The Ethnic Minority Business Forum Northwest (EMBF NW) held its second annual Northwest Ethnic Minority Business Awards on March 12, 2009 at Manchester United's, Old Trafford Football Club.
The prestigious ceremony was organised by the Ethnic Minority Business Forum, part of the Northwest Regional Development Agency. Hosted by BBC presenter Ranvir Singh, over 400 guests attended the awards including Baroness Valerie Amos, Leader of the House of Lords and first black woman to be appointed to the British Cabinet, and Steven Broomhead, Chief Executive of the NWDA.
It aims to inspire and encourage more members of the BME community in the region to start-up or expand their businesses in the Northwest.
The 2009 event included a unique interactive experience with guests able to select winners from a shortlist of nominations, via an interactive audience polling system available on the night.
Highlights of the night were Ugochukwu Obi from the African Caribbean Company who won the Rising Star Award. The company is the first social networking site for African and Caribbean students in the UK - a special mention to Obi who despite being initially lost for words did a fantastic acceptance speech.
Another popular winner was Olive Strachan from Olive Strachan Resources (OSR) who won the International Business Award. Olive Strachan, founder and managing director of Olive Strachan Resources (Training Manchester) Ltd was lost for words when she was honoured for her success in growing her Manchester based company overseas.
"We try to offer a comprehensive service that has worked extremely well in Manchester and the rest of the country, deciding to take this concept overseas was the best business decision we have undertaken and at the same time a huge risk - in a bizarre twist it started to pay dividends as the recession kicked in" said Olive.
"I'd heard about the awards; however I didn't really think of entering until Carol Ann Whitehead, deputy managing director of Assured Events 'sold' the idea to me. Before I knew it, I'd been nominated! I was truly overwhelmed to be chosen, I've been on such a high ever since!"
Chair of the Ethnic Minority Business Forum and CEO of the Shere Khan Group, Dr Nighat Awan O.B.E comments "The EMBF Awards was designed to recognise and reward the outstanding achievements made by black and ethnic minority entrepreneurs and businesses in the Northwest. It was a fantastic evening with enthusiasm oozing from the audience. Olive Strachan was a worthy recipient with a story to tell. In these troubled economic times it is fantastic that Olive is flying the flag for the UK and the North West"
Other winners during the evening were:
Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Umar Mohamed - Deliz Limited
Social Enterprise of the Year
Castlemere Community Centre
Entrepreneur of the Year
Fazilaq Malek - Fazila Foods
Northwest Business of the Year
Gafoor Poultry Products Limited
