Celebration of progress

OLDHAM’S Asian business community celebrated another year of progress with an Oscars-style gala dinner during which a host of celebrity guests presented the Business Excellence Awards.

Organised by the Asian Business Association, this seventh annual dinner attracted more than 250 guests to the Queen Elizabeth Hall.

Guests were welcomed by the Mayor of Oldham, Councillor Shoab Akhtar, who spoke of his pride at the contribution made by the Asian Business Association.

Prior to the gathering, there was a business-to-business exhibition in the Chadderton Suite which set the scene for an evening of fine dining, entertainment and accolades.

A film included contributions from the Polish, Ukrainian, Kenyan Asian and South Asian communities and captured the increasing diversity of life in Oldham since the end of the second war.

There was a moving tribute to Ajit Medtia, an Oldham property developer who died at his London home earlier this year. His parents were in the audience.

Mo Chaudry, a self-made millionaire from the Potteries, spoke of travails in establishing himself as a businessman, including rescuing the Waterworld theme park in Stoke-on-Trent which now employs more than 150 people.

There was also a contribution from Charlie Parker, the new chief executive of Oldham Council, who, in his first public speaking engagement since taking up his post two weeks ago, spoke of the depth of diversity within Oldham and the part that the business community had to play on Oldham’s journey towards excellence.

The awards ceremony was the highlight of the evening, presaged by a video presentation and pyrotechnic display which set the scene for an evening of celebration.

The event was jointly hosted by myself and Ed Stacey, the former chief executive of Oldham Chamber of Commerce.


Winners

New Start Up Business of the Year Mirzali Architecture LLP — Anjub Ali and Sulaiman Mirza; runners up: Sylhet Times, Abdul Malik and Mortgage Quest UK, Sharif Miah.

Business Woman of the Year Nasseen Hussain — Sequinze Cloth House; runners up: Shenaz Khan, Niche Casting Agency and Fatima Ahmed, Care Time Oldham.

Entrepreneur of the Year Kashif Gafoor and Nafees Hanif — Genesis Construction; runners up: Waseem Aslam, Cafe Lahore, and Anwar Uddin and Salikur Rahman, Prithi Raj Restaurant.

Technology Business of the Year Sylhet Times — Abdul Malik; runners up: Global 3G Ltd, Sajid Hanif and Jariq Jawaid; Ramzan Design, Mohammed Ramzan Ali.

Retail Business of the Year Skidmore Cycles — Mohammed Nasim Ullah Khan; runners up: Amaans, Zahid Hussain and Debonair School Wear, Mohammed Razaq.

Business of the Year

Joint winners Cafe Lahore (Waseem Aslam) and Prithi Raj Restaurant (Anwar Uddin and Salikur Rahman); runner up: Mortgage Quest UK, Sharif Miah.