The seventh Black Country Asian Business Association Awards ceremony took place on Friday 17 October, and finditinsandwell was there to celebrate the success of Sandwell firms.
You could even say that Sandwell firms dominated the annual dinner, with Masterfreight, SSP Catering, Recycle Plastic, Balaji Temple, KTC Edibles, and the Balu Group all nominated for awards on the night.
Business owners, MPs, local dignitaries and celebrities gathered at the Copthorne Hotel in Dudley on Friday night to celebrate the very best of Asian business in the Black Country. Hosted by Sonia Deol of the BBC Asian Network, there were six award categories – plus a prize for the overall Business of the Year award – and almost 350 guests at the glittering ceremony.
First to grab an award was the Balaji Temple in Tividale, which received the Community Excellence Award for promoting community development.
Oldbury-based import and export freight firm the Balu Group scooped two awards during the evening: the Black Country Asian Business of the Year and the Regeneration Award, presented to an individual or business who has made a genuine difference to the Black Country. finditinsandwell sponsored this award, and Sandwell MBC’s Steve Massey was delighted to hand over the prize.
“finditinsandwell will also be a patron to the BCABA for the next 12 months and we look forward to participating at forthcoming BCABA networking events,” Steve said later. “Both BCABA and finditinsandwell have similar aims: to encourage local procurement, promote sustainability locally and celebrate the talent and expertise that is available here in the Black Country.”
Further success for Sandwell came with Wednesbury-based KTC Edibles. The UK's largest manufacturer and distributor of edible fats, oils and foodstuffs was deemed International Trade Business of the Year, for entering an overseas market, demonstrating business growth and enhancing its profitability by embracing local trade.
And we must not neglect to mention that the entire event management was organised and smoothly taken care of by Sandwell-based sound logistics company Nachural Communications.
Here are the names of the winners in each category:
Business Start Up - Cafe Rickshaw
Community Excellence - Balaji Temple
Regeneration award - Balu Group
Young Entrepreneur - Five Rivers Catering
International Trade - KTC
Young Leaders - Techno Buddies
Overall winner - Balu Group.