![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.thebusinessdesk.com\/_files\/images\/nov_26\/JPL_6621_1800x1200-300x200.jpg\")
Imran Hakim said: “I’m a Bolton lad and me and my brother Zubair started this business with a \u00a32000 loan from our late father.<\/p>\nIt was a big night for Darwen-headquartered The Hakim Group at the North West Business of the Year awards, as the company won the large business of the year category, while its CEO Imran Hakim was awarded the title of Business Leader of the Year.<\/p>\n
A family founded business, Hakim Group has transformed independent optometry and audiology through its innovative joint-venture model, expanding rapidly to over 600 practices while protecting local high-street clinical autonomy and community care.<\/p>\n
Imran Hakim said: “I’m a Bolton lad and me and my brother Zubair started this business with a \u00a32000 loan from our late father.<\/p>\n
“Our journey has been quite a rollercoaster, and to see all the entrepreneurial talent in the room tonight, to win this is just incredible. Some of the best people in Britain are right here in the North West.<\/p>\n
“We’re at a really important point in the evolution of our business, looking at our trajectory from our first practice in Bolton to over 600 now, we’re now moving into audiology, we have seven eye hospitals and we’re expanding internationally.”<\/p>\n
Charlie Cornish, Chairman of Manchester Airports Group was made Ambassador of the Year in recognition of his career in the region as CEO of the Airport, but also at United Utilities before that, and for his work as a non-executive director at Leyland-based Ipsum Group.<\/p>\n
He has played an influential role nationally, supporting regional growth and advocating for rail reform, acting as a founding member of Northern Powerhouse Partnership. He has also helped drive UK aviation decarbonisation, committing to our airports\u2019 transition to net zero operations by 2038 and, as a member of the Jet Zero Council, helping shape UK aviation\u2019s net zero strategy. <\/span><\/p>\n In a video message he said: “I’m really proud to accept this award as Ambassador of the year, particularly as I’m following the other previous winners who’ve supported the North West over the years. Hopefully, I can do likewise, for the next 5 and hopefully 10 years in business going forward. My aim is to encourage and support the development of the North West in terms of economic value with the jobs that we create, which in turn supports the social well-being of the wider region.”<\/p>\n The start-up of the year award went to Aztek Security Services, founded by well-known business personality Alan Townley who spent many years as a close protection and security officer at Manchester United FC.<\/p>\n Michael Taylor, event host and editor of TheBusinessDesk.com in the region, said: “The North West Business of the Year Awards was a real celebration of the region\u2019s most innovative and successful companies, reflecting the contribution of disruptors, market leaders, and growth champions ready to showcase their achievements.”<\/p>\n He added: “Thank you to everyone who took time to take part in the entire process, the team here, the judges, the sponsors from \u00a0CMS, PwC,\u00a0 RBC Brewin Dolphin, Robert Walters and Verlingue, <\/span>but most of all to the companies and individuals that entered.”<\/p>\n The awards featured categories for every size of business and a rigorous judging process involved visits to entrants, selection of the standout businesses, and the finalists pitching their case.<\/p>\n The winners were revealed at a prestigious black-tie evening in Manchester, at the Deansgate Hotel, honouring excellence and ambition across the North West business community.<\/p>\n The evening also raised money for the\u00a0 North West Air Ambulance.<\/p>\n SHORTLIST<\/p>\n Start Up: Aztek Security Services<\/strong><\/p>\n Shortlisted:<\/p>\n Doorly Social Impact: Farrat<\/strong><\/p>\n Shortlisted:<\/p>\n Express Solicitors Community Organisation: Purple Heart Wishes<\/strong> dot-art Innovation: HSS ProService Marketplace<\/strong> Engage Solutions Group Property: RECOM Solutions<\/strong> Claremont Group Interiors Sustainability: Skipper TM<\/strong> Clarke Willmott Employer of the Year: Claremont Group Interiors<\/strong> Astemo UK International Trade: Clarke Energy<\/strong> Manchester Airport Investment: Papilo<\/strong> Butlers Farmhouse Cheeses Family Business: Connolly<\/strong> Aqueduct Marina <\/p>\n Small Business (up to \u00a310m): CYFOR Group<\/strong> Five Wealth Medium Business (\u00a310m – \u00a350m): LCM Environmental Services<\/strong> Apprentify Group Large Business (\u00a350m+): Hakim Group<\/strong> Astemo UK Fast Growth Business: QBS Technology Group<\/strong> Apprentify Group Hakim Group <\/p>\n Business Leader of the Year: <\/strong>Imran Hakim, Hakim Group<\/strong><\/p>\n Shortlisted:<\/p>\n Dani Hodges, HSS ProService Marketplace Ambassador: Charlie Cornish, Chairman, Manchester Airports Group<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A fabulous night celebrating business success in a tough environment<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":2182268,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[57364],"coauthors":[65],"class_list":["post-2182207","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-awards","tag-featured-story","tag-northwest","tag-top-story"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nHigh Street Health
\nmoneyappi
\nSowena Group<\/p>\n
\nKeepmoat
\nP P O’Connor
\nSutcliffe Projects
\nThe Purpose Agency<\/p>\n
\nShortlisted:<\/p>\n
\nEmpower Youth Zones
\nPenny Post Group
\nPurple Heart Wishes
\nSpark Oldham CIC
\nThe LCap Empowering Women in Business Community<\/p>\n
\nShortlisted:<\/p>\n
\nEternal Vets
\nHop Software
\nMontane Group
\nSkipper TM
\nSummize
\nVerity Commercial Services<\/p>\n
\nShortlisted:<\/p>\n
\nIncognito
\nThe Prestbury Advisory
\nTSK Group<\/p>\n
\nShortlisted:<\/p>\n
\nHispec Electrical Products
\nHSS ProService Marketplace
\nPapilo
\nTyler Grange<\/p>\n
\nShortlisted:<\/p>\n
\nCYFOR Group
\nDakota Hotels
\nFarrat
\nHispec Electrical Products
\nPOWWR
\nProsperity Children\u2019s Services
\nVenus Legal<\/p>\n
\nShortlisted:<\/p>\n
\nQBS Technology Group
\nSeda Pharma Development Services<\/p>\n
\nShortlisted:<\/p>\n
\nManchester Airport
\nSeda Pharma Development Services<\/p>\n
\nShortlisted:<\/p>\n
\nButlers Farmhouse Cheeses
\nLaw Distribution
\nLeasing Options
\nMCF
\nSan Carlo Restaurant Group<\/p>\n
\nShortlisted:<\/p>\n
\nBathgate Business Finance
\nDSG Chartered Accountants
\nMontane Group
\nP3
\nSpecscart.
\nSutcliffe Projects
\nThe Prestbury Advisory<\/p>\n
\nShortlisted:<\/p>\n
\nComplex Law
\nDow Schofield Watts (DSW)
\nDr Beckmann Group
\nMidshire Signature Services
\nTyler Grange
\nWestlab<\/p>\n
\nShortlisted:<\/p>\n
\nExpress Solicitors
\nHill Dickinson
\nKeepmoat
\nManchester Airport
\nSan Carlo Restaurant Group
\nTSK Group<\/p>\n
\nShortlisted:<\/p>\n
\nDr Beckmann Group<\/p>\n
\nLCM Environmental Services
\nLeasing Options
\nProsperity Children\u2019s Services
\nZooki<\/p>\n
\nSean Keyes, Sutcliffe Projects
\nLawrence Perret-Hall, CYFOR Group
\nRichard Wallace, LCM Environmental Services<\/p>\n