HTEC unlock £3m boost to charities with customer micro-donations

HTEC unlock £3m boost to charities with customer micro-donations

HTEC, which is wholly owned by Universe Group plc, is celebrating unlocking an incredible £3M by using the power of customer micro-donations, with fintech charity Pennies.

HTEC’s integration Pennies has enabled two of the largest independent roadside retail firms, Rontec and MFG, to offer consumers the chance to give a few pennies when paying by card or digital wallet.

Benefitting causes as have included Air Ambulance charities, NSPCC, Maggies, Mencap, Diabetes UK, Terrance Higgins Trust and many more.

Jeremy Lewis, CEO of Universe Group plc, said: “HTEC would like to extend a huge thank all of our customers that made this possible. We are very proud of our partnership with Pennies and we are honoured that our customers donations will impact so many important causes. We are thrilled to have reached the £3M milestone and we look forward to seeing this number grow through Pennies micro-donations.”

Alison Hutchinson CBE, CEO of Pennies said: “Our huge thanks to HTEC for working with Pennies to unlock millions of pounds for charity and growing and encouraging a community of digital giving.

“These pennies have a huge collective impact. For example, just 90 minutes of donations at Rontec could pay for a family to attend one of Maggie’s kids’ days, which help children to understand and come to terms with mum or dad having cancer.

“Meanwhile 25 minutes of donations from customers at MFG could mean NSPCC can answer a call for help to Childline.

“We estimate that if every UK card holder gave 35p a week via Pennies – around the price of a ‘Freddo’ chocolate bar in 2019 – a potential £1bn in new income could be raised for charities each year!”

Pennies has now raised an incredible £20M for over 400 UK charities – across payment partners including HTEC – and was highlighted in Harrington Starr’s Financial Technologist ‘175 global fintech influencers’ in 2019. Pennies was the only charity to make the list.

Pennies is live across a breadth of 60+ retail, hospitality and service sector leaders across the UK, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland, including Rontec and MFG roadside retail outlets, The Entertainer, Domino’s, Boots Opticians, Oasis Fashion, Hobbycraft and Topps Tiles.