Midland ‘Jewels’ crowned

HEAD of Drug Interventions at Her Majesty Prison Birmingham Charanjit Mehat and Founder of National Halal Centres, Hafiz Muhammad Yaqoob, were amongst the delighted winners, scooping top honours at this year’s Lloyds TSB Central Jewel Awards.

The prestigious event, now in its fifth year, was held on Saturday at the NEC, Hilton and played host to the cream of the Asian community from in and around the region.

The awards are held to celebrate the huge impact of British Asians in both the public and private sector and will reinforce Central England’s reputation as a hub of the UK’s Asian economy.

Estimates are that over 200,000 Asian firms exist in the UK, many of which are based in the Midlands and across Central England.  

 Seven coveted Jewel Awards were announced for Business & Commerce Excellence; Entrepreneur Excellence; Healthcare & Education Excellence; Professional Excellence; Public Service Excellence; Retail Food & Franchise Excellence; and the coveted Lifetime Achievement Jewel Award.

Mohammed Iqbal, owner of Tile Giant, scooped the Business & Commerce Excellence Jewel Award, Waseem Siddique won the Entrepreneur Excellence Jewel Award in recognition of the success of his business Mobile connections and the Healthcare & Education Excellence Jewel Award went to West Nottinghamshire College principal Asha Khemka.

Other winners included solicitor Iftkhar Ahmed who scooped the Professional Excellence Jewel Award, Charanjit Mehat Head of Drug Interventions at HMP Birmingham who won the Public Service Excellence Jewel Award, and Shelim Hussain MBE who won the Retail Food & Franchise Excellence Jewel Award for his national company Eurofoods Group.

The Lifetime Achievement Award went to Hafiz Muhammad Yaqoob who owns the retail outlet National Halal Centres.