Multiple Essex and London-based ethnically diverse small business owners received grants as part of the Fiserv Back2Business programme

BASILDON, UK, 08 November 2022 — Fiserv, Inc. (NASDAQ: FISV), a leading global provider of payments and financial services technology solutions with a significant presence in Basildon, recently presented deserving small businesses with £10,000 grants as part of its Back2Business programme.

Recognising the resilience – and needs – of ethnically diverse businesses during challenging times, the Back2Business programme was introduced in the UK in 2021. During the event, current and past grant recipients shared the obstacles they face in today's economic climate, how they are succeeding despite these challenges, and how they plan to use the grant funds to strengthen their businesses.

The Businesses Getting Back2Business

Back2Business grant recipients at the event included:

• Patrick Adams, owner of London-based Mr P Taste of Home – offering authentic African & Caribbean cuisine
• Grace Adeusi, owner of Essex-based Tinukace Food – supplying groceries, Afro-Caribbean foods, party supplies, cooking rentals and event decorations
• Paul Asemota, owner of Essex-based Xemteck Services – a one-stop-shop for computer repairs, data recovery and IT support
• Olakunle Ayoola, owner of Essex-based Miolad Foods – a leading online shopping site offering authentic African products at superb prices
• Ketan Dattani, owner of London-based Buckingham Futures – a bespoke, local environmental recruitment service
• Nathaniel Ihenachor, owner of London-based The SmartWash Ltd – a mobile car wash and valeting service

Grace Adeusi and her husband Adetokunbo, co-owners of Tinukace Food, plan to use their grant to purchase a van to help fulfil customers’ orders and hope to grow their business by opening additional branches.
“Back2Business has given me more confidence, and in fact boosted my morale to be able to continue providing the quality products that our customers are looking for,” Adeusi said.

Fellow grant recipient Ketan Dattani of environmental recruitment service Buckingham Futures was inspired to donate his grant money to fund the construction of a well in Uganda in order to provide access to safe drinking water.

“My parents are refugees from Uganda, who came here in 1972,” said Dattani. “Four years ago, my parents went back to visit the village my dad left all those years ago, and it still didn’t have running water. Since then I’ve wanted to give back and do something about it.”

Nathaniel Ihenachor, a recent university graduate and owner of The SmartWash, plans to use his Back2Business grant funds to grow his company’s online presence and, in turn, expand its fleet of mobile car wash and valet vehicles.

“Our business got off to a successful start due to a focus on service, but behind every business there are systems and processes that must be followed in order to scale,” said Ihenachor. “Our ambition is to get other students on board and then take The SmartWash to the world.”

Small businesses play a crucial role in the UK economy. According to the National Federation of Self Employed & Small Businesses, there are 5.5 million small businesses in the UK, representing more than 99% of all businesses in the country. These businesses employ 48% of the workforce with a turnover of £1.6 trillion.

The past few years have been exceptionally challenging for small businesses as they faced the disruptions of the Covid-19 pandemic, staffing shortages, supply chain issues and economic upheaval. Back2Business was launched to support small businesses and help ensure they remain a viable and vibrant part of local communities. Since the programme launched in the UK in June 2021, Back2Business has awarded more than £1.8 million to more than 170 UK businesses.

“We recognise the essential role small businesses play as part of our daily lives and as a foundation of our communities,” said John Gibbons, Head of EMEA at Fiserv. “Companies have a responsibility to the communities where they have a presence, and Back2Business is one way we can be a force for good in the places where we all live and work.”

“The relationship between a small business and the community it serves is crucial,” said Lorraine Deschamps, MBE, Head of Corporate Citizenship for EMEA at Fiserv. “In addition to the grant money, Back2Business connects businesses with external organisations and with one another, to create an environment where they can share expertise and support. The heart of this program is cultivating organic, meaningful relationships with businesses.”

About Back2Business
The Fiserv Back2Business programme connects diverse small businesses with critical resources, including financial support, leading small business technology solutions such as the Clover point-of-sale and business management system, and engagement with community partners.
In addition to the UK, Fiserv has sponsored the Back2Business programme in cities and states across the U.S., including New York, Milwaukee, Atlanta, South Florida, Chicago, Oakland, Detroit, Oklahoma, Texas, Nebraska, and Washington D.C. To date, Fiserv has presented more than 1,500 grants to small businesses through the programme.

About Fiserv
Fiserv, Inc. (NASDAQ: FISV) aspires to move money and information in a way that moves the world. As a global leader in payments and financial technology, the company helps clients achieve best-in-class results through a commitment to innovation and excellence in areas including account processing and digital banking solutions; card issuer processing and network services; payments; e-commerce; merchant acquiring and processing; and the Clover® cloud-based point-of-sale solution and business management platform. Fiserv is a member of the S&P 500® Index, the FORTUNE® 500, and has been recognized as one of FORTUNE World’s Most Admired Companies® for 11 of the past 14 years and named among the World’s Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company for two consecutive years. Visit fiserv.com and follow on social media for more information and the latest company news.

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