About Me - Safaraz Ali

I am the Founder and CEO of Pathway Group. An organisation that has been aspiring to change people’s lives through skills and work since 2000. As the CEO, I am committed to continual development and growth for myself, my team which is reflected in all aspects of my ethos to business. I see a key part of my role is to nurture and empower a high performing team that is committed to making a meaningful difference in all that they do.

I often describe what Pathway do simply as the ABC approach to help people to secure: “A job, a Better job, then a Career”. Pathway Group have been at the forefront of supporting individuals through their journey into and during employment, delivering qualifications tailored to job outcomes, linked to employers. Pathway do this by having a relentless focus to add value, delivering positive outcomes and ensuring that they put their relationship first, leading them to be your partner of choice.

My pathway to entrepreneurship has not been a conventional one if there is ever such a thing.

I have seen many different sides of society and have changed my mind on many matters during the process – all part of the journey I would say, and each person’s journey is different.

Running any business needs to be a labour of love but labour is most probably the right term particularly if your business initially is a side venture which mine initially was which I ran alongside a full-time job.

Whilst I am not a young man, I feel blessed that I have the wisdom and experience that come with the turn of time and I still feel that I have my best years still in front of me.

The Path to this point has been tough, emotional at times and often dealing with self-doubt but if it wasn’t for some of the highs that you get for many different reasons, from simply winning customers to delivering results, to having made a meaningful difference to someone’s life – I may have literally given up and not just thought many times of doing so.

This is why I say: find your reason to keep going, your purpose behind everything you do, don’t forget how lucky you are even though you often don’t feel it. How lucky we all are wherever we are on our journey in life – it’s a privilege.

I didn’t do well at school not because I wasn’t academic enough or anything like that, but I was a follower and followed bad company and lost my way. I got my GCSE results and even though I didn’t put any effort in I was shocked at my results of getting D’s across the board alongside a dash of two E grades.

Each day is a privilege to bring about change and make a meaningful difference.

I think we all want the same or similar things:  have a sense we are contributing and growing, doing something that has a real sense of purpose

I feel blessed that I am able to do what I am doing. Thank you for time, please do get in contact

I have been passionate about driving positive societal change, whether that involves connecting like-minded business to enable change or by giving a voice to those less fortune through my extensive work.

During the time that I have been active in the social entrepreneurship arena, which is from the year 2000, I have made it his mission to network with the region of Greater Birmingham movers and shakers, establishing connections that would quickly become friendships, as shared beliefs about Birmingham’s prodigious potential blossomed.

Forever mixing business with pleasure, I am known to use my contact base and friendships with my general disposition of being quiet, gentle and affable nature to help amplify support for local causes, pushing the envelope forward on social business issues – something that I always make time for.

Staying relevant

Over the years, I have evolved and adapted to remain relevant within the changing business landscape.

Projects and initiatives include:

• Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards (previously known as BAME Apprenticeship Awards)
• Multicultural Apprenticeship Alliance and the Apprenticeship Diversity and Social Mobility Forum
• Festival of Apprenticeships
• F5 Fostercare
• Nationwide Care Pharmacy
• Business Book Awards, co-founder and founding partner

I have been told that I have a  recognisable status as an integral member of the local business community, my enthusiastic and open approach, and connections have been pivotal in my present status as being influential and therefore a frequent contributor on platforms such as The Business Influencer Magazine, Local Community Radio stations and TV.

A figurehead for the business community

Understanding business sentiments and the entrepreneurial mindsets and journey, I frequently judge awards and for seven years plus now, I have been part of the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, Signature Awards and Birmingham Awards.

I chair and host mastermind groups and private dinners bringing together business leaders as part of my Quantum Club, private dining by invitation only. The mastermind groups are branded under either our own brand Director2Director or in collaboration with the IOD (where I am a board member).

In addition, I often host high profile introductions amongst West Midlands’ movers and shakers. While some are for the benefit of my clients, or supporters of my events often the introductions that I make are for the greater benefit of business community as a whole.

A holistic approach to business

With a wealth of knowledge about the holistic management of self, I often am regarded as going the extra mile, running regular catchups with each leader at my team at Pathway Group and other associated businesses to provide guidance on a range of issues, should team members want to discuss them. Support in this way nurtures and creates an open, communicative, and supportive working environment that nourishes the team member that I care so deeply about and want to help to reach their personal goals and potential.

Safaraz’s vision for the future

With an unrivalled determination for working in partnership and strategic alliances, My ultimate aim is for local businesses to take advantage of the incredible growth opportunities that present themselves when you choose not to work in silos but to join up. I strongly live in the ethos of the win, win win.