Birmingham Awards – Safaraz Ali reflections

Safaraz Ali on Birmingham Business, Leadership and Ten Years of the Birmingham Awards

It’s no surprise that Birmingham always comes up, in the news, in conversation and I say that’s exactly how it should be.

This city has history, heart and its challenges -but it’s full of people who care deeply about where it’s going next.
It’s a city that keeps moving forward through the effort and energy of those who believe in it.

Although I was born and bred in Birmingham many decades ago, my work has taken me all over the country -from Walsall and Wolverhampton to Stoke, Staffordshire, Nottingham, Derby, and Greater London.
But wherever I go, people still connect me back to Birmingham.
And I’m proud of that.

Over the years, I’ve had people reach out when moving here -parents calling when their children start university, business owners relocating from London, Manchester, or even Europe, asking who to meet, where to start, or which events to attend.
That’s what makes Birmingham special.
Here, business and community overlap.
It’s not about showing off -it’s about showing up. People make time, share contacts, and open doors.

The Birmingham Awards: A Decade of Celebration

The Birmingham Awards are one of the best reflections of that spirit.
Now in their 10th year, the awards have become part of the city’s story -celebrating creativity, enterprise, and community impact.

I’ve supported these awards from their early days -a supporter for eight years and a judge for six -and each year, they continue to impress and inspire me.
They bring together a new generation of entrepreneurs, business leaders, social changemakers, and creatives who are shaping the future of this great city.

Recognition matters.
Awards like these don’t just celebrate success -they position people and places for growth. They give visibility to emerging talent, attract investment, and inspire others to take bold steps.

Recognising Excellence Across the City

This year’s winners truly capture the diversity and strength of Birmingham’s business community:

• Accessibility in Action Award – Evac+Chair
• Arts & Culture Award of the Year – Birmingham Hippodrome
• Bar/Pub of the Year – Flight Club Birmingham
• Business of the Year – Touchwood Solihull
• Businessman of the Year – Simba Rwambiwa
• Businesswoman of the Year – Jo Haydon
• Charity of the Year – Birmingham Hospice
• Community Champion of the Year – Darnish Amraz MBE
• Contribution to Education Award – Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust
• Employee of the Year – Mark Walsh – Birmingham Mind
• Entrepreneur of the Year – Sultan Choudhury OBE – Offa
• Festival or Event of the Year – Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival
• Inclusive Employer of the Year – Midland Heart
• Independent Retailer of the Year – Booghe Toys
• Networker of the Year – Andy Wilkinson – OWB Creative
• Restaurant of the Year – Ciaro Italian
• Small Business of the Year – Adored Pets Cuisine
• Social Enterprise of the Year – The Burnt Chef Project
• Sporting Initiative of the Year – Birmingham City FC Foundation
• Start-Up of the Year – Blue Diamond Recruitment
• Tech for Good Award – Play Moments
• Young Achiever of the Year – Macie Rostill – Finesse Windows Ltd
• Brummie of the Year (Male) – Ed James
• Brummie of the Year (Female) – Marverine Cole
• Lifetime Achievement Award – Black Sabbath
• Lifetime Achievement Award (Posthumous) – Ozzy Osbourne
• Special Recognition Awards: Purple Square AV – Manj & Amma, Edwin Ladd – Photography, and Naeem Arif.

Each winner is part of Birmingham’s wider story -one of resilience, innovation, and collaboration.

Partnership, Purpose, and Pride

For me, these awards are more than an event -they’re a reflection of the kind of city we want to be.
They remind us that progress is a shared effort.

As someone who has spent more than two decades building organisations in skills, employability, health, care, and community impact, I know that cities don’t grow by chance -they grow through partnerships.

That’s why I continue to invest in, support, and collaborate with people and businesses that make a difference.

To Ifraz Ahmed, Anita Chumber, and the team -congratulations on ten years of dedication. You’ve given Birmingham more than an awards night; you’ve built a platform that celebrates its people and its progress.

Birmingham will not stand still.
It will grow. It will rise. It will believe –Inshallah.

Safaraz Ali
Entrepreneur | Angel Investor | Business Partner | Collaborator