Under the agreement, Tyl by NatWest becomes the preferred payments partner for akru, combining its secure, reliable payment processing with akru’s smart POS technology. The move is designed to give independent restaurants, cafés, bars, pubs and small hospitality chains a seamless end-to-end system for managing both transactions and operations.
The integrated platform will allow venues to sync payments directly with their POS system, reducing errors and improving security, while also streamlining sales, inventory management and real-time business reporting.
James Hodgson, CEO at Tyl by NatWest, said the partnership reflected the company’s commitment to supporting small businesses: “We’re thrilled to become the preferred payments partner for akru and to bring together our technology in one holistic solution for hospitality venues. This partnership directly supports our commitment to provide small businesses with reliable, easy-to-use payment tools that empower them to offer an outstanding customer experience.”
Steve Roberts, Managing Director at akru, added: “By integrating secure, efficient payments into our cloud POS, we’re able to offer hospitality businesses across the UK an end-to-end solution that’s simple to use, but powerful enough to support their growth and ambition.”
The partnership allows Tyl by NatWest to expand its footprint in the hospitality sector, while enabling akru to strengthen its platform with a major payments partner. Both companies said the collaboration would equip UK hospitality businesses with technology that is easy to adopt yet rich in functionality, helping venues to improve efficiency and deliver better customer experiences.
Amy Ingham
Amy Ingham is a reporter at Business Matters, covering UK business news with a focus on breaking news, business policy, late payments and insolvency. She joined the magazine in 2026 after completing the NCTJ Diploma in Journalism at Harlow College's journalism school. Her recent reporting includes British Steel's nationalisation and its impact on SME suppliers, the decline in late payments by large firms, and Insolvency Service director disqualifications. Reach her at aingham@cbmeg.co.uk.
