ABCC
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Contact: Anjum Khan T: 0845 603 6650
Aftab to join Grenfell taskforce
A leading member of the Asian Business Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) executive committee is taking a major role in the response to the Grenfell Tower fire tragedy. Aftab Chughtai, an ABCC executive committee member for more than ten years, has been named by the Government as one of four members of a taskforce that will oversee and support the local council’s long-term recovery plan in the aftermath of the disaster. More than 80 people lost their lives in the fire,
which ripped through the West London high-rise building on the evening of 14 June. Communities Secretary Sajid Javid has said
that the independent Grenfell Recovery Taskforce that has been set up will support the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) in the development and implementation of a plan to help the survivors of the fire. Mr Javid said the taskforce would provide him
with the assurance that RBKC had the capacity and capability to deliver an effective plan for the Grenfell residents, taking into account their views.
Vital role: Aftab Chughtai Joining Mr Chughtai – also chairman of the
West Midlands Police Independent Advisory Group – on the taskforce is another well-known Birmingham figure, Javed Khan, formerly assistant director of education in the city. Mr Khan is now chief executive of Barnardo’s.
The other two members of the taskforce are Jane Scott, leader of Wiltshire Council and Chris Wood, a partner at Altair housing consultancy, and former director of housing for three London boroughs. Sajid Javid said: “I am determined that
everything possible is done to support the local community following the disaster. This includes ensuring an effective recovery plan is developed that takes into account the views of the local community. “The new taskforce has extensive experience
in this area and will provide the council with the expertise needed to deliver this important work.” Mr Chughtai runs a department store in East Birmingham. He received an MBE in this year’s New Year honours list, which was awarded in recognition of his services to business and community relations in Birmingham.
New team (from left): Rakshan Simjee, Matthew Brain, Chris Tutton, John Hayes, Omer Simjee and Caroline Glaken
London law firm
shakes up market London law firm Constantine Law has announced plans to open an office in Birmingham this summer. Constantine founder John Hayes has headhunted employment and immigration lawyer Omer Simjee to lead the business in the West Midlands. Mr Simjee has become Constantine’s fifth senior employment lawyer, and he says the firm is intending to ‘shake up’ the legal market in the West Midlands, by delivering ‘high-quality advice at a price that the region’s businesses will recognise as being exceptional value’. He said: “Constantine Law has re-engineered
the way that legal services are delivered. we work to a lean business model, which delivers a smarter, more responsive service to our clients.”
42 CHAMBERLINK September 2017
Eid event (from left): Lakhbir Singh, Amanda Smallman, Saqib Bhatti, Lisa Donald and Tony Furling
Community joins together to celebrate Eid festival
Asian Business Chamber of Commerce members came together for an Eid celebration at St Johns Hotel in Solihull. The festival of Eid-ul-Fitr – also called Feast of
Breaking the Fast – is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide to mark the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. Around 200 people attended the event, which
was sponsored by Trinity College London, Secure English Language Tests and venue sponsors the St Johns Hotel Solihull. The event was compered by ABCC committee member Amanda Smallman. Following an introduction from ABCC president Saqib Bhatti, guests heard from
speakers Tony Furling, general manager of the St Johns Hotel Solihull, Lisa Donald from Trinity College London SELT and Steve Brittan of BSA Technologies Ltd. ABCC director Anjum Khan said: “Our Eid
celebration is always one of the most popular events on the Asian Business Chamber calendar. “Once again the event attracted a wide range
of business from across the region and it proved an excellent opportunity for guests to make new contacts and develop existing relationships. “I’d like to say a big thank you to the St Johns
Hotel Solihull for hosting and to Trinity College London and Secure English Language Tests for supporting the event.”
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