Uber Eats creates fund to support black-owned restaurant businesses

The Black Business Fund, set up in collaboration with Enterprise Nation and Be Inclusive Hospitality, will see a total of £50,000 distributed to 10 small black-owned businesses that have been adversely impacted by the pandemic.

Black-owned businesses with fewer than five locations can now apply to the fund with applications closing on 12 January. As well as funding to help grow their businesses, restaurants will receive special mentoring from Enterprise Nation and Be Inclusive Hospitality. 

Shortlisted entrants will be asked to share a video describing their own business journey and how they would use a grant to manage the impact of the pandemic and make a positive impact in the community.

Recipients will be free to choose how they use the grant.

“I am delighted to support this initiative during what continues to be an extremely difficult time,” says Be Inclusive Hospitality founder Lorraine Copes.

“My business was founded with the aim of moving the needle forward on race equity by providing professional development and economic support, and this initiative supports this aim.”

In the UK, just 5% of small or medium sized businesses are run by people from black or other ethnic minority backgrounds, according to Uber Eats.

“Uber Eats helps bring together such a passionate and vibrant community of restaurants and we are always looking for new ways to help customers discover exciting local places,” says Matthew Price, general manager at Uber Eats UK.

“Especially given the impact of the pandemic, we are incredibly proud to support small Black-owned businesses. Through this fund we want to help the next generation of chefs and entrepreneurs thrive.” 

Uber previously announced investment to support black-owned small businesses in the US, however this is the first time the company has launched a fund in the UK.