PARTNERS
UPDATES AND USEFUL INFORMATION FROM THE LARGEST ETHNIC SUPPORT ORGANISATION IN THE UK
Institute of Asian Businesses 75 Harborne Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 3DH T: 0121 450 4203
E:
iab@birmingham-chamber.com W:
iab-birmingham.com
College becomes IAB Premier Plus partner...
Bank’s city pledge
The new owner of the Birmingham-based Islamic Bank of Britain (IBB) has promised that the company will remain headquartered in the city. Qatar-based Islamic bank Masraf Al Rayan QSC (MAR) also promised to invest £75.75m into IBB, to support its growth. Sultan Choudhury, interim managing director of IBB, said: “IBB has attracted over 50,000 customers since its inception in 2004 and it offers the UK’s largest range of Sharia compliant retail financial products. Al Rayan intends to build upon these excellent foundations, not only through the continued growth of Sharia compliant savings and home finance products to UK retail customers, but also by significantly developing the bank’s commercial business activities.”
“IBB aims to broaden its appeal and customer base further, encompassing both Muslim and non-Muslim professionals. The bank will also expand its services for Gulf-based customers looking to invest in the UK. “IBB joins the Al Rayan banking group in the
same year that it celebrates its tenth anniversary. “Its future looks just as exciting, becoming part of such an ambitious, global banking organisation as Al Rayan. Work is in progress to establish how we represent ourselves as part of the Al Rayan family of companies. “IBB’s retail banking operations will remain in Birmingham. However, it will also create a stronger presence in London.”
Punjab TV online
An IAB member has relaunched a specialist Punjab TV channel as an internet-based service. Channel Punjab was available as a
satellite/cable channel in various parts of the world, including the UK, but has now been moved to the internet by owner Jasbir Singh. Mr Singh, whose career began in property
and latterly the care home industry, is also a film maker – his film ‘Nabar’ (which translates as ‘a rebel with a cause’) was released worldwide last autumn. The film was named ‘best Punjabi film 2012’. He said: “I believe it is time to show that
there is more to Punjabi cinema than just rom-coms. I plan to pursue my dream of bringing meaningful Punjabi cinema to the masses and am already venturing into my next production.”
22 CHAMBERLINK MAY 2014
New patron: (left to right) Saqid Bhatti, vice-president of the IAB, Shaun Hindle, Nasir Awan and Russell Jeans, director of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce
BY SUE COOKE S
olihull College, which offers a programme of professional and vocational courses, from accounting
to retail, has become a Premier Plus partner of the Institute of Asian Businesses (IAB). The college which has more than 15,000 full and part time
students has two modern campuses. Shaun Hindle, senior director for employment and skills at the college, said: “Becoming a Premier Plus partner gives us a great opportunity to increase our association with the Institute of Asian Businesses. We have so much to offer the IAB membership in terms of the unique qualifications and training we provide as one of the larger colleges in Greater Birmingham with campuses in Solihull and in the north of the borough in Smith’s Wood. “This is a great opportunity for us to keep
developing our communication with Asian businesses and our partnership will help us to
understand what the business community wants and needs from an educational establishment. Our association will also help us to lobby for Government funding and other funding sources such as the European Social Fund. “The IAB also has much to offer the college as it is a two way process with helping us to establish our curriculum and helping us to shape our students and staff so that we understand what the business community needs for now and in the future.” IAB president Nasir Awan said: “We are
delighted to have the college as a Premier Plus partner. In view of the latest manufacturing figures published by the ONS, which show that the sector is growing faster than the total GDP, I feel that Solihull College is in the right place to help build a growing workforce for this sector, particularly in light of the ongoing shortfall of skills.” Premier Plus partners, of which there are now
five, have the opportunity to raise their profile with Asian businesses through increased promotion and networking opportunities.
...as Total signs up as patron
The IAB has welcomed a further new patron and two new premier members. The patron is Total Gas & Power, which recently became a patron of the Chamber as well. Total Gas & Power is an energy supplier to the UK market, and is part of the Total Group of businesses. The company was established in 1987, when the gas market was deregulated, and now supplies
80,000 commercial sites. In addition, the company began supplying electricity to the UK market in 2001. Total joins six other patron members, who are: HSBC, RBS, Nat West, South City College, Aston
University and Mazars. The two new premier members are John Taylor Hospice and Pera Training. The former is based in
Erdington, and has been providing palliative and end-of-life care for more than 100 years. Pera is a national training provider, and is based in Melton Mowbray. The company has been in existence for more than 60 years and clients include BMW, Jaguar and AstraZeneca.
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