7 minute read
Back to business
THE MIDLANDS Back to Business with Fiserv
Please share a little about what Fiserv is all about. What’s the company’s vision?
Fiserv aspires to move money and information in a way that moves the world.
We have a proud history of innovation and have been delivering financial services and payments technology to clients for more than 30 years, helping them solve real problems and enabling their growth and success. Our clients include tens of thousands of
British businesses that use our technology to accept payments at the point of sale. We are committed to giving back to move the world forward by making a meaningful and positive impact in the communities where our associates and clients live, work and play.
How has the pandemic hit black businesses and are brighter days ahead? What’s the thinking behind assisting black-owned businesses?
Black and minority owned business have been disproportionately impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns, and in many cases have found it difficult to access loans and grants intended to help. This has left businesses struggling to survive.
Recognising this challenge, and knowing how important small businesses are to their local communities, Fiserv decided to launch our Back2Business program to help businesses not just survive, but begin to thrive. As lockdowns come to an end and people are eager to leave their homes to shop and dine, the outlook is certainly more positive.
How is the Back2Business program assisting blackowned businesses?
Fiserv has designated $50 million for investment in the
Back2Business program, a multi-pronged initiative to strengthen small businesses in targeted communities, with a specific focus on supporting minority-owned businesses and investing in the ecosystem of community organizations serving diverse entrepreneurs.
Through Back2Business we are providing crucial resources to black and minority-owned small businesses. We are helping strengthen small businesses through community engagement, business expertise, leading technology solutions such as the popular Clover® point-of-sale platform, strategic partnerships and financial assistance in the form of cash grants.
We have been humbled by the tremendous stories of resiliency among the small business owners and entrepreneurs who have been part of the program.
Please tell us about the Black Leadership Council and their role?
The Black Leadership Council (BLC) is an employee resource group (ERG) at Fiserv that strives to improve visibility and promote the importance of a diverse and inclusive workforce within Fiserv. The goal of the BLC is to help engage, empower and develop the talents and careers of our black associates and allies across our company. The council further supports our company’s diversity and inclusion objectives by assisting with the attraction and recruitment of new black associates and the sourcing and retention of black-owned businesses as both Fiserv clients and suppliers.
We’re proud to be closely involved in the launch of our Back2Business initiative here in the UK and will be assisting with outreach to minority owned businesses that are eligible for the program.
What do black businesses do to assist the overall economy?
According to the government-appointed Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities, there are over 250,000 minority-owned businesses in the UK that contribute £25 billion to the economy annually. These businesses are the heart and soul of local communities, where everyone knows everyone and there is a strong degree of loyalty and support for one another. As we find ourselves easing out of lockdown restrictions and we try to find some form of normality again, we need to ensure that all such businesses are supported and given the chance they need to reopen and do what they do best – serve their communities. Through Back2Business we are providing crucial resources to black and minority-owned small businesses ”
n If you would like to know more information about how Fiserv can help your business and to register your interest for the Back2Business program email: Back2BusinessEMEA@ fiserv.com A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SAINABOU FAAL...
Sainabou leads the BLC at Fiserv. Gambian by birth, she has lived in the UK for just over twenty years having arrived as a young teenager. Sainabou is passionate about making a difference and helping people who don’t always get the best chances in life to succeed. Heading the Real Estate function for Fiserv across EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa), she actively practices what she preaches – devoting much of her daily work and focus to delivering great outcomes and leading by example.
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT LORRAINE DESCHAMPS...
Lorraine heads Corporate Social Responsibility for Fiserv in the EMEA region. Simply put, this means doing right by Fiserv people, and for the communities where we live, work and play. She was born in East Africa, and brought up in three continents – Africa, South America and Europe -- giving her a diverse perspective on life. Like Sainabou, Lorraine is just as passionate about making a difference in people’s lives – especially those with less opportunity to grow and succeed.
A true example of Great Black British cultural
entrepreneurship Bespoke Binny was founded in 2013 by maker, Natalie Manima whose previous profession as a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist led her to recognise the importance of one’s home environment, in coping with issues such as anxiety and low mood. Motivated by her experience and love of sewing, Bespoke Binny was born.
“I created Bespoke Binny because I truly believe ‘home is where the heart is’ and having a home that is a reflection of you is essential to your well being.” Initially started as a hobby, Bespoke Binny has grown steadily over the years and in 2020 Natalie could no longer juggle work, home life and Bespoke Binny. As a result Natalie made the decision to leave her profession and go full time with Bespoke Binny. Bespoke Binny is fast becoming the UK’s most loved home and gifting destination, revered for its distinctive and eclectic offerings that are sure to add a touch of vibrancy to any room or space.
A true example of Great Black British cultural entrepreneurship, maker Natalie takes inspiration from her ancestral roots with each piece lovingly handcrafted within the maker’s North London based studio and adorned with her signature Kente and West African cloth designs, a nod to her Ghanian heritage.
From their best selling lampshades to their vibrant bedding and all that’s in between Bespoke Binny is a trove of interior uplift for all.
Bespoke Binny is also a truly family run entity, it’s not purely the quality of Natalie’s wares that has seen her grow in popularity but the personal and familial essence of the brand itself as its evolution is truly a family affair with her nearest and dearest, including her husband and her mother, integral to all aspects of Bespoke Binny’s growth. n
My holistic practice started with my work as a Birth Doula in 2006, supporting women to deliver their babies into this world safely and confidently.
My doula services provide continuous support, knowledge to inform mothers on how to have a healthy pregnancy, safe labour, birth and beyond. My role is to remind the pregnant mother of her power and strength she holds in her birth journey. As well as the challenges she could face and how to best manage successfully. Gradually, combing other therapies to my doula services: offering Pregnancy massage, Abdominal therapy massage and yoni steaming. Each service I offer is uniquely tailored to encompass everyone’s individual journey and needs. The importance of these therapies and how powerful they are in enhancing our human experience of womanhood and motherhood is unique to each woman in her lifecycle. They encourage relaxation, healing, cleansing, connecting and nurturing of her body. I am passionate and excited to see and hear women grow confident, embracing their journey while gaining a better understanding and appreciation of her body, wellness and new cycles in her life.
q Birth Doula Services
