2006 Awards

Ethnic food retailer and wholesaler, PAK Foods, has scooped the top title at the Ethnic Minority Business Awards.

The awards, held on Friday November 10th at the East Midlands Conference Centre are organised by Nottingham based First Enterprise Business Agency to celebrate the contribution this sector makes to the local economy and community. The event was hosted by ITV Central presenter Rajiv Popat.

The Business of the Year award, sponsored by Greater Nottingham Partnership, was presented to PAK Foods Director Mohammed Altaf.

PAK Foods was chosen by the judges for its community involvement, and excellent training and support programme. Having begun as Price-wise in Radford and West Bridgford, PAK Foods moved to Derby where it was instrumental in regenerating its local neighbourhood. In January of this year the business moved to Sneinton, where it is investing in local people. PAK Foods is now one of the largest ethnic specialists in the East Midlands and it has future plans to grow, and open more outlets and expand its wholesale service.

This year applications for the awards were extended to businesses across the East Midlands, but the response was greatest from Nottingham based firms who scooped all categories.

Deborah Simon of The Academy Day Nursery won Female Business Person of the Year, sponsored by New Deal for Communities, for leadership, which the judges said was ‘inspired’. Deborah runs the nursery in a converted former petrol station. It is now a ‘superb’ neighbourhood nursery offering a separate babies unit, toddler and pre-school, holiday club, and a before and after school service for primary school aged children. Deborah has many plans for the future including offering conference and wedding crèche services.

Other category winners included Young Enterprise of the Year, sponsored by emda, which was awarded to Mohammed Ali, 26, of Pizza Inn who has started his own successful business, overcoming challenges of languages and culture.

Most Positive Contribution to the City Award, sponsored by Nottingham City Council, was given to Tees Carriers in recognition of its proactive employment policy of creating jobs for local people in an area with high unemployment, and providing high levels of training.

Sculptors, Ithis, were announced as Creative Business of the Year for the second time – having also won the award in 2004. The business designs and manufactures clay, hand cast iron and stone sculptures and sells them to retailers worldwide.

The 2006 awards featured two new categories, Best Food Business, sponsored by Beijing Beer from Asiana, won by The Sunshine Café, Arnold, and Best Business Staff Development sponsored by the Learning and Skills Council, won by Advanced Restorative Techniques, dental laboratory.

A special award was given to commemorate the life and work of former First Enterprise chairman, Sullay Jalloh. The Sullay Jalloh Memorial Award for promoting Community Spirit was presented by Sullay’s daughter, Mariama, to Nottingham Lord Mayor and First Enterprise board director, Des Wilson.

Raffle money raised for a Pakistan Hospital and education charity was matched by winners, PAK Foods.

Speaking about the awards, First Enterprise chief executive, Quamar Zaman said: “This is the eighth year of our awards and each has revealed a wealth of talented and adventurous entrepreneurs. We have opened the awards up to the whole East Midlands region for the first time, which reflects the agency’s growing client base and project work.

“Additionally, we have launched a new food category designed to recognise its importance to our local economy and culture, and a new training and staff development award in recognition of the vital role this plays in business success.

“The awards have given us all the opportunity to applaud individuals who have overcome adversity, taken dreams and turned them into reality, and shown genuine care for their employees. It is our pleasure to be able to reward these achievements.”

Sponsors were attracted from across the region’s economy and included Greater Nottingham Partnership, New Deal for Communities, emda, Nottingham City Council, Learning and Skills Council, Beijing Beer by Asiana Ltd and Business Link.

Nottingham dance performance artist, Joseph Hall, winner of BBC TVs Strictly Dance Fever competition, and top Jamaican comedian, Tony ‘Paleface’ Hendriks provided the entertainment.