Issa brothers earn award for community work

By Lancashire Business View

02 Nov 2018

Mohsin and Zuber Issa, the co-founders of the EG Group, have been recognised for 'building a better working world' and will go onto represent the UK at the International EY Awards.

The co-CEOs were the overall winners at the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards in addition to topping their individual category, which recognised the positive impact they are making to communities both locally and globally.

The Blackburn-based brothers started their business in 2001 with a single petrol forecourt in Bury, that they ran themselves. Today, they operate around 4,500 sites across eight different markets - UK, France, The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy, Germany and the US - and employ over 20,000 people.

EG Group is one of the European leaders in forecourt convenience retailing and has recently entered the US market.

The business was built on the ‘customer’s want’ to access convenience from a single location, to buy fuel, groceries and ‘food on the go’. They disrupted the traditional forecourt model, by offering customers: all grades of fuel at all pumps; an improved retail experience by partnering with leading brands; and transformed sites so they offered well-lit parking, clean washroom facilities, and even free wi-fi.

Joanna Santinon, partner and EY Entrepreneur Of The Year leader, UK, said: “From operating one forecourt themselves, Mohsin and Zuber have grown EG Group into a distinctive and successful global business that has placed the customer at the heart of its strategy.

“Disrupting the traditional model, they have transformed the consumer experience in a competitive forecourt retail sector, investing whilst others were exiting the market. The business has experienced huge growth in 17 years and there is potential for further expansion internationally into new geographies.”

Whilst running the business, Mohsin and Zuber set up the ISSA Foundation, which supports individuals, communities and organisations, both domestically and internationally, with activities that promote education, health and addresses poverty.

Over the years they have funded projects locally, including the purchase of an MRI scanner for Blackburn Royal Hospital, supporting two nursing roles at East Lancashire Hospice, and founding the Blackburn Youth Zone, which aims to change the prospects offered to young people in the area.

They have also supported medical camps in Kenya, food programmes in India, Malawi and Sierra Leone, water wells, and pre and post-natal care at clinics in African Countries.

Victoria Price, partner and EY Entrepreneur Of The Year leader in the North, said: “EG Group promotes a real sense of purpose and social responsibility among its workforce, encouraging its employees to get involved with fundraising and community work. Mohsin and Zuber have invested over £7m to reduce the impact of the environmental and carbon footprint - including installing solar panels, LED lighting and electric charging points at sites.” Mohsin and Zuber Issa will now represent the UK at EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year in Monaco next year.

Latest news

1

Growth Plan maps out £20bn-plus investment journey Mo Isap from the Lancashire Business Board with the plan

Growth Plan maps out £20bn-plus investment journey

18 Sep 2025

2

Post Office future secured as council explores new options Abington Street Post Office

Post Office future secured as council explores new options

17 Sep 2025

3

Airframe Designs supports new defence strategy with pledge to nurture talent Jerrod Hartley

Airframe Designs supports new defence strategy with pledge to nurture talent

17 Sep 2025

4

Fox Group makes second acquisition since Stellex Capital backing Roger Thistlethwaite, managing director NMS Civil Engineering Limited. Paul Fox, CEO Fox Group. John Flood, Executive Director Fox Group

Fox Group makes second acquisition since Stellex Capital backing

17 Sep 2025

5

Villa at Wrea Green bought for £3.6m by Haythornthwaite family The Villa Wrea Green courtesy of The Villa Wrea Green

Villa at Wrea Green bought for £3.6m by Haythornthwaite family

16 Sep 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
LBV124 September/October Launch Event
MBP Arc Cinema Preston Opening 205
Networking
18 Sep 2025

LBV124 September/October Launch Event

The Arc Cinema, Preston, PR1 2BL

08:30 - 10:30

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Ladies Lunch
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
18 Sep 2025 - 18 Sep 2025

Ladies Lunch

Lancaster Golf Club, Lancaster, LA2 0AJ

12:00 - 16:00

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

Your Business, Your Region: Making sense of devolution and Local Government Reorganisation
Chorley Council breakfast event new
LBV Hub Networking
23 Sep 2025 - 23 Sep 2025

Your Business, Your Region: Making sense of devolution and Local Government Reorganisation

Worden Hall, Leyland, PR25 3DH

08:00 - 11:00

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: September
Sept Freelancer (1).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
23 Sep 2025 - 23 Sep 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: September

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Speed Networking with BNI
2.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
24 Sep 2025 - 24 Sep 2025

Speed Networking with BNI

Chorley Football Club, Chorley, PR7 3DU

16:00 - 19:00

The Marketing Meetup IRL: Lancashire - September
TMM Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
25 Sep 2025 - 25 Sep 2025

The Marketing Meetup IRL: Lancashire - September

Chorley, PR7 2SL

18:00 - 20:00

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD for ITSA) drop-in day
MTD drop in session.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
25 Sep 2025 - 25 Sep 2025

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD for ITSA) drop-in day

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD for ITSA) drop-in day, Blackburn, BB1 5QB

10:00 - 16:00

The Marketing Metrics That Matter – Sept 25
Metris 25.09.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
25 Sep 2025 - 25 Sep 2025

The Marketing Metrics That Matter – Sept 25

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 11:00

Help to grow management course
Help to grow - barriers to growth.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Sep 2025 - 16 Dec 2025

Help to grow management course

Preston Campus , Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV124 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin