The Asian community is now an integral part of British life and plays an increasingly important role in shaping the country’s future. According to reports, ethnic minorities will make up around 20% of the UK’s population by 2051 and will generate wealth from a diverse range of sources. Also known as The People’s Choice Awards, the Asian Achievers Awards (AAA) is a star-studded event where the crème de la crème of society attend to celebrate and acknowledge the contribution and hard work of the British Asians in today's society.
The awards held annually is organised by Asian Business Publications Limited (ABPL). This year will mark the 16th edition of the awards and it will be held at the prestigious Grosvenor House Hotel in September. Each year the awards illustrate and celebrate a certain aspect of society, and this year there will be emphasis on the Professional of the Year category.
There are ten categories for the Asian Achievers Awards. In the penultimate week of the nomination process we will talk about two categories: Business Person of the Year and Lifetime Achievement.
The Business person of the Year is awarded to a business person who is a success story in every sense of the word and can demonstrate a genuine passion for social issues. Last year Iqbal Ahmed OBE of Seamark Plc, a worldwide export company, bagged the award. Shortlisted candidates included Zameer Choudrey who is the MD of the Bestway Group, Surinder Arora who is the founder and the chief executive of the Arora hotel group, one of the fastest growing independent hotel companies in the UK, and Jasminder Singh who is the founder of the Edwardian group set up in 1977.
Today the Edwardian group has 14 hotels across the capital.
The Lifetime Achievement is awarded to honour those individuals, who during their lifetimes, have made immense contribution to their community and country. This remarkable individual must be seen as a role model for the younger generation. Last year, Lord Rumi Verjee CBE bagged the award. Lord Verjee launched the Dominos Pizza in the UK which employs over 20,000 people. In 2006 he established The Rumi Foundation, a charity which supports humanitarian work through education, innovation and knowledge building.
There are many British Asians in the UK who deserve the recognition for their contribution to their respective fields. If you know someone who has contributed to the community, has broken the glass ceiling and deserves recognition, then nominate them online at www.asianachieversawards.com or register their details on the nomination form of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar this week. Deadline for nominations is 31 July, 2016.
