Black-owned British restaurants are being encouraged to apply for a grant of up to £10,000 to support their business. The annual Uber Eats Black Business Fund is being run in collaboration with Enterprise Nation and Be Inclusive Hospitality.
Now in its fourth year, the fund will award a total of £250,000 to 25 small black-owned businesses across the UK. At least half of the grants will go to businesses outside of London that are experiencing struggles with the cost-of-living crisis.
To be eligible, businesses need to have fewer than five locations and have been trading for more than 12 months.
The initiative is designed to help restaurants improve their leadership and management skills, develop strategies to manage risks from outside the business, and gain the knowledge to build and grow.
Uber Eats and Enterprise Nation first launched the Black Business Fund in 2021, awarding 10 £5,000 grants to restaurants across the UK. In 2022 and 2023, the pot was increased to £250,000.
Matthew Price, general manager at Uber Eats UK and Ireland, said: “We’re proud to launch the Black Business Fund for a fourth consecutive year, bringing our total contribution to black-owned businesses to over three-quarters of a million pounds.
“Past grant recipients have used the funding for essential investments – whether upgrading equipment or expanding their teams through staff training. We’re proud to continue empowering the next generation of black entrepreneurs, helping their businesses thrive.”
Entrants will also receive free membership to Enterprise Nation and access to an e-learning course.
Emma Jones, founder and chief executive of Enterprise Nation, said: “The Uber Eats Black Business Fund has become a lifeline that delivers much-needed funding and strategic support to underrepresented businesses in the hospitality sector.
“It’s an industry that’s been hit by a tsunami of extra costs recently, including energy, labour, and tax, which means it’s hard to innovate. Targeted support like this fund is vital because it helps to boost that innovation, allowing the next generation of new and diverse businesses to be creative.”
Applications are open until December 12. To apply, visit enterprisenation.com/uber/black-business-fund.