Asian awards shortlist announced

ASIAN businesses from across the region will be celebrated at an awards ceremony later this month.

The shortlist has been announced for the seventh annual Lloyds TSB Northern Jewel Awards which celebrate success in Asian business.

The nominations this year have included start up ventures, right through to major corporates and have come from a broad range of business sectors, from the arts to healthcare.

Truett Tate, group executive director, Wholesale & International Banking, Lloyds TSB, said: “The continued success story of British Asian firms is an inspiration to the wider business community. Currently, Asian owned firms are outpacing other companies in their rate of growth and are making their mark across fields as diverse as culture, finance, retail and professional services.”

The six awards include accolades for Professional Excellence, Public Service Excellence, Retail Food & Franchise Excellence, Business & Commerce Excellence, Healthcare & Education Excellence, Entrepreneur Excellence and the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Jewel Award.

The shortlist includes three people from Yorkshire.

Sarah Khan, a solicitor who established Shire Solicitors in 2007 and who is also a director of 2:16, a West Yorkshire-based training company, is up for the Professional Excellence Jewel award.

Dr Mohammed Ali OBE, founder of QED-UK, was born in Pakistan and came to live in Bradford in 1969.

He is nominated for The Public Excellence Jewel Award.

Oman Rana, of Industrial Medical Agency, graduated from university in 2000 and went on to work for a multi-national company in London in the Strategic Planning and Global Marketing department.

Mr Rana has been shortlisted for The Entrepreneur Excellence Jewel Award.

The awards take place on April 19 at the Palace Hotel, Manchester.

For more information visit www.jewelawards.tv