14 March 2008
Northwest Ethnic Minority Business Forum regional EMB Awards
winners announced
The Ethnic Minority Business Forum North West (EMBF NW)
established by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA)
staged the first Northwest Ethnic Minority Business Awards last
night, recognising and rewarding the huge contribution that BME
individuals and businesses make to the regional economy.
The Northwest EMB Awards is the first region-wide event
celebrating the achievements of BME entrepreneurs and businesses in
the Northwest. 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 evening awards ceremony took place at the City of Manchester
Stadium and was hosted by BBC 1 North West presenter, Ranvir
Singh.
The winners included:
• Best New Business Start-up of the Year - Liverpool
Airport Apartments.
• Best Male Entrepreneur of the Year – Riaz Ahmed, owner of
Burnley bed manufacturer Sweet Dreams.
• Best Female Entrepreneur of the Year – Ilham Hamood who
runs Liverpool based Ilham Hamood Photography.
• Best Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award – Amarron
Frederick, who set up Game Set and Match, a company which takes
social gaming and competition to shopping centres and high
streets.
• Best Exporter of the Year Award – Icon Designs, a
Lancashire based bed and mattress manufacturer which supplies over
800 retail outlets through the country and exports to Ireland and
Europe.
• Best Social Enterprise of the Year Award – GHS Enterprise
Ltd, a social enterprise based in Preston which serves the local
community through providing sport and recreational facilities,
education, social services and a cultural base.
• Best Northwest Business of the Year Award – Wing Yip, a
family run Chinese and Oriental food supplier with superstores
located in Manchester, Birmingham, Cricklewood and Croydon.
Steven Broomhead, Chief Executive of the NWDA, said:
“The cultural diversity of the Northwest is a key asset and
these awards recognised the excellent work of the very best BME
businesses in the Northwest. The delivery of the Regional Economic
Strategy requires that we remove the barriers to economic
participation for everyone to ensure the Northwest economy can grow
to its full potential. We hope these awards will go someway
to encouraging others to set up or expand businesses in the
region.”
The EMBF was set up in January 2005 and provides strategic
leadership and strategic policy advice to the NWDA and other key
regional decision makers and stakeholders in order to empower BME
businesses to maximise their full potential for the benefit of the
region’s economy.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
• 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 EMBF NW has strong, direct links to the BME business
community through its board members and delivery partners. Its
thinking and policy development will continue to be shaped and
informed by a close affinity to grass roots BME businesses in the
North West.
• EMBF NW will focus its activities over the coming years
in three specific areas where it can strongly support and add
significant value to the regional economic strategy. Access to
Markets, Skills and Business Support.
For further information please contact Sarah, Press Officer on
01925 400552 or mobile 07810528471 or sarah.moston@nwda.co.uk
For further information and to view previous press releases
visit us at www.nwda.co.uk
The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) leads the
economic development and regeneration of England's Northwest and is
responsible for:
• Supporting business growth and encouraging investment
• Matching skills provision to employer needs
• Creating the conditions for economic growth
• Connecting the region through effective transport and
communication infrastructure
• Promoting the region’s outstanding quality of life