Political & Public Life Awards 2016

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Celebrating Achievements in Diversity 2016 w w w. a b p l g r o u p. c o m

Winner 2010

Winner 2014

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POLITICAL & PUBLIC Winner 2012

Winner 2010

LIFE AWARDS

Winner 2014

Winner 2011

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10th year and going strong The initiative to honour outstanding participants in Public Life and Politics in the UK began as a small experiment to honour all those who contribute so much in various ways irrespective of nationality, colour, creed, gender or political affiliation.

I feel very humbled that now it has been recognised as a unique PEEPUL Awards. I am most grateful to all those concerned and especially to Rt Hon. Keith Vaz MP, his office as well as the staff of the House of Commons who have enabled us to reach a very satisfactory stage so far. I am fully aware that we still have miles to go in the service of the readers of Asian Voice/Gujarat Samachar and other publications of ABPL along with those many many more aspiring to make a substantive change in the quality of our life.

I have observed that over the past 10 years, perhaps more than 2,500, mainly young persons from various walks of life have attended these celebrations and helped us in this endeavour.

Once again, thank you for being with us and have a very enjoyable evening.

Best Wishes CB Patel Publisher/Editor

Rt Hon Keith Vaz, MP Chair, Home Affairs Committee

Outstanding Achievers for the PEEPUL Awards On behalf of the panel of judges, I am delighted to welcome you to the annual Asian Voice Political and Public Life Awards at the House of Commons. Founded decades ago by the doyen of British Asian Publishing, the legendary CB Patel, the Asian Voice newspaper has the largest readership amongst the Asian community in Britain. It has been at the forefront of ensuring that the issues of concern to Britain’s glorious ethnic minority communities are brought into the public domain.

The paper is one of a number of outlets that bridge the gap between communities in Britain. At least 5 million BME people read one of these newspapers each week. The British Asian community has made a great contribution to our country. We are key stakeholders in politics, industry, business and even show business.

Tonight we celebrate the accomplishments of a few of them. The uniqueness of these awards is that they are held in the mother of Parliaments and that they honour and recognise political figures who have really impressed the British Asian community. They also celebrate Asian talent in the public and political sphere outside of Westminster.

This year’s roll call of senior political figures include the Rt Hon Angus Robertson MP who as Scottish National Party Leader of the House of Commons helped lead his party to a Scottish landslide in the 2015 General Election. Also joining us is the Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office, Rt Hon Matthew Hancock MP, one of the most well-liked and respected members of David Cameron’s government, and the Shadow Minister for Energy and Climate Change, Clive Lewis MP, a strong willed and vocal figure in the Shadow Cabinet.

We will also celebrate the achievement of our Sportsman of the Year, Riyad Mahrez, a rising football star who is astounding the world in his incredible performances for Leicester City Football Club and the Algerian national team; and it is with great honour that we present a legend, Sir Trevor McDonald, with a lifetime achievement award for his contribution to journalism and the BAME community. I hope the evening will be remembered as one where we celebrated achievement, but also looked to the future. We remain citizens of the most multicultural country in the world, and tonight, you are a mirror of that world.

Rt. Hon Keith Vaz MP 2

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Parliamentarian of the Year

Rt Hon Angus Robertson MP, Leader and spokesperson on the Constitution of the Scottish National Party in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom Angus Struan Carolus Robertson was on born the 28th September 1969 in Wimbledon, London. He was brought up in Edinburgh to a Scottish father and German mother. Before he entered politics, Angus pursued a career in journalism and worked as a foreign and diplomatic correspondent in Central Europe for the BBC World Service. Ahead of his election in to the House of Commons, he was the European and International Affairs Adviser to the Scottish National Party Group in the Scottish Parliament, he had joined the party in 1984 at the age of 15. Robertson became the youngest Scottish Member of Parliament when he stood and won election in Moray, Scotland. In 2007, he became SNP leader in the House of Commons and in the 2015 General Election Angus helped lead his party to the biggest election victory they have ever had.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Sir Trevor McDonald OBE

Sir Trevor McDonald OBE is a highly respected and well known news presenter, having worked in journalism for over 40 years. He started out as a producer for the Caribbean regional service of the BBC World Service before moving to London at the end of that decade, to work for the BBC. In 1973, Sir Trevor moved to Independent Television News where he served as news, sports and diplomatic correspondent, and afterwards he would become diplomatic editor and newscaster. An accomplished journalist who has written several books, including biographies of cricketers Clive Lloyd and Viv Richards, in addition his own autobiography, ‘Fortunate Circumstances’, which was published in 1993. Sir Trevor was knighted in 1999 for his services to journalism. On the 15th December 2005, he presented his last ITV News bulletin after more than 30 years at ITN, but returned in 2007 and spent an additional year as presenter. Sir Trevor is regarded as one of the most influential representatives of the BAME community, and one of the most significant journalistic figures, of modern times.

Sportsman of the Year

Riyad Mahrez

Riyad Mahrez is an Algerian international football player for Leicester City, where he led the club to promotion in 2014. He began his football career as a youth player for the French club AAS Sarcelles, which is where he was born on the 21st February 1991. In 2009, the young winger joined French football club Quimper before joining Le Havre where he played from 2010-2014. In January 2014, then English Football League Championship club Leicester City signed him to a three-and-a-half year contract at King Power Stadium. After several impressive performances for club, his country called and named him in the Algerian squad for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Riyad made his Premier League debut the following season against Everton on the opening day of the season. So far Riyad has been capped 22 times for the Algerian national team and has played over 70 matches for Leicester City. He is currently one of the leading goals scorers in the Premier League in Leicester’s incredible drive to win the league title this season.

Journalist of the Year

Matthew Parris

Mathew Parris is a hugely respected journalist and columnist for The Times, where he has worked since the late 1980s. Before that he was the Member of Parliament for West Derbyshire where he represented the Conservatives. Matthew attended Clare College, Cambridge where he gained a degree in Law, he is the honorary patron of Clare Politics. Afterwards, the future MP and journalist went on to study International Relations at Yale University. Today he is one of the most accomplished writers in the United Kingdom, writing columns for The Times and The Spectator while also having authored many books on both politics and travel. Matthew started out his journalist career as a Parliamentary reporter, in 1990 he received the London Press Club's Edgar Wallace Outstanding Reporter of the Year Award. In addition to working as a writer, Parris works in radio and television as a pundit for the BBC. He has won numerous awards and is considered one of the most influential journalists in the UK. Asian Voice & Gujarat Samachar 2016

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Community Engagement

Rt Hon Lord Feldman of Elstree

The Rt Hon Lord Feldman of Elstree is currently the sole Chairman of the Conservative Party, and joined House of the Lords on 17th December 2010. Baron Feldman is a barrister, business man and fundraiser for the Conservative Party. He attended Brasenose College at the University of Oxford and later on attended the Inns of Court School of Law. Before entering politics, Feldman worked as a management consultant at Bain & Co and later as a commercial barrister at One Essex Court. In 2008, he was was promoted to Chief Executive of the Conservative Campaign Headquarters by Conservative Party Leader David Cameron. After the 2010 General Election, Feldman was appointed as the Co-Chairman of the Party with Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, and then Grant Shapps the Member of Parliament for Welwyn Hatfield from 2012-2015. He has played a driving role in improving the Conservative Party’s relationship with minority communities, and in 2015 the Party received its highest ever proportion of votes from BAME groups across the UK.

Hotel of the Year

The Mayfair

The Mayfair is a legendary luxury hotel with a glamorous past. The Mayfair Hotel is located in the heart of Mayfair, London, and was first opened by King George V in 1927 with Queen Mary in attendance. It offers 404 luxury hotel bedrooms including 13 signature suites. In addition, there are 16 meeting and function spaces, the largest of which, the Crystal Room, can host up to 280 guests. This hotel is more than a 5 star luxury hotel, it is an icon of expressive contemporary design which brings together boutique attention to detail with grand hotel service. The hotel is managed by the Edwardian Group London owned by Jasminder Singh & the family. It is an icon of grandeur, and known across Mayfair, London and the world.

Cabinet Minister of the Year Rt Hon Matthew Hancock MP

Matthew John David Hancock is Her Majesty’s Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office. He was born on the 2nd October 1978. He attended Exeter College, Oxford where he gained a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics. He was elected to be the MP for West Suffolk in the 2010 General Election. Matthew was a Member of the Standards and Privileges Select Committee and a Member of the Public Accounts Select Committee from 2010- 2012. From 2012-2013 Matthew was Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Department for Education jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. The following year he was promoted to Minister of State and from 2014-2015 served in the Department of Energy and Climate Change. In addition, he was Minister of State for Portsmouth from 20142015. He is regarded as one of the most hard-working and well-respected members of the Cabinet, taking the lead for a wide range of policy areas in the Cabinet Office.

Scottish National Party Shadow Minister of the Year

Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh MP

Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh elected as the Member of Parliament representing the Scottish National Party for the constituency of Ochil and South Perthshire in the 2015 General Election. When she was 16, she became a member of the Scottish Conservative Party, and was the chairperson of Edinburgh Central Young Conservatives and deputy spokeswoman for the party on women and family issues and equal opportunities. She attended the University of Edinburgh gaining a Master’s Degree and a Postgraduate Diploma in Law at the University of Strathclyde. After a brief career stint in acting, Ahmed-sheikh decided to pursue her legal career. She was a partner at the Glasgow law firm Hamilton Burns. In 2012, Tasmina founded and became chair of the Scottish Asian Women’s Association. She is currently Shadow SNP Westminster Group Leader for Trade and Investment. Since the 2015 election she has become one of the most regular contributors to debates in the House of Commons, gaining a reputation for her determined and purposeful questioning from the opposition benches.

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Conservative Backbencher of the Year

Victoria Atkins MP

Victoria Atkins is the Member of Parliament for Louth and Horncastle, the seat she won in the 2015 General Election. Before her political career began, Victoria worked as a barrister in the field of fraud after having studied Law at Cambridge University.

She is one of only 30 advocates in England and Wales to have been appointed to the prestigious Attorney General’s Regulators Panel and the Serious Fraud Office’s List of specialist fraud prosecutors. This is a result of many years of hard work prosecuting criminals and international drug trafficking rings, along with fraudsters who have stolen millions from British taxpayers. In the 2015 General Election Victoria was elected to represent the Conservative MP for Louth and Horncastle. She is currently a Member of the Home Affairs Select Committee, and is Vice Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Groups on Diabetes and on Broadband. Since her election, Victoria has spoken on a range of issues, including the provision of rural broadband, defence, wind turbines and the importance of tackling extremism. She has utilised her expertise to make a significant contribution to the work of the Home Affairs Select Committee and House of Commons on a wide range of important issues.

Community Event of the Year

Europe India Forum

When the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, visited the United Kingdom in November 2015, non-profit organization the Europe India Forum organised significant aspects of the visit, including an historic reception in Wembley Stadium. There were several people who helped organise the hugely successful event including: the late Lord Gulam Noon OBE and Manoj Ladwa; founder & CEO of the MLS Chase Group; Janhavi Dadarkar, Director of the Europe India Forum; Dhirajlal Nyalchand Parekh, Director of the Kings Hotel and Founder of Purico Group; and Professor Nathu Ram Puri. The event was also supported by Shashi Vekaria, the founder of Vascroft Contractors Ltd. These individuals were behind the enormously successful visit, which Indian Prime Minister Modi described as a "huge moment for our two great nations."

Junior Minister of the Year

Tobias Ellwood MP

Tobias Martin Ellwood is the MP for Bournemouth East and the Foreign Office Minister with responsibility for areas including the Middle East and counter terrorism. He has represented his constituency since 2005. He was born in New York, but grew up in Germany and Austria, returning to the UK to attend Loughborough University where he was President of the Student’s Union and graduated with a BA Honours Degree. He was Opposition Whip from 2005-2007 and from 2007-2010 he was Shadow Minister for Culture, Media and Sport. In 2010, he was appointed to Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Defence Secretary, the Rt Hon Liam Fox MP and similar positions for the Minister of Europe, the Rt Hon David Lidington MP in and the Health Secretary, the Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP in 2013. Tobias was a Member of the Armed Forces Bill Select Committee in 2011. As a Minister at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, he has led the government’s response in difficult situations such as the conflict in Yemen and terrorism in Tunisia.

Junior Shadow Minister of the Year

Clive Lewis MP

Clive Anthony Lewis was elected by a high margin as the Member of Parliament for Norwich South in the 2015 General Election. He was born on the 11th September 1971 in London. He grew up in Northampton. He attended the University of Bradford where he studied Economics and served as Vice President of the National Union of Students.

Prior to his career in politics, Lewis worked as a TV reporter for BBC news and was the chief political reporter to the BBC Look East. He is an associate governor of Thorpe St Andrew School. After this victory, Clive was elected Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Humanist Group and was a Member of the Public Accounts Committee in 2015. He has demonstrated his tenacity and dedication since being elected, and has been appointed the Shadow Minister for Energy and Climate Change.

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Peer of the Year

Lord Kakkar

The Rt Hon Lord Ajay Kakkar was appointed to the House of Lords on the 22nd March 2010 as Baron Kakkar, of Loxbeare in the County of Devon, he sits on the crossbenches.

He was born on the 28th April 1964 in India. Ajay attended Kings College London for his BSc and MBBS and undertook his PhD at Imperial College London. Ajay has had a very diverse professional and public career with his political life in Parliament giving many important responsibilities including Director to the Thrombosis Research Institute in 2008 and three years later he became Professor of Surgery at the University College London.

In 2013, Ajay became UK Business Ambassador for Healthcare and Life Sciences, and in the same year was appointed Chairman to the House of Lords Appointment Commission.

Since 2014, Lord Kakkar has been a Member of HM Privy Council, Member of the Governing Board of Harris Manchester College in Oxford and was appointed Chair to the UCI Partners. In addition, Ajay is currently a Member of the Science and Technology Committee for Lords. He is an active and expert contributor in the House of Lords, where he has made an outstanding contribution since his appointment.

Ingenuity in Business

Rikin Lakhani, Managing Director, Kolak Snack Foods Ltd Kolak are one of the most successful snack manufacturers in the UK market. This business supplies the majority of the high street retailers with Kolak branded and retailer own label snacks. The company has delivered over 30 years of unbroken growth and is recognised as an innovative, competitively priced, quality producer. Kolak has doubled its turnover in the last three years taking sales from £52million to £106 million. Kolak makes more than 25 million, packs of delicious snacks a week. With profits at around 10% of turnover. They have invested £17.5 million in the past two years including the opening of a additional state-of-the-art factory producing extruded snacks and fried pelleted snacks.

Their vision has been to create a brand at the forefront of innovation in food manufacturing, with particular focus on customer service and creating value for our customers. During the height of the recent recession the sustainability of the business model was demonstrated when Kolak increased turnover from £32 million in 2008 to £106 million today with18% growth in CAGR in 10 Years. They pride themselves as a family company, with those values demonstrated throughout their organisation.

Campaigner of the Year

Rehman Chishti MP

Rehman Chishti was elected as MP for Gillingham and Rainham in the 2010 General Election representing the Conservatives and won re-election in the 2015 General Election.

He was born on the 4th October 1978 in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan. Rehman moved to the United Kingdom in 1984 and lived in the constituency he now is the MP of. From 20032010 he was a barrister at the Goldsmith Chambers and served as a Parliamentary Fellow for The Football Association from 2013-2015. He became a Member of the Joint Human Rights Select Committee from 2011 and from 2012-2015 Rehman was a Member of the Justice Select Committee. Rehman was the Parliamentary Private Secretary to Nick Gibb MP, Minister of State for Education from 2014-2015 and is currently PPS to Rt Hon Jeremy Wright MP, Attorney General. He has led the hugely successful campaign for the British Government officially adopt the term Daesh instead of using ISIS, ISIL or Islamic State, which has been adopted by hundreds of MPs, including the Prime Minister.

Entrepreneur of the Year

Mr Jag Chauhan

Jag Chauhan is the owner of Solar Security, a company passionate about providing affordable competitive security to homeowners and businesses. Their aim is to offer top quality security to all clients in need of high quality service, to make people feel safer and prevent intruders from committing criminal acts on private and business properties. Solar Security takes great pride in showing would-be burglars that people are not unprotected and that they are able to defend homes and loved ones. This is one of the reason their business is rising in the European market. Solar Security are a company that cares about their customers, and they see it as crucial that everyone should be able to relax at home, in their businesses. Their pledge is to protect properties which are important to people and by their communities.

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Labour Backbencher of the Year

Wes Streeting MP

Wesley Paul William Streeting was elected MP for Ilford North in the 2015 General Election, representing Labour, in a very tough and marginal election battle. He was born in Tower Hamlets on the 21st January 1983. Before his election victory, he was Deputy Leader of the London Borough of Redbridge from 2010-2014 and also Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing. Wes still serves as a Labour councillor for Aldbourough Ward.

Wes is a graduate of Selwyn College, Cambridge where he read History and served as the President of the Cambridge University Student’s Union. Wes was the 53rd President of the National Union of Students from 2008-2010. Most of Streeting’s career outside of politics has been spent in the voluntary sector in roles focused on helping young people to succeed in education and work. In July 2015, he became a Member of the Treasury Select Committee. Since the General Election, he has demonstrated his passion for education in his respected contribution to debates in the House of Commons.

Fastest Growing Company of the Year

Asset India

Asset India started operations in April 2011 in a small serviced office in Harrow. This business model was to sell Indian properties to the Indian diaspora in UK. Today the company has become one of the most recognised brands for Indian properties in UK. Asset India started with the representation of one developer from India and with one project but now has started marketing multiple projects in different cities. The company has evolved from selling Indian properties to NRI to providing end to end solutions for their Indian real estate requirements. The India office of Asset India focuses on reselling NRI properties in local markets. Asset India is been growing over 100% year on year for last 3 years and this year itself registered growth of over 200 % in revenues.

Award for Business Performance and Innovation (International)

UFLEX

Since inception in 1983, Uflex has grown from strength to strength with large manufacturing capacities of packaging films and products to provide end-to-end solutions to clients across over 140 countries. Uflex endeavours to be the first to come up with advanced products that cater to the ever-changing demands of the packaging industry, and has over thirty years of experience in polymer technology.

Uflex is also known for manufacturing and supplying products, delivering customised flexible packaging solutions and services across the globe to become an inextricable part of customers’ life. It enjoys a widespread reach with unhindered speed, making it truly multinational. Some of Uflex’s clients include P&G, PepsiCo; Tata Global; Mondelez, L’ Oreal, Britannia, Ferro Rocher, Coca Cola, Wrigley, Johnson & Johnson among others. Today, UFLEX serves as one stop shop flexible packaging solution provider, and its world renowned service spans almost every continent.

Fastest Growing Independent Lenders

Market Financial Solutions

Market Financial Solutions (MFS) is a trusted patron of the NACFB, and is one of the UK's fastest growing independent lenders. Incepted in 2006 and based in Mayfair, the company is spear headed by the CEO & Founder Paresh Raja, who has extensive experience and expertise in all funding matters. The company lends through intermediaries and also directly to clients from their own funds allowing MFS to provide immediate decisions when arranging funding. The short-term bridging loans that MFS provides are popular with a vast range of clients, including partnerships, SMEs, corporations, professionals, commercial investors and residential developers.

The company has access to over £100m in funding lines demonstrating a dynamic ability to meet lending demands in the current climate.

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Business in the Community Award

SeeWoo - Stanley Tse

SeeWoo Foods Ltd is one of the largest suppliers of Oriental foods in the United Kingdom, with its three retail stores, wholesale sales operation, restaurants and factory. It was founded in 1975 by three brothers; Issy Tse, Stanley Tse and Tony Tse who came to the UK from Hong Kong in the 1960’s. Today their businesses employ 400 people, many of their staff have been employed at SeeWoo for more than a decade and some for even longer than that. As a company, SeeWood takes great pride in having created a supportive and team orienting working environment that serves as a basis for their success. SeeWoo is very active in the community, and are well known for its work in supporting charities over the years benefiting children, the elderly, the sick and terminally ill, community groups, arts and many more.

Airline of the Year

Jet Airways

Jet Airways is an Indian airline that was founded in 1992, and based in Mumbai. In terms of market share and passengers carried it is the second largest Indian airline.

Jet Airways serves 47 domestic destinations and 22 international destinations in 19 countries across Asia, Europe and North America. The airline's first long-haul destination was London, England, launched in 2005. In 2001, Jet Airways was awarded the prestigious Air Transport World Market Development Award. Jet Airways pride itself in the human touch that is missing in many customer oriented organizations found in their hardworking and humble cabin crew. Jet Airways has achieved its reputation today through a high quality service and reliable, comfortable and efficient flights.

Restaurant of the Year

Red Fort

The Red Fort was founded in 1983 by the legendary Mr Amin Ali and is a restaurant renowned for its delicious cooking and unparalleled service. It is a very popular restaurant that attracts politicians, state dignitaries, entrepreneur and celebrities as well. The restaurant has specialized itself in Mughal court cooking combined with high-quality fresh British produce with subcontinental flavours that makes refined Indian dishes and is served with a wide range of sommelier selected wines. The name of the restaurant is based on the residence of the Mughal emperor of India, The original Red Fort was constructed in 1648 by the fifth Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in the capital Shahjahanabad. Today, it is one of the most popular and highly regarded South Asian restaurants in London, and it’s delicious curries attract thousands of people to its premises in Soho every year.

Young Professional of the Year

Sheena Amin

Sheena started her career as an investor in the TMT sector, working at Summit Partners, a $14 billion global private equity firm. She was Summit Partners’ youngest hire and the only female professional at the firm. In 2013, Sheena was headhunted to join Virgin Media, where she started as a Senior Commercial Manager, and has very quickly risen up the ranks, being promoted in 2014 to Head of Content Strategy & Business Development, making her the youngest Head of Department in the Company. In her current role, Sheena is responsible for creating and implementing Virgin Media’s TV strategy in the UK and executing strategic business development opportunities such as commercial partnerships and new product launches. In this capacity, she plays a vital role in driving the strategic direction of the business and building competitive advantage. Sheena launched the Netflix service on Virgin Media’s platform, a market first for the UK TV industry. She read Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford University where she graduated with first class honours.

Sheena is a keen supporter of charitable work and sits on the UK Board of Young Enterprise, the country’s most recognised enterprise education charity, as a Trustee since 2010.

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Contribution to British Film Industry

Mr Charlie Fremantle

West London Film Studios ("WLFS") are film studios and television studios located in Hayes, Hillingdon. The studios accommodate both small TV productions and blockbuster movies. WLFS has 105,000 square feet of studio-space, including six stages. WLFS offers The Hospital Location - the only medical film studios located in the United Kingdom dedicated to providing sets for all things related to medicine.

Some of the productions filmed at WLFS include: The Imitation Game, the hit BBC series New Tricks, and Channel 4's youth sci-fi series Misfits. Other productions filmed in whole or in part at WLFS include: series 4 of Episodes with Matt LeBlanc, the Derek Christmas Special with Ricky Gervais, comedies Toast of London and Spotless, BBC2 drama series London Spy, CBBC series Horrible Histories, and an upcoming John Wells project featuring Bradley Cooper and Sienna Miller.

Designer of the Year (International) Ajjay Mehrra

Guest of Honour

Ajjay Mehrra is an award winning designer for menswear who has been credited for breaking several fashion norms. In 1995, he hosted a fashion show in a running train which earned him a Guinness world record. Ajjay has been influential in promoting one of the oldest and most well respected brand names in the world. Ajjay's trademark strengths are his contemporary cuts, fine silhouettes, comfortable and practical clothing. His clothing is focused on tailoring and draping, which many now considers the epitome of fine clothing. His collection offers tailored and customized Sherwanis, Indo-Westerns, Jodhpuri suits, Nehru/Jawhar Jackets, Kurta Pyjamas and much more. The range of western evening wear is perfect for those who want to stand out and make a fashion statement.

20th May 2016

The Rt Hon John Bercow MP Speaker of the House of Commons Mr Speaker, John Bercow was elected as the 157th Speaker of the House of Commons on the 22nd June 2009. He was educated at Finchley Manorhill School, and the University of Essex where he graduated in 1985 with a First Class Honours in Government.

Prior to becoming an MP he served in numerous positions including as National Chairman of the Federation of Conservatives Students. He was elected as Member of Parliament for Buckingham in May 1997. He married his wife Sally in December 2002. They are now the proud parents of Oliver, born in December 2003, Freddie, born in November 2005 and Jemima, born in April 2008.

Sheraton Park Lane Hotel, London

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Glittering stars of the British community honoured at the House of Commons extravaganza- 2015

Rt Hon William Hague addressing the audience after receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award for Contribution to Politics

Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP receiving Shadow Cabinet Minister of the Year award from CB Patel

Emma Lewell-Buck MP addressing the guests after receiving Labour Backbencher of the Year award

Ali Soufan receiving International Award for Counter-Terrorism from Rt Hon William Hague

Doug Wills, Managing Editor of London Evening Standard receiving Newspaper of the Year award from Rt Hon William Hague

Ibrahim Dogus receiving Community Service Award from Rt Hon Andy Burnham

Michael Ellis MP receiving Campaign of the 2010-2015 Parliament award from CB Patel

John Cooper QC receiving Lawyer of the Year award from Rt Hon Andy Burnham

Martin Horwood MP receiving Liberal democrat Backbencher of the Year award from CB Patel

Vishal Vadgama receiving Achievement in Arts and Culture award from Michael Ellis MP

Bhasker Patel receiving Actor of the Year award from Michael Ellis MP

Prakash Patel receiving Young Entrepreneur of the Year award from Ian Paisley MP

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Glittering Stars of the British Community Honoured

Presedintele Camerei Deputatilor Valeriu Zgone receiving European Understanding Award from Rt Hon William Hague

Wife of Michael Essien receiving Humanitarian Campaigner of the Year award on behalf of her husband from Lawrence Ward

Lawrence Ward receiving House Officer of the Year award from CB Patel

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Gill Punt, Development Manager receiving School of the Year Award on behalf of Chigwell School

Rt Hon Nicky Morgan winner of Cabinet Minister of the Year receiving Award from CB Patel

Ambassador Dr Ion Jinga receiving Diplomat of the Year award from

Arjun Anand from Madhu’s Sheraton Heathrow receiving Restaurant of the Year Award from Rt Hon NIcky Morgan MP

Martin Horwood MP

Zac Goldsmith MP receiving Conservative backbencher of the Year award from Lawrence Ward

Dr Amit Lamba receiving Doctor of the Year award from Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP

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red at the House of Commons extravaganza- 2015

Ian Paisley, receiving Northern Ireland MP of the Year award from CB Patel

Sophie Ogunbiyi receiving Car of the Year award on behalf of Toyota Prius from Michael Eliis MP

Paul Luther, CEO, Curry Special, receiving Business Person of the Year award from Martin Horwood MP

Baroness Oona King of Bow receivingof Diversity in the Media award from Lawrence Ward

Bhupinder Singh, Managing Director of PNB receiving Professional of the Year award from Naynesh Desai, Partner, DDO Solicitors

Guests at the awards

Photo courtesy: Raj D Bakrania, Prmediapix

Asian Voice & Gujarat Samachar 2016

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Political&

YEARS GONE BY 2009

Opposition Parliamentarian of the year Sarah Teather MP Parliamentarian of the year Rt Hon Harriet Harman QC MP Govenment Backbencher of the year Robert Howard Marris MP Community Award Lord Dolar Popat International Entreprenuers of the year Mr Naresh Goyal & Mrs Anita Goyal Entreprenuer of the year Mr Bhanu Choudhrie Media Company of the year Ms Natasha Mudhar Restaurant of the year Mr Amin Ali Lifetime Achievement Award Mr Mohammed Ajeeb and Marsha Singh Parliamentary Jounaist of the year Ms Ann Treneman Special Award for International Achievement Slumdog Millionaire Asian Broadcaster of the year Mr Rajesh Rupani of Sony TV Journalist of the year Mr Dipankar De Sarkar Peer of the year Baroness Uddin TV Personality of the year Ms Nina Wadia Professional of the year Caroline Flint MP

2010

Politician of the year Rt Hon David Cameron MP Lifetime Achievement Awards Rev Jesse Jackson Labour Parliamentarian of the year Stephen Pound MP Lilberal Democrat Parliamentarian of the year Simon Hughes MP Conservative Parlaimentarian of the Year Damian Green MP Minister of the year Rt Hon Ed Balls TV Personalilty of the year Mr Nitin Ganatra Journalist of the Year Ms Shefali Oza Special Award for International Achievements Mr Som Mandal Media Company of the Year Ms Sheena Bhatessa Restaurant of the year Moti Mahal Asian Broadcaster of the Year Mr Dhruv Gadhvi

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Asian Voice & Gujarat Samachar 2016

Campaign of the Year Incredible India Parlaimentary Journalist of the Year Mr Joe Murphy Male Entrepreneur of the year Dr Rami Ranger MBE, FRSA Female Professional of the year Ms Rhaynukaa Soni News Agency of the Year NDTV Community Award Mr Joginder Sanger Sports Personality of the year Mr Rendall Munroe Female Entrepreneur of the Year Ms Namita Panjabi Male Professional of the Year Professor Jaspal

2011

Parliamentarian of the Year Rt. Hon Ed Miliband MP, Leader of the Opposition Conservative Minister of the Year Rt. Hon Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Education Junior Minister of the Year Ed Davey MP, Parliamentary UnderSecretary of State (Employment Relations, Consumer and Postal Affairs) Special Award for Achievement in Film – The Kings Speech Tariq Anwar, Film Editor Conservative Backbencher of the Year Nadhim Zahawi MP, Stratford-on-Avon Liberal Democrat Backbencher of the Year Dr Julian Huppert MP, Cambridge Labour Backbencher of the Year Anas Sarwar MP, Glasgow Central Journalist of the Year Paul Lewis, The Guardian Business in Community Kantesh Popat FIBA, Director – Finance House Limited Lifetime Achievement Award Nirmal Sethia Local Government Award (Joint Award) Lutfur Rahman, Mayor of Tower Hamlets and Dr Neeraj Patil, Mayor of Lambeth Charity of the Year Path to Success, Anita Choudhrie Business Person of the Year Fukhera Khalid, Managing Director – Elbrook C&C & CHAK89 Contribution to Sport in the UK Leicester City Football Club Columnist of the Year Yasmin Alibhai Brown, The Independent TV Personality of the Year Rudolph Walker Restaurant of the Year Curry Fever, Sunil Anand Asian Broadcaster of the Year B4U

Public Life Awards

Face of Future Award Arjun Rajyagor, Winner of BBC One’s Junior Apprentice 2010 International Entrepreneur of the Year Subaskaran Allirajah, Group Chairman, Lycatel and Lycamobile Community Award Ranjit Mathrani, High Sherriff of Greater London Professional of the Year Professor Iqbal Singh Creative & Entertainment Company of the Year Naz Choudhry, FlexFX Productions

2012

Cabinet Minister of the Year Rt. Hon Andrew Mitchell MP Shadow Cabinet Minister of the Year Rt. Hon. Yvette Cooper MP Parliamentary Journalist of the Year Anushka Asthana Local Government Award Councillor Jagdish Sharma MBE Junior Minister of the Year David Gauke MP Journalist of the Year Riz Lateef Broadcaster of the Year Nick Ferrari Liberal Democrat Minister of the Year Paul Burstow MP School of the Year Haberdashers' Aske's Boys’ School (HABS) Labour Backbencher of the Year Stella Creasy MP Business Person of the Year Bharat Shah Conservative Backbencher of the Year Gavin Barwell MP Diversity in the Public Services Award John Hannett Business in the Community Lycamobile UK Ltd Social Justice Author Award Raj Patel TV Personality of the Year Jameela Jamil Asian Broadcaster of the Year ATN BANGLA Business Demonstrating Sustained Growth of the Year Deepak Nagla, Brightsun Travel LTD Parliamentary Service Award Staff of the House of Parliament Message Bureau Young Entrepreneur of the Year Rajesh Agrawal Restaurant of the Year Chak 89 Editors’ Award Rajesh Prasad, Acting High Commissioner Lifetime Achievement in Health Dr K. Anji Reddy

14-15.qxp_A4 Temp 03/03/2016 17:14 Page 15

YEARS GONE BY 2013

Cabinet Minister of the Year Rt Hon Theresa May MP Shadow Cabinet Minister of the Year Chuka Umunna MP Liberal Democrat Minister of the Year Rt Hon Ed Davey MP Junior Minister of the Year Anna Soubry MP Conservative Backbencher of the Year Richard Bacon MP Labour Backbencher of the Year Jeremy Corbyn MP Peer of the Year Helena Kennedy, Baroness Kennedy of the Shaws QC Changing the Face of Britain Award Lakshmi Mittal Journalist of the Year Abul Taher

2014

Lifetime Achievement Award for Contribution to Politics Rt Hon William Hague, Leader of the House of Commons Humanitarian Campaigner of the Year Michael Essien Cabinet Minister of the Year Rt Hon Nicky Morgan MP, Secretary of the State Shadow Cabinet Minister of the Year Rt Hon Andy Burnham, Shadow Secretary of State for Health European Understanding Award Presedintele Camerei Deputatilor Valeriu Zgonea Restaurant of the Year Madhu's Sheraton Heathrow Newspaper of the Year London Evening Standard

Political& Entertainer of the Year Navin Kundra Broadcaster of the Year James Whale Reporter of the Year Andrew Norfolk High Street Enterprise of the Year Snappy Snap, Edgware Award for Influence in Indian Politics Mohammad Azharuddin Media Professional of the Year Harish Bhimani Charity Worker of the Year Laura Jane Elliot Professional of the Year Dr Sunil Chopra Rising Star of the Year Arjun Anand TV Channel of the Year Channel I Conservative Backbencher of the Year Zac Goldsmith Northern Ireland MP of the Year Ian Paisley MP Liberal Democrat backbencher of the Year Martin Horwood MP Labour Backbencher of the Year Emma Lewell-Buck MP School of the Year Chigwell School Actor of the Year Bhasker Patel Campaign of the 2010-2015 Parliament Michael Ellis MP Diversity in the Media Award Baroness Oona King of Bow Car of the Year Toyota Prius House Officer of the Year Lawrence Ward

Editor/Publisher: CB Patel

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Public Life Awards

Academic of the Year Dr Sonal Minocha International Cooperation between the UK and India Award Prabhat Verma Restaurant of the Year EastzEast Contribution in Art & Culture Award Maya Deepak Entrepreneur of the Year Deepak Kuntawala Innovation of the Year Dr Sandeep Shah Young Business Person of the Year Bobby Karia Achievement in Community Service Kanti Nagda Guest of Honour Baroness Betty Boothroyd Former Speaker of the House of Commons

International Award for CounterTerrorism Ali Soufan Lawyer of the Year John Cooper QC Community Service Award Ibrahim Dogus Award for Outstanding Political Contribution Tessa Jowell MP Diplomat of the Year Ambassador Dr Ion Jinga Business Person of the Year Paul Luther Achievement in Arts and Culture Vishal Vadgama Young Entrepreneur of the Year Prakash Patel Doctor of the Year Dr Amit Lamba Professional of the Year Bhupinder Singh

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