Inaugural Suffolk BME Business Awards now open for entries
The launch of the Suffolk Black Minority Ethnic Business Awards at the University of Suffolk, which will also host the awards ceremony in October. - Credit: Gregg Brown
The inaugural Suffolk BME Business Awards, recognising enterprise within the county’s black and minority ethnic communities, are now open for entries.
In addition to Business of the Year and Businessperson of the Year titles, the awards also feature categories for Start-up/New Business of the Year and Community Business of the Year.
The awards have been launched by the Bangladeshi Support Centre in Ipswich in partnership with the Business School at the University of Suffolk (formerly University Campus Suffolk), and are also being supported by the East Anglian Daily Times and its sister title the Ipswich Star.
Following a launch ceremony held last month, nominations for the awards are now invited, with the winners due to be announced at a ceremony to be held at the university’s Waterfront Building in Ipswich in October.
Mojlum Khan, manager of the Bangladeshi Support Centre, said that black and minority ethnic (BME) businesses were worth millions of pounds to the Suffolk economy and provided hundreds of jobs around the county.
“The aim is to recognise BME businesses in Suffolk: to recognise their commitment and their importance to the local economy.
“We hope to highlight the achievements of the different communities in Suffolk, and to remove misunderstanding.
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“There are all sorts of businesses, from accountants to restaurants, to builders and shopkeepers, all different sectors. Everybody will be invited from across the communities.”
Terry Hunt, editor of the EADT and the Ipswich Star, added: “I’m delighted to be involved in these important new awards, which enable us to recognise and celebrate, for the first time, the enormous contribution which people from diverse backgrounds make to the flourishing business community here in Suffolk.’’
Details of the Suffolk BME Business Awards and how to make nominations are available on the Bangladeshi Support Centre website at www.bscentre.org.uk
Nominations forms are available from the support centre, at 19 Tower Street, Ipswich, and from the EADT/Ipswich Star offices in Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, and can also be downloaded from the University of Suffolk website at www.ucs.ac.uk (following links to the Faculty of Arts, Business and Applied Social Science).
For further information, call Mojlum Khan on 01473 400081 or email mojlumkhan@bscentre.org.uk.
