North West winners at the 2022 British Muslim Awards

The event, the first for three years, took place at the British Muslim Heritage Centre in Manchester where hundreds of guests from across the UK gathered to celebrate the achievements of community groups and businesses.

In the North West and Lancashire, Blackburn and Oldham took home six honours.

Zainab Jogi, who runs Zee’s Training Academy, won the Community Initiative of the Year.

With over 15 years experience, Zee has been helping to train girls as young as 10 and women in the South Asian community in the art of self-defence.

In 2021 she also took part in a gruelling trek to Mount Kilimanjaro where she completed an obstacle course at the summit.

She said: “This was the first official award I have received and was totally surprised. 

“Thank you for that special individual who nominated us and recognised the hard work we put into supporting the community.

“This award has been dedicated to my mother who is my role model. She has supported my journey from a young age, had confidence in me and always pushed me to pursue my dream.”

Khalid Master with the Professional in Business award, Firoza Mohmed of Humraaz Support Services and Saima Ashraf were both Highly Commended in their categories and Zainab Jogi who won the Community Initiative of the Year.

Hannah Miah, 10, was named Young Achiever for helping to raise awareness about the predicament of street children in Bangladesh.

She said: “I feel really happy that I won the award and got to go on stage. Now that I have won I feel more confident. Charity work is fun with the help of my dad."

This year, Hannah plans a 50km walk during Ramadan in aid of charity and has a target of £5,000.

She added: “When we started to raise funds last Ramadan the initial target was £1,000 but we ended up raising more than £15,000. Keep supporting me and thanks to everyone.”

Hannah Miah picked up the Young Achiever Award

The Masjid E Sajedeen, won the Mosque of the Year honour for their efforts in helping to raise awareness of health issues within the community.

Salim Sidat, chairman of the mosque, said: “This is a fantastic achievement. I would like to thank all the volunteers and committee members as well as the ladies' groups to make this possible. To win two awards shows this Masjid is the leader in moving forward and working to the needs of the community.”

The Professional in Business award was claimed by Khalid Master, of Bankview Smile Studios, while the Food Business of the Year award went to Simply Doughnuts.

Khalid Master said: “I was humbled to have even been included in the shortlist of such a prestigious and broad category.

"Considering how many brilliant British Muslim professionals we have nationally across all sectors and to be judged the best from amongst such a large, diverse, talented collective is truly overwhelming and a real privilege.”

Sed Shaikh of Bamboo Buds, Bolton was named Entrepreneur of the Year.

Saima Ashraf, a blind auditor who has helped to break down stereotypes of visually impaired people, was highly commended in the Mohammed Sarwar Civil Service Award. Women’s Group Humraaz Support Services were runners-up in the Charity of the Year category.

In Pendle, Delicart were Highly Commended in the small business of the year category.

Delicart serves customers in Nelson, Brierfield, Burnley and Blackburn and is hoping to expand the service in the region. 

Mohammad Shoaib (above) who founded the firm said: “I am truly grateful to be recognised for the small business of the year at British Muslim Awards. Our aim is to diversify the shopping experience for halal meat and grocery shopping giving customers quick same day delivery.

"If your takeaway food can come within the hour so can your grocery shopping."

Chazbiz of Preston was also highly commended.

Chazbiz Instant messenger took a year to complete and allows users to register via their e-mail address rather than a phone number.

It is brainchild of Ishaq Vaez who came up with the idea and concept after many years of research, analysis and feedback.

Ishaq said:  “It was fantastic to get this highly commended award so soon after Chazbiz launch."

List of winners

Muslim in the Community: Ghulam Farid and Shagufta Shamim (Bowhouse News Agents, Grangemouth)

Media Achievements of the Year: Unzela Anna Khan (My London, London)

Young Achiever of the Year: Hannah Miah (Hannah’s Challenge, Oldham)

Charity of the Year: World Care Foundation (Edinburgh)

Religious Advocate of the Year: Maysoon Shafiq (Al Mu’minun, Huddersfield)

Noor Inayat Khan Muslim Woman of the Year: Noushin Aslam Raja (Moonlight Trust,Leeds)             

Achievements in Law: Shah Qureshi (Irwin Mitchell, London)    

The Mohammad Sarwar Civil Service Award: Habib Rahman (Newcastle City Council)     

Achievements in Accounting & Finance: Zeeshan Haider (UBL, London)

Entrepreneur of the Year: Sed Shaikh (Bamboo Buds, Bolton)

Spirit of Britain: Samah Khalil (Oldham’s Youth Mayor)

Community Initiative of the Year: Zaynab Jogi (Z’s Defence Academy Blackburn)

Business of the Year: Motorserve UK  (Midlands)

Small Business of the Year: 360 Secure Systems (Bradford)

Man of the Year: Safwan AhmedMia (SuperSaf, Leicester)         

One to Watch: Mohammed Hannan (Johnson & Johnson, Manchester)

Social Inclusion Group of the Year: Muslimah Sports Association (London)

Rising Star in Sport: Hamzah Sheeraz (WBO European Super- Welterweight Champion, Slough)           

Dr Abbas Khan Services to Medicine Award: Mohammad Tayyab Haider (Basildon and Thurrock University Hospital, Mid & South Essex)

Professional in Business: Khalid Master (Bankview Smile Studios, Blackburn)              

Digital Activity of the Year: Youness Abidou (Nester, London)            

Outstanding Achievement of the Year: Aminah Shafiq (Severn Trent, Birmingham)         

Religious Education Provider of the Year: Al Iman institute  (Slough)

Rising Star of the Year: Usman Basharat (Lloyds Banking Group, Nottingham)    

Community Group of the Year: Rainbow Muslim Women’s Group  (Falkirk)

Rising Star in Law: Hasin Amin (Harrison Drury, Manchester)    

Corporate Achievements of the Year: Monica Shafaq (Kaleidoscope Plus Group, West Bromwich)                           

Community Pioneers of the Year: Idris Patel (Supporting Humanity, Newham)

Mosque of the Year: Masjid E Sajedeen (Blackburn)

Organisers Award of the Year: ‘10 Nights’   - Graeae (London)

Food Business of the Year: Simply Doughnuts (Blackburn)

Creative Entrepreneur: Nazim Maniar (Sweetheat Technology, Dewsbury)

Leading Lights of the Year: Rokaiya Khan (Together Women, York)

Services to Education: Adnan Qadir Khan (London School of Economics)

Business Achievements of the Year: Shahzad Younas (Muzmatch,London)