BB Merchant Services has formally appointed Partner Steve Wilks as the firm’s first Access Champion, strengthening its support for the Accessible Hospitality Alliance (aha) and deepening its commitment to inclusivity across the hospitality supply chain.
The appointment follows BB Merchant Services’ participation as a sponsor at the inaugural aha Forum held in June, delivered in partnership with Thomas Franks. The event convened leaders from hospitality, finance, and accessibility advocacy, with a clear message: awareness must lead to action. BB Merchant Services has responded decisively.
Reflecting on the Forum, Steve Wilks shared: “Listening to lived experiences and seeing how organisations like BM Caterers are responding made it clear: accessibility requires individuals who are willing to lead. It doesn’t happen on its own.”
BB Merchant Services’ Access Champion role represents more than a formal title. It is a commitment to ensure that inclusivity is considered across internal initiatives and client engagements. While the Accessible Hospitality Alliance’s mission is focused on the hospitality industry, BB Merchant Services is demonstrating the value of inclusive leadership in adjacent sectors like financial services.
Dan Fletcher, UK Managing Director at BB Merchant Services, said: “Supporting Steve in this role reflects our broader view of accessibility. It goes beyond infrastructure—it’s about culture. As a firm working extensively with hospitality businesses, we see the opportunity to influence positive change through every point in the value chain.”
This perspective aligns with BB Merchant Services’ established reputation for supporting the hospitality sector, not only by reducing merchant service costs, but by helping organisations reinvest those savings into service enhancements. From hotels and restaurants to major sports venues and entertainment brands, clients often cite the professional, collaborative nature of BB Merchant Services’ approach in their testimonials.
Celtic Manor Resort, for example, recently acknowledged the benefit of BB Merchant Services’ inclusive and consultative approach, which enabled them to retain their existing provider while achieving improved terms through detailed sector benchmarking.
Robin Sheppard, Co-Founder and Chair of the Accessible Hospitality Alliance, commended the announcement: “To act and not just speak is the essence of leadership. BB Merchant Services’ appointment of an Access Champion shows just that. It’s a tangible commitment to inclusive change.”
As more businesses adopt the Access Champion model, cross-industry collaboration will be key. BB Merchant Services’ involvement is a reminder that financial services firms can play an active role in shaping inclusive outcomes, particularly when embedded within the fabric of the hospitality economy.
Hospitality clients supported by BB Merchant Services, ranging from travel firms like Riviera Travel to sports venues and charities have consistently reported financial efficiencies that allow for reinvestment in frontline services. For many, these savings have created room to enhance guest accessibility initiatives, adopt new technologies, and improve staff training.
The firm’s appointment of an Access Champion further aligns BB Merchant Services’ advisory mission with the values of openness and representation. As Steve Wilks takes on this role, the focus is clear: listening, enabling, and ensuring that accessibility is not a secondary consideration, but a core part of how hospitality and its supporting services operate.
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