Apache Indian, the British Indian reggae star, has been presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award for Music.
Apache, real name Steven Kapur, who turned 48 last month, received his trophy at the annual Black Country Asian Business Awards (BCABA) ceremony in Wolverhampton last Friday.
The evening began with a welcome address from BCABA Chairman Ninder Johal, which included a brief tribute to Ranjit Singh Powar, the 54-year-old father-of-two Wolverhampton hotelier who was murdered in Punjab last month.
Mr Johal, suavely resplendent in a cream jacket and black bow-tie, who is also President of the Black Country Chamber and a member on the Black Country LEP, urged the government to reduce red tape and called on businesses to work closely with local universities and colleges to address the skills gap. He also encouraged new business start-ups in a bid to reduce the £7.8 billion productivity gap.
Attended by around 550 guests, all with VIP tickets, the top table included Dudley Council’s Deputy Leader Cllr Judy Foster, Telford & Wrekin Council’s Leader Cllr Kuldip Singh Sahota, West Midlands’ HM Lord-Lieutenant Paul Sabapathy and keynote speaker Sukhjinder ‘Jindy’ Khera, MD of KTC Edibles, the food manufacturing business.
Bill Aulak, founder of the Cake Shop, was crowned Young Entrepreneur. As Bill and his father stepped off stage on collecting the award, host Tommy Sandhu, BBC Asian Network’s funnyman DJ, remarked, “pair of Aulaks”, ‘boll****’, which prompted laughter in the room, as did, “no part of my body looks as wonderful as that,” referring to a Sikh male sponsor’s long beard. There were a string of such comments from him throughout the evening which seemed to keep the audience entertained.
A short stage drama featuring four elderly English ladies from the Black Country was a highlight of the evening. Brilliantly choreographed, this creative performance displayed how British Asians had introduced positive aspects to ways of life in the Black Country ever since the first settlers from the Indian subcontinent began arriving in the 1950s. For example, they introduced the 24/7, as opposed to the 9-5, corner shop opening hours. The ladies’ bhangra dance performance showing how communities had neatly weaved into the fabric of a multicultural society, well at least in the Black Country, won them rapturous applause.
Winners across the nine categories, each featuring two or three finalists, included: (Business Start-Up) Red Leaf; (Community Excellence) GNG Nursery; (Regeneration) Lakshmis; (Business Person of the Year) Jitha Sahota of CBS Packaging; (Business of the Year) Gill Group; (Innovation & Enterprise) Interactive Education; (International Trade) Zeel Solutions; (Lifetime Achievement Award for Business) Jagir Singh Dudrah, veteran metal plater from Wolverhampton.
Around £6,000 was raised on the night through a raffle draw and auction for Promise Dreams, a charity which helps seriously and terminally ill children and their families. Since its inception in 2001, it has helped over 1,300 children and has raised over £2.5million. A special birthday shout out was given to Makhan Ghattaura CBE, one of BCABA’s seven-strong, all male Board.
The prestigious round-table dinner, dance and networking function, now in its 14th year, was held at Wolverhampton Racecourse, Dunstall Park. Sponsors included Birmingham Airport, Wolverhampton and Walsall Councils, University of Wolverhampton and Sandwell and Birmingham Metropolitan colleges. BCABA is a member of the umbrella organisation, National Asian Business Association, or NABA, which was officially launched by Business Secretary Vince Cable in March 2013.
