MEET THE PARTNERS Left to right Kewal Dass Partner LSC, Clive Drinkwater UK Trade Investment, Peter Jamieson Jobcentre Plus, Val Jones Social Enterprises NW Darrell Matthews Institute of Directors
EMBF FORECAST Adding significant value to the North West’s regional economy Ethnic minority communities’ population forecasted to grow as a percentage of working age population as a whole.
Many new high skilled jobs will be created in city areas, including where ethnic minority communities mainly reside.
MEET THE BOARD MEMBERS
CHAIR VICE-CHAIR Dr Nighat Awan O.B.E. Olive Strachan Shere Khan Group
Business community will continue to play a pivotal role in driving regional economy forward.
EMBF NW is working with strategic partners to ensure effective business support.
Nighat counts four highly successful and very diverse companies amongst her business achievements, encompassing fashion, floristry and food. She is currently CEO of the Shere Khan Group of restaurants and curry products. Nighat is equally well known for her tireless charitable activities. In Summer 2004 Nighat was awarded the O.B.E. in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in recognition of her services to export and to charity.
Olive Strachan Resources
Olive Strachan founded Olive Strachan Resources in 1998 and has built a formidable reputation as an outstanding trainer developing both individuals and the businesses in which they work. Olive and her team have travelled throughout the UK and around the world to deliver OSR’s services, including Switzerland, Portugal, France and the Middle East. Olive won the EMBF/NW Award in March 2009 for Achievement in International Business.
Haziq Arshad Haz is a Corporate Solicitor and has worked in Halliwells (London and Manchester) since 2005, focussing on company start-ups, restructurings and M&A. He is heavily involved with his family business, Mughli Restaurants, based in Manchester and Knutsford, as well as operating his own design business which he established in 2003. He was also elected as the Sports and Social Chair for the Manchester Trainee Solicitors Group in 2007. His interests, outside of work, include anything creative, food and travel.
Salim UddinKhandakar Salutions Ltd
The youngest of four children to parents of Bangladeshi origin Salim studied Economics at University. Salim’s CV includes British Airways, Guardian Media Group, Kiss FM, Galaxy FM, Heart FM, Jazz FM and Smooth FM. He set up Salutions Limited with his wife Beverley in 2002. Salim is Group Managing Director. The company publishes lifestyle titles including Didsbury Magazine, Hale and Bowdon Magazine and the recently launched Bonus Sapor Magazine.
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Marilyn Comrie O.B.E. Shazan Qureshi Leadergen
Rejuvenate Group
Marilyn Comrie is the CEO of LeaderGen, a consultancy with a reputation for grooming women and ethnic minority individuals into senior management or board level positions through their proven brand of Transformational Leadership Coaching. LeaderGen’s innovative and value added approach enjoys the trust of a discerning and demanding global clientele. Its clients range from international blue chip companies, Central Banks and Government ministries to development agencies and prestigious organisations.
The Rejuvenate Group is a technology led and people focussed, media centric group of companies. Shazan is a marketing professional with over 14 years experience in direct marketing, advertising and branding and has worked alongside a number of leading blue-chip brands through his senior roles at TBWA, Omnicom and WPP. As founder of Urban Logic, an off plan property investment specialist, which was acquired for £7.4m and listed on AIM whilst Shazan was at the helm.
To build on an outstanding enterprise culture where the North West is internationally recognised and held up as a beacon for generating world class ethnic minority communities’ businesses, which continues to outperform the rest and generate significant wealth and jobs for the economy
EMBF NW will ensure skills and development of owner managers and workforce. Tahir Mohsan Time Group
EMBF NW will be strategic in supporting effective internationalisation/procurement opportunities.
Focusing on the above research has estimated an additional contribution of £1bn to the region’s GVA.
Brenda Lee Bao Xen Ltd
Tahir is the founder of the Time Brenda is Director of Bao Xen brand of computers, now Ltd, a Chinese dim sum factory manages an investment vehicle based in Liverpool. Some of her involved in the IT and property achievements include building a industry across the Europe, property portfolio worth in Middle East and Asia and has excess of £4m within four significant investments in the IT years. Brenda has 2 Masters sector. These range from Degrees, Strategic Marketing hardware manufacturing and and Multimedia Systems sales, internet services, Technology and has been a software development and member of the Chartered ‘Voice over IP’ technology. They Institute of Marketing since aim to invest in companies that 1999”. Brenda has been provide good medium to involved in community work for long-term growth, which can over 20 years, finding sponsors, eventually be realised either raising funds for education, through trade sales or homeless children and poverty management buyout. alleviation programmes.
Mirza N Hamie
Modern Packaging CEO of S B Modern Packaging and has lived in Bury for 40 years. I am married, and have five fantastic children and a very understanding wife. I have been involved in local groups on number of projects and championed cause for diversity and equality. My aim has been to develop the community to provide a culture in which people from all backgrounds can live and engage in a prosperous and caring environment.
Dina Railean
Express Language Solutions Dina Railean who is originally from Eastern Europe founded Express Language Solutions, a specialist provider of language services in interpreting and translations. Since its establishment Express Language Solutions has amassed a large number of clients including the NHS, HM Prison Service, Local Education Authorities, Probation Service, The Appeals Service, Courts and many more
AbdiRehman Yusuf
Focusing First On People Abdi is the founder and managing director of ‘Focusing First On People’, a training organisation which caters for people from disadvantage areas to avail opportunities of learning, training and employment. Abdi has provided services of business support and consultancy to setup a large number of small and medium businesses. His experience of engaging with large numbers of people as a part of community / different organisational levels has helped him to elevate their confidence, motivate them and enhance their skills for life.
Shiresh Singapori First Choice Homes
A marketing professional for all of his adult life, and a member of the NW Chartered Institute of Public Relations Committee. Currently a solutions consultant, youth mentor and Marketing and Communications Manager for First Choice Homes Oldham, which manages 12,500 properties. Previously led a benchmark media industry project and the hugely successful launch of Oldham Business Management School in 2000. Now University Campus Oldham, part of the top-30 rated Huddersfield University.
Ethnic Minority Business Forum North West
Empowering business through strategic leadership If you would like more information or would like to get involved with the EMBF(NW), then please contact Iqbal Patel, at Ethnic Minority Business Forum North West Renaissance House, PO Box 37, Centre Park, Warrington, WA1 1XB. T 01925 400100 F 01925 400400 E info@embfnw.com W www.embfnw.com
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By 2012, 50% of growth in UK workforce will come from ethic minority communities.
Left to right Ayub Patel Network for Network, Anna Rothrey Migrant Workers North West Yvonne Sampson Partner NWDA, Peter Watson Business Link NW
EMBF NW Ethnic Minority Business Forum
Ethnic Minority Business Forum
Role & Structure
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The EMBF NW is the key policy advisory and strategic body responsible for the development of sustainable ethnic minority communities business in the North West region and has the overarching responsibility for shaping, challenging and informing regional economic and enterprise policy development and practice.
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EMBF NW
To ensure that ethnic minority enterprise development is integral to strategic planning and its policy by holding public bodies to account through their delivery, procurement and funding
The body provides strategic leadership and strategic policy advice to key regional decision makers and stakeholders in order to empower ethnic minority communities’ businesses to maximise their full potential for the benefit of the region’s economy. EMBF NW strategic partners and stakeholders are NWDA, Business Link Northwest, Learning & Skills Council and UK Trade & Investment.
The current North West picture The current North West ethnic minority communities’ population accounts for 5.6% of the regional population, which is less than the 7.9% national representation.
The region’s ethnic minority communities’ population of working age is 230,000 people.
• Business
• Skills & Education - Meeting the skill needs of sectors and growth opportunities - essential to support expansion. - Investing in workforce development - the development of intermediate and higher level skills in the current workforce is a key driver of productivity and economic growth.
• People & Jobs - Growing local employment - in areas remote from growth as well as already successful areas.
• Infrastructure - Ensuring planning supports sustainable growth. - Encouraging public and private Investment.
• Quality of Life - Developing the sense of community in the North West - including community cohesion. - Developing culture and image.
EMBF Achievements
There are 19,000 ethnic minority communities’ businesses, employing 56,000 workers of which 45,000 are from the ethnic minority community.
• Appointed a diverse board of representatives from the regional Its thinking and policy development will continue to be shaped and informed by a close affinity to grass roots ethnic minority communities’ businesses in the North West.
Pillars of Activity - Developing new enterprise and growing existing companies. - Improving international competitiveness.
The regional ethnic minority communities’ population is concentrated, with 47% located in the 5 Local Authorities of Manchester, Blackburn & Darwen, Preston, Pendle and Oldham.
EMBF NW comprises a number of voluntary board members whose task it is to drive policy making activities and ensure good governance. In this role, the board provides the EMBF NW’s interface with key strategic partners at national and regional level. The board draws upon the expertise of individuals who have a wealth of experience from the private and public sector in ethnic minority communities business issues.
NORTH WEST CONTEXT
EMBF FOCUS
ethnic minority communities (eg African & Caribbean, Chinese, Eastern European, Bangladeshi as well as Asian).
• Helped to increase the numbers of ethnic minority communities’ businesses accessing business support from Business Link NW.
• Worked with Business Link and other partners to increase take-up of
Most ethnic minority communities’ businesses are small, with less than 5 people and many are family owned ventures/businesses.
Access to Finance.
• Influenced public service delivery organisations on their marketing strategies so that they can improve engagement with ethnic minority communities.
• Organised events in the North West to understand issues faced by ethnic minority communities’ businesses especially African & Carribean, Bangladeshi and Polish.
• Created a strong ‘voice’ for the ethnic minority communities’ businesses by representations on other regional strategic forums eg. NW Regional Enterprise Forum, NW International Business Forum, Social Enterprise Steering Group etc.
The ethnic minority community have a higher propensity to start their own business than their white counterparts.
EMBF NW The Regional Economic Context The vision of the Regional Strategy (RS) is “to transform England’s North West through sustainable economic development into a competitive, high added value, knowledge based, inclusive economy”. It is one of the key drivers of economic development in the North West. It links into the overarching Northern Way Strategy and the City Region Development Plans, which are central to strengthening the North’s economy. Also, feeding into these plans is the Local Enterprise Growth Initiative (LEGI) from the Department for Community and Local Government, which will provide sustainable investment support to the most deprived areas in the North West. The RS has identified that the region’s GVA per head of the North West is still 12% lower than that of England - resulting in an output gap of £13bn. As the RS is currently under development and the experience of the LEGI programmes, EMBF NW will continue to provide policy input to these areas of activity through dialogue with the relevant authorities and strategic partners to bolster the support for BME businesses.
MEET THE PARTNERS Left to right Kewal Dass Partner LSC, Clive Drinkwater UK Trade Investment, Peter Jamieson Jobcentre Plus, Val Jones Social Enterprises NW Darrell Matthews Institute of Directors
EMBF FORECAST Adding significant value to the North West’s regional economy Ethnic minority communities’ population forecasted to grow as a percentage of working age population as a whole.
Many new high skilled jobs will be created in city areas, including where ethnic minority communities mainly reside.
MEET THE BOARD MEMBERS
CHAIR VICE-CHAIR Dr Nighat Awan O.B.E. Olive Strachan Shere Khan Group
Business community will continue to play a pivotal role in driving regional economy forward.
EMBF NW is working with strategic partners to ensure effective business support.
Nighat counts four highly successful and very diverse companies amongst her business achievements, encompassing fashion, floristry and food. She is currently CEO of the Shere Khan Group of restaurants and curry products. Nighat is equally well known for her tireless charitable activities. In Summer 2004 Nighat was awarded the O.B.E. in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in recognition of her services to export and to charity.
Olive Strachan Resources
Olive Strachan founded Olive Strachan Resources in 1998 and has built a formidable reputation as an outstanding trainer developing both individuals and the businesses in which they work. Olive and her team have travelled throughout the UK and around the world to deliver OSR’s services, including Switzerland, Portugal, France and the Middle East. Olive won the EMBF/NW Award in March 2009 for Achievement in International Business.
Haziq Arshad Haz is a Corporate Solicitor and has worked in Halliwells (London and Manchester) since 2005, focussing on company start-ups, restructurings and M&A. He is heavily involved with his family business, Mughli Restaurants, based in Manchester and Knutsford, as well as operating his own design business which he established in 2003. He was also elected as the Sports and Social Chair for the Manchester Trainee Solicitors Group in 2007. His interests, outside of work, include anything creative, food and travel.
Salim UddinKhandakar Salutions Ltd
The youngest of four children to parents of Bangladeshi origin Salim studied Economics at University. Salim’s CV includes British Airways, Guardian Media Group, Kiss FM, Galaxy FM, Heart FM, Jazz FM and Smooth FM. He set up Salutions Limited with his wife Beverley in 2002. Salim is Group Managing Director. The company publishes lifestyle titles including Didsbury Magazine, Hale and Bowdon Magazine and the recently launched Bonus Sapor Magazine.
‘
Marilyn Comrie O.B.E. Shazan Qureshi Leadergen
Rejuvenate Group
Marilyn Comrie is the CEO of LeaderGen, a consultancy with a reputation for grooming women and ethnic minority individuals into senior management or board level positions through their proven brand of Transformational Leadership Coaching. LeaderGen’s innovative and value added approach enjoys the trust of a discerning and demanding global clientele. Its clients range from international blue chip companies, Central Banks and Government ministries to development agencies and prestigious organisations.
The Rejuvenate Group is a technology led and people focussed, media centric group of companies. Shazan is a marketing professional with over 14 years experience in direct marketing, advertising and branding and has worked alongside a number of leading blue-chip brands through his senior roles at TBWA, Omnicom and WPP. As founder of Urban Logic, an off plan property investment specialist, which was acquired for £7.4m and listed on AIM whilst Shazan was at the helm.
To build on an outstanding enterprise culture where the North West is internationally recognised and held up as a beacon for generating world class ethnic minority communities’ businesses, which continues to outperform the rest and generate significant wealth and jobs for the economy
EMBF NW will ensure skills and development of owner managers and workforce. Tahir Mohsan Time Group
EMBF NW will be strategic in supporting effective internationalisation/procurement opportunities.
Focusing on the above research has estimated an additional contribution of £1bn to the region’s GVA.
Brenda Lee Bao Xen Ltd
Tahir is the founder of the Time Brenda is Director of Bao Xen brand of computers, now Ltd, a Chinese dim sum factory manages an investment vehicle based in Liverpool. Some of her involved in the IT and property achievements include building a industry across the Europe, property portfolio worth in Middle East and Asia and has excess of £4m within four significant investments in the IT years. Brenda has 2 Masters sector. These range from Degrees, Strategic Marketing hardware manufacturing and and Multimedia Systems sales, internet services, Technology and has been a software development and member of the Chartered ‘Voice over IP’ technology. They Institute of Marketing since aim to invest in companies that 1999”. Brenda has been provide good medium to involved in community work for long-term growth, which can over 20 years, finding sponsors, eventually be realised either raising funds for education, through trade sales or homeless children and poverty management buyout. alleviation programmes.
Mirza N Hamie
Modern Packaging CEO of S B Modern Packaging and has lived in Bury for 40 years. I am married, and have five fantastic children and a very understanding wife. I have been involved in local groups on number of projects and championed cause for diversity and equality. My aim has been to develop the community to provide a culture in which people from all backgrounds can live and engage in a prosperous and caring environment.
Dina Railean
Express Language Solutions Dina Railean who is originally from Eastern Europe founded Express Language Solutions, a specialist provider of language services in interpreting and translations. Since its establishment Express Language Solutions has amassed a large number of clients including the NHS, HM Prison Service, Local Education Authorities, Probation Service, The Appeals Service, Courts and many more
AbdiRehman Yusuf
Focusing First On People Abdi is the founder and managing director of ‘Focusing First On People’, a training organisation which caters for people from disadvantage areas to avail opportunities of learning, training and employment. Abdi has provided services of business support and consultancy to setup a large number of small and medium businesses. His experience of engaging with large numbers of people as a part of community / different organisational levels has helped him to elevate their confidence, motivate them and enhance their skills for life.
Shiresh Singapori First Choice Homes
A marketing professional for all of his adult life, and a member of the NW Chartered Institute of Public Relations Committee. Currently a solutions consultant, youth mentor and Marketing and Communications Manager for First Choice Homes Oldham, which manages 12,500 properties. Previously led a benchmark media industry project and the hugely successful launch of Oldham Business Management School in 2000. Now University Campus Oldham, part of the top-30 rated Huddersfield University.
Ethnic Minority Business Forum North West
Empowering business through strategic leadership If you would like more information or would like to get involved with the EMBF(NW), then please contact Iqbal Patel, at Ethnic Minority Business Forum North West Renaissance House, PO Box 37, Centre Park, Warrington, WA1 1XB. T 01925 400100 F 01925 400400 E info@embfnw.com W www.embfnw.com
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By 2012, 50% of growth in UK workforce will come from ethic minority communities.
Left to right Ayub Patel Network for Network, Anna Rothrey Migrant Workers North West Yvonne Sampson Partner NWDA, Peter Watson Business Link NW
EMBF NW Ethnic Minority Business Forum