprise, who has created a movement that spans the globe. Now, in Paying it Forward, he reveals how we can all do our own bit to shape our world for the better: how we can and must harness our entrepreneurial energies for good, put purpose over pure profit, and pay it forward to those around us.”

It has also gained praise from several other early readers.

Alan Jope, CEO of Unilever says: ‘Paying it Forward powerfully makes the case that entrepreneurship must become a systematic force for good.’

Novelist Irvine Welsh says: ‘Josh Littlejohn is a rockstar of social impact.’ And Richard Curtis CBE comments: ‘Full of heart, honesty, humour, and genuinely helpful advice, Paying it Forward is an essential read for our times.’

Other endorsers include Sir Chris Hoy, Dame Helen Mirren, and Line of Duty star Martin Compston.

Paying it Forward: How to be a Social Entrepreneur will be published in hardback, audio and eBook on 17th August 2023. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to Social Bite to support the mission of ending homelessness.

A huge well done to Josh – to say we’re proud would be an understatement.

You can pre-order your copy here:

PRE-ORDER from Waterstones
PRE-ORDER from Foyles
PRE-ORDER from Amazon
PRE-ORDER from Bookshop

We’ll also be running a series of book signing events at each of our Coffee Shops for Social Bite supporters. If you haven’t already, sign up to our mailing list to receive updated information and book signing date releases.

For all publicity enquiries, please contact nikki.mander@bonnierbooks.co.uk