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ART & COMMUNITY
Wickes Store Manager proves ‘tried and tested customer service’ still works Raj Patel, Wickes Store Manager from Tottenham, has proven that old fashioned customer service is still appreciated by employees and customers alike by winning Wickes Store Manager of the Year for the second time, having first won the accolade in 2004. At a time when footfall in stores is becoming increasingly more important, Raj and his team are focusing on good old fashioned customer service on the shop floor. Raj believes that everyone can learn, and has been known to use quizzes and role play as motivating team building exercises. He focuses on increasing his team’s all round knowledge and sales capabilities, so they can use their new skills and focus with customers on the shop floor. Raj’s success was announced following a strict judging process.
Store Managers are recommended by peers to become Regional Store Manager of the Year, then visited and interviewed by their Divisional Director, Managing Director, and Operations Director David Furness, before a winner is selected. Of the winner, David said; “His store standards
are excellent, his results impressive, but his attitude to his people is his biggest achievement and he should be very proud of what he’s delivered.” And with more plans to improve the service that they give to customers in the pipeline, it’s likely that the Wickes Tottenham store will continue to be one of the success stories of the current retail climate. Raj added: “I’m delighted to have won this award for the second time in my career and it is testament to the hard work and dedication of the whole team, without whom this would not be possible. My leadership ethos is to continually engage, develop and inspire my team to reach their full potential and I aspire to achieve this on a daily basis; I believe this is the key to management success.”
Asian Voice - Saturday 25th June 2011
Double Bill: Shammi Pithia and Hari Sivanesan As part of its twentieth anniversary celebrations (1991 – 2011), the Asian Music Circuit presents an evening of traditional and contemporary music from two up-and-coming British Asian artists: Shammi Pithia and Hari Vrndavn Sivanesan. Having trained from age 8 at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in London, Hari Sivanesan was under the expert tutelage of Guru Smt Sivasakthi Sivanesan, one of the UK’s more prominent Carnatic figures. He won a prize from the Asian Music Circuit aged 13, enabling him to further his training in India study under Guru Smt Kalpakam Swaminathan, a living legend among veena artists, for more
Hari Sivanesan
Shammi Pithia
than six months. ‘Being able to present Hari in concert at London’s Southbank Centre, ten years after the Asian Music Circuit helped him further his studies in India is tremendously fulfilling’, said CEO of the Asian Music Circuit, Viram Jasani. ‘We’re passionate about nurturing the next generation of musical talent, and being able to support Hari’s career
from such a critical stage to professional musicianship is a wonderful feeling.’ ‘Box office receipts represent a crucial part of our income, so we invite all lovers of Indian and Asian music to support live concerts, and enjoy a very special evening with us,’ said Jasani. Tickets are on sale for the special price of £10 (£5 concessions; limited availability).
Day with Shri Shirdi Sai Baba at Nagrecha Hall, East London
Young Gujarati lawyer becomes a Partner at a renowned law firm Mitesh Patel has become the first Gujarati Partner at Levenes Solicitors in London. Mitesh, who is a fine and talented solicitor, has risen ‘through the ranks’ at Levenes Solicitors. Always noted for his strong commitment to the local community, Mitesh has regularly advised at charitable organisations and is the face of the firm in to the Asian community. Mitesh has been instrumental in bringing legal services offered by his firm to the Asian community. His team has quadrupled in size over the past 18 months and goes from strength to strength. He is a member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) and his present case work encompasses a wide variety of work which has seen him attend hearings in the High Court,
Coroner’s Court for Inquest hearings, and Mediation for numerous high value cases. Mitesh has a special interest in catastrophic and fatality claims as well as employers liability cases. He has partaken in cases before the Court of Appeal and has an enviable multi track caseload and record of cases where he has helped recover millions of pounds for clients. "This appointment reflects a strong performance by Levenes at a diffi-
cult and challenging time for legal services in general and litigation in particular," says David Levene, Levenes founder and Senior Partner. "Mitesh has helped make a big contribution to the Levenes success story in recent years." Of his own success in the legal field Mitesh told Asian Voice, ‘I am fortunate to have a very supportive family, I also have a hard working team at Levenes, my achievement of becoming a Partner therefore also recognises the support and efforts of those around me.’ He added:- ‘We have become trend setters in delivering results to our clients in the fields of employment law and personal injury law. We look forward to continuing the work we do to reach out to the community and protect the rights of those who have suffered,’ Congratulation Mitesh!
A day with 'Shri Shirdi Sai Baba' in East London was held on Sunday the 05th June at Hariben Bachubhai Nagrecha Hall and was a grand success. It was an excellent opportunity for devotees in and around the area to take part in the event. Prayers were offered to Baba (Moorthi Swaroopam) throughout the day and a staggering 1500 devotees attended the special event. The Nagrecha family permitted the use of the premises with all necessary facilities free of charge. The devout family has also permitted the use of their premises every Thursdays & Sundays to enable uninterrupted Sai sandhya bhajans for months now & continue to provide their support.
Focus on Tourism
A seminar "Focus on Assam Tourism" with an exclusive book launch "Assam" was organised by the courtesy of Lord Adam Patel of Blackburn on 13 June at House of Lords, Palace of Westminster. It was chaired by Mr. Ashish Roy, well-known journalist (Times of India) along with Dr Audrey Cantlie of the School of Oriental and African Studies.
Gurkha veterans take pension fight to European courts The British Gurkha Welfare Society has announced that it has lodged an application with the European Court of Human Rights in the latest step in its battle to secure equal pensions for Gurkhas who retired with any service before 1997. The BGWS has filed the petition following a test case in the UK courts, in which a judicial review and the Court of Appeal both found in favour of the Ministry of Defence. The Supreme Court refused permission to appeal last December While all Gurkhas are
that, after many now allowed to setyears of committle in the UK, those ted and courawho retired with any geous service, service before 1997 these old soldiers still receive smaller cannot find juspensions than their tice within the British and UK's borders Commonwealth forand it should be mer comrades - leavto the ing many elderly and Government's ailing veterans, both shame that the in the UK and Nepal, particularly those Major Tikendra Dal Dewan (retired) outside RCJ continuing poverty with other Gurkhas they face goes with no post 1997 uncorrected." service, in desperate step reluctantly but with The BGWS expects the poverty. the knowledge that not European Court of Human Major Tikendra Dal pursuing legal options furRights to hear the case no Dewan (retired), ther would effectively put Chairman of the BGWS, earlier than late 2012, a nail in the coffins of said: with a verdict potentially many veterans. "We have taken this reached possibly by 2013. "It is desperately sad
Overseas Friends of BJP (UK) is organising OFBJP Convention in London. It will be addresses by Shri Nitin Gadkari on Saturday 16th July at the City Pavillion. To discuss about that event, Vijay Jolly (right), Ex.MLA and Vice President and Spokesman of BJP Delhi and All India BJP Jt. Convenor External Affairs visited the Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar office with Lalubhai Parikh (left), Vice President, Overseas Friends of BJP (UK).