2008 Awards

Almost three hundred business and community leaders from across the East Midlands gathered at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Nottingham on Friday evening, 10th October 2008, for the annual First Enterprise, Ethnic Minority Business Awards and Gala Dinner.

The Awards, now in their tenth year, recognise and reward achievement in the ethnic minority business community. Chairman Hassan Ahmed commented, “Despite the ever challenging economic climate, we received a record number of high quality entries this year. We are extremely pleased that the Awards are so successful and thank all applicants for their involvement and the positive impact they make to the regional economy.”

This year’s winners:
• Female Business Person of the Year Award, Audra Wynter, Wyntax Limited

Audra Wynter founded Wyntax Limited, a high quality and pro active accountancy, taxation and consultancy business in 2002. Since then she has expanded Wyntax, been a driving force in the training and consultancy services of not-for-profit organisation Onyx and has created an enviable property portfolio. Audra is an inspiration to others. Her forward thinking and astute investments have created a truly sustainable business, but one that respects and engages with the local community.

• Young Enterprise of the Year – Mr Jaimon Thomas, Kayal
Kayal is a restaurant in Broad Street, Nottingham, specialising in authentic South Indian Kerla cuisine and seafood dishes from around the world. Director Jaimon Thomas founded the business in August 2007 and has since drawn on his twelve years experience in the hotel and restaurant industry to develop an award winning establishment with a reputation for quality food, service and a loyal customer base. Judges in this category praised Jamion and the team at Kayal for their realistic and detailed business planning and considerable steps towards creating a sustainable business in a tough economic climate.

• Most Positive Contribution to Nottingham - Mrs Marva Daley-Lewis, Cooperative Community Action
Cooperative Community Action (CCA) is a not-for-profit social enterprise, with a mission to help the vulnerable in Nottingham through an ever expanding range of advice, guidance, training and support services. Over the last eight years CCA have secured vital funding and made a positive impact on employment in Nottingham. They have adapted to the changing needs and ethnic mix of the city, today providing for example interpreting services in up to forty languages. CCA impressed the judge’s with their flexible approach and their outstanding contribution to ethnic minority groups; helping seventy people with ethnic minority backgrounds take up training places and over fifty people into work in the last twelve months.

• Developing Business Excellence Through Their People Award - Mr Lee Lindsay, Lindsay Security

Stapleford based Lindsay Security provide security guards for the leisure and events industry. An established business with a track record spanning two decades, the company’s reputation has been built on the quality and skill set of those it employs. These skills have been nurtured and encouraged in the company’s own accredited training centre with recognised qualifications for participants. Judges in this category paid tribute to Lee’s strong leadership on training and his commitment to the professional development of those wanting to pursue a career as a security guard or door supervisor

• Business of the Year Award - Mr Sukhi Ghuman, Octavian Security Ltd

Retaining their title of ‘Business of the Year’ for the second year running, Octavian Security Ltd, continue to set an extremely high standard. The company which started with just three people in 2003 today boosts an international presence with business interests in the UK, Ireland, Canada, Spain, South Africa and the USA. The company, which provides manned security staff for a number of blue chip organisations and events, has raised the benchmark for professionalism in the security industry and is now recognised on ‘The Sunday Times Fast Track 100’. The judges for 2008 admired Octavian Security’s continued focus on quality and service and their clear understanding of their industry.

Two special ‘invitation only’ Awards were also presented in the categories of:

• EnterpriseLoans East Midlands Best Business Plan Award
Presented to Dr John Okyee of CrossGen Ltd. A BioCity based business created from University and academic research to delivery microarrays to pharmaceutical companies and the biomedical research community.

• The Sullay Jalloh Memorial Award for Promoting Community Spirit
Presented to Mr Amrik Singh Sanghera in memory of Sullay Jalloh chairman of First Enterprise from 1989 to 2001. Mr Sanghera has been involved in community services for almost all his life, with the Indian Community Centre and Sikh temple. He is respected admired by those who know him and has also spent many years on the First Enterprise Business Awards board.

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[Side Panel]

This year’s finalists

• Female Business Person of the Year Award, sponsored by emda Women’s Ambassadors

Winner:
Ms Audra Wynter, Wyntax Limited

Finalists:
Ms Smruti Lodhia, Pride Beauty Clinic
Ms Farida Makki, Redmak Architecture & Urban Design

• Young Enterprise of the Year, sponsored by EMB Ltd (Business Link)

Winner:
Mr Jaimon Thomas, Kayal

Finalists:
Mr Colin Ramsden, Take Part
Ms Lisa Jackson, MonOLisa Productions

• Most Positive Contribution to Nottingham, sponsored by Nottingham City Council

Winner:
Mrs Marva Daley-Lewis, Cooperative Community Action

Finalists:
Mr Cortney Rose, Take One
Mr Colin Ramsden, Take Part

• Developing Business Excellence Through Their People Award, sponsored by Train to Gain

Winner:
Mr Lee Lindsay, Lindsay Security

Finalists:
Mr Cortney Rose, Take One
Mrs Bhavna Sohal, Visage

• Business of the Year Award, sponsored by Greater Nottingham Partnership

Winner:
Mr Sukhi Ghuman, Octavian Security Ltd.

Finalists:
Mrs Farida Makki and Mike Reade, Redmak Architecture
Mr Christopher Kyamanywa & Mr Roderick Gaffar, IT Green Recyclers

• The EnterpriseLoans East Midlands Best Business Plan Award (Invitation only)

Winner:
Dr John Okyee, CrossGen Limited

Finalists
Mrs Fehmida Khan, You Hair and Beauty
Mr Jinggui Li, House of Rising Sun

• The Sullay Jalloh Memorial Award for Promoting Community Spirit sponsored by Nat West (Invitation only)

Winner:
Mr Amrik Singh Sanghera