Paul Thomson – Founder of Maya Mushrooms
Paul Thomson is the founder of Maya Mushrooms, a business built from the ground up with his own money, sheer determination, and the occasional helping hand from good friends. A former Quantity Surveyor and Commercial Manager in the construction industry, Paul left behind a stable career to pursue his passion for mushroom cultivation, sustainability, and food innovation.
What started in a leaking shipping container has grown into one of the UK’s most trusted suppliers of mushroom cultivation materials. A self-taught web developer and all-round problem solver, Paul has tackled every challenge along the way—designing efficient production systems, developing an online store, and scaling the business without external investment.
Maya Mushrooms has always been a grassroots operation and a labour of love, driven by the belief that fungi hold the key to sustainable food systems, better health, and a thriving agricultural future. Now, Paul is transitioning the business into a non-profit Community Interest Company (CIC) to make high-quality cultivation materials more accessible, support small-scale growers, and create a collaborative movement in the UK mushroom industry.
When he’s not immersed in all things fungi, Paul enjoys playing squash and golf – so if you fancy a game, let him know! 🍄⛳🏆
Our Journey to Date
We’re Becoming a Non-Profit 🙏
Big changes are happening at Maya Mushrooms! We’re excited to announce that we are officially transitioning into a non-profit Community Interest Company (CIC).
What This Means
Our new company name is Maya Mushrooms UK CIC, and we are now registered as a Private Limited Company by Guarantee (Company Number: 16287602). This means:
- We have no shareholders and no dividend payouts for directors – a true non-profit.
- An asset lock ensures that all company assets will remain within the business and be reinvested into our mission.
- Our profits will never be taken out – they will always go towards supporting mushroom growers and strengthening the industry.
This is a major step forward in our vision of making high-quality mushroom cultivation more accessible, sustainable, and community-driven.
April 2023 – We Moved to the Forest
Outgrowing our space in Bristol, we took a huge step forward, moving to a dedicated 2,500 sq. ft facility in the Forest of Dean. The transition wasn’t easy – keeping the business running while relocating took six challenging months.
But the effort was worth it. With more space in a peaceful, rural setting, we finally had room to grow properly. This new chapter allowed us to scale production, refine our processes, and better serve the thriving mushroom-growing community.
March 2020 – Adapting Through Uncertainty – The COVID Shift
Just as we were ready to launch our gourmet mushrooms to market, the COVID-19 pandemic changed everything. With lockdowns and uncertainty, we had to pivot fast. Instead of supplying restaurants, we shifted our focus to home growers – creating grow-at-home kits for people stuck indoors.
It was a stressful and uncertain time, but we persevered. Adapting on the fly, refining our kits, and meeting soaring demand, we turned a challenge into an opportunity. That shift not only kept us going but helped us reach thousands of new growers, strengthening our mission in ways we never expected.
December 2018 – 1100 sq.ft Unit Expansion
As demand grew, so did our ambitions. We moved into a small warehouse, finally having the space to scale up properly. With a dedicated lab, processing areas, and fulfilment spaces, we could refine our operations and boost efficiency. A major milestone was investing in a decent-sized autoclave, allowing us to produce at a much greater scale.
Not wanting to waste what got us here, we repurposed our shipping containers into dedicated mushroom grow spaces – maximising every resource. It was a huge leap forward, setting the stage for even bigger things to come.
August 2017 – Accepted onto the School of Social Entrepreneurs
Maya Mushrooms began with a simple idea – to make gourmet and medicinal mushrooms more accessible while creating a positive impact. Out of over 200 applicants, founder Paul Thomson was one of just 20 selected for the School of Social Entrepreneurs’ year – long programme. The journey hasn’t been easy, but we’ve kept going.
March 2017 – The Leaky Shipping Container
With limited resources but a clear vision, we secured a leaky shipping container at a local self-storage facility – our first real step towards scaling up. Bootstrapping everything, we kept overheads low, fixing leaks, installing electricity, and transforming the space into a functional grow room.
It was a hands-on, problem-solving journey – tweaking conditions, refining our techniques, and learning through trial and error. Every challenge was a lesson, every small win a step closer to something bigger. Those early days laid the foundation for everything that followed.
February 2017 – THE BEGINNING: Vision to Action
A passion for home mushroom cultivation quickly turned into something bigger. Seeing how difficult it was for hobby growers to access high-quality supplies, we started experimenting with ways to make cultivation easier. From late nights perfecting sterile techniques to sourcing the best materials, every step was driven by a desire to support others. What began as a simple idea soon became a business dedicated to helping growers thrive – and we’ve never looked back.