Speaking in a video posted to Instagram, the founder of Austin’s Dad – still known only as Will – said he eventually wanted to employ “hundreds and thousands” of men aged between 18 and 25 and “give them big opportunities”. A policy of exclusively employing men aged between 18 and 25 could potentially raise issues under the Equality Act 2010, under which both sex and age are protected characteristics. However, those provisions do not generally allow an employer to operate a blanket recruitment policy excluding candidates because of their sex or age. Will also doubled down on his claim that Austin’s Dad would sell “whole, great food” for between £5 and £8 per portion and give 80% of its profits to employees. According to a recruitment ad posted on social media last month, Austin’s Dad will launch its debut site in the Lincolnshire town of Stamford.