Business News
a lot of failures, a lot of disappointments, but I have kept battling on. “It is a great honour for a person
like me to get an MBE, a fantastic accolade. But I didn’t set out to achieve it. I went out to work hard, to have a better standard of life and to contribute to society as well.” That contribution to society has
seen Nasir, now 61, bring his talents and expertise to a string of charitable and voluntary organisations. He is chair of trustees of Inspire Education Academy at Yew Tree School, Aston, trustee of Euro Charity Trust, a member of Birmingham Ethnic Education Services and Sutton Coldfield Muslim Association. He is also a director of the National
Asian Business Association and supports other charities including Birmingham’s Ronald McDonald House, Great Ormond Street in London and international group Sight Savers. His considerable charitable
commitments are not confined to the UK. He is also patron of the Skpal Koor school in Sawat in Northern Pakistan, which has brought hope to hundreds of deprived orphans and under- privileged children who would otherwise have little or no prospects of better lives. “It is fantastic, how they care and
protect those children. Some of them have gone on to become doctors, engineers etc and then they become donors themselves. It is in the North of the country, the Switzerland of Pakistan, full of pine trees, with freshwater streams and mountains. It is very beautiful.” Meanwhile, back in his adopted
home territory of Birmingham, Nasir, who was made Deputy Lieutenant of the West Midlands in 2017, can also reflect on many years raising the profile of the Asian community across the region. “I joined the Institute of Asian
Proud shop owner: Nasir’s father, Bashir, stands outside his small electrical goods shop in Small Heath in the Sixties, next to his newly-acquired van, an Austin A30
College skills academy to boost job seekers
Birmingham’s BMet College has launched a new skills and training academy to help boost the skills of job seekers across the city. The new academy - BMet Career
Advance – will offer support to those whose employment has been impacted because of Covid-19, by helping to retrain individuals with the skills and experience that the local economy needs. On offer will be career guidance
and advice, access to specific skills- based programmes aligned to local business needs, and support with employment preparation. BMet principal Cliff Hall said: “I am so pleased that we are able to launch
Cliff Hall: putting people in the driving seat
our Career Advance Academy. Our aim is to put people firmly in the driving seat in terms of their careers whilst working closely with employers to match the skills need across the city. “As an FE college that serves the local community of Birmingham we
need to react and react quickly to ensure we can support both the local community and regional economy. “We are passionate about our city and with predictions that Birmingham’s economy will be exceptionally hard hit because of Covid-19 we wanted to be able to respond at speed to be able to support employers and job seekers alike. “BMet Career Advance has been designed to support the community by
providing strong and well-placed career advice and guidance to support people to retrain and reskill into different career paths. “Early conversations with employers and job seekers alike have shown us that this type of academy is exactly what the city needs right now.”
August/September 2020 CHAMBERLINK 21
Businesses, now called the Asian Business Chamber of Commerce (ABCC), and was co-opted onto the committee in 2011. The following year, I was elected President. At
that time, the IAB had become a bit stale, membership was going down. I changed the dynamic, the outlook. “I went out to businesses to
inform them of the services of the Chamber. It was supposed to be a one-year stint and I ended up staying for three years as President. It was lots of hard work, lots of evenings out and phone calls.” Nasir was also the first honorary chair of the ABCC. Nasir, a member of the GBCC
board for seven years, is now looking forward to taking up the Presidential reins of the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce following in the footsteps of the current incumbent Steve Allen and his successor Deb Leary, post-Covid-19 and the predicted recession. “It could be a long time before
we get back to normal. But I am sure there will be progress – we will have to roll up our sleeves, brush ourselves down. You cannot afford to stand still, every industry has to re-invent itself. “The West Midlands will prosper
again. The 2022 Commonwealth Games will bring a lot of focus to the region – it could be a catalyst for the future. We have a lot to offer, the quality of life is a lot better than many places - you have to remain optimistic.”
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