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ASIAN FAMILY BUSINESSES IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP (second left), with Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter John, and co-chairs of the conference Rami Ranger CBE and Alyshia Mangalji
Asian-owned companies contribute more than £200 billion a year to the UK economy, and employ 300,000 people in London alone. On 6 October, the Asian Family Business Conference put this vital sector in the spotlight with special guest the Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP, the UK's Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, and a host of highprofile speakers including Claude Littner, UWL Visiting Professor and co-star of The Apprentice BBC TV show, and Rami Ranger CBE, distribution tycoon. Topics on the agenda included conflict management, leadership, governance, gender and intergenerational transition. Dr Suresh Gamlath, Dean of Claude Littner Business School, presided over three lively debates.
Delegates and guests also enjoyed a gala dinner at UWL’s award-winning restaurant Pillars, by world-renowned chef Cyrus Todiwala OBE, who led a team of student chefs and 'front of house' waiting staff from the London Geller College of Hospitality and Tourism to prepare the meal. Mr Javid said: "It’s great that the Asian family business conference and the University of West London are through this event celebrating the contribution of Asian businesses to our society. Contributing as much as 10 per cent towards the UK economy, Asian businesses continue to be a powerful force in British society. In particular, thanks to the drive and the innovation from Asian family businesses, cities such as Leicester, Manchester and Leeds are thriving. So as we leave the EU, they will play a pivotal role to help us build a more global, more outward-facing Britain." 9