It was a night of glamour, gratitude, and groundbreaking achievement as the ‘Who’s Who’ of Yorkshire’s most influential business figures gathered for the Business Power Awards (BPA) at Cedar Court Hotel, Bradford.
The sold-out black-tie gala night, hosted by the Asian Express newspaper on 12th October at Cedar Court Hotel in Bradford, drew more than 350 distinguished guests – from leading businesses, entrepreneurs and innovators to civic leaders and philanthropists, in a powerful celebration of ambition, excellence, and community spirit.
Marking 25 years of Asian Express, this was the second major event of the year – following the hugely acclaimed BPA Empowering Women Awards held in July 2025.
Together, these milestone celebrations have cemented the Business Power Awards’ reputation as one of the region’s most prestigious honours, bringing Yorkshire’s business brilliance from page to stage and showcasing the people and enterprises driving its economic heartbeat.
“For a quarter of a century, we’ve published thousands of business stories from across Yorkshire – stories of resilience, ambition, and grit,” says organiser Nadim Hanif, CEO Asian Express.
“Our newspaper has carried the voices of those who built, against the odds, a life and a legacy in this region.
“The Business Power Awards is a celebration of enterprise, resilience and diversity that marks a new era of recognition for regional excellence and the entrepreneurs and enterprises that have long-powered Yorkshire’s economy.”
Keynote speakers on the night included Rebecca Fitzgerald – Director, Yorkshire Building Society & President Bradford Chamber of Commerce, Daniel Bates – Executive Director, Bradford 2025, Yunus Lunat – Partner, Ison Harrison Solicitors, Saj Hussain and Mo Kola- Directors, Adams Foodservice, Hanif Malik OBE, and BPA 2025’s headline sponsor Asif Khan CEO of Janan.com.
Categories ranged from Entrepreneur of the Year and SME of the Year to Professional of the Year, Community Impact Award and the prestigious Lifetime Achievement and Special Recognition honours. Winners were praised not only for their commercial success but for the way they champion inclusion, innovation and social purpose.
In her keynote address, Asian Express managing editor, and chairperson of BPA, Andleeb Hanif told the audience: “The Business Power Awards are not simply about trophies. They are about visibility. Advocacy. Reclaiming the narrative.
“They are about saying: entrepreneurs from Yorkshire’s diverse communities are not outsiders, but insiders. They are the heartbeat of this economy – powering growth, creating jobs, innovating across industries, and inspiring future generations.”
The evening blended glamour with purpose. Emotional tributes were paid to pioneering figures including the late Shabir Hussain – founder of Akbars, whose daughter Samira accepted the Special Recognition Award (post humous) on his behalf.
Entertainment, fine dining and heartfelt applause carried the night, but its message was clear: Yorkshire’s business community is no longer content to stay in the background. As guests departed into the crisp Bradford night, the sentiment was unanimous – the Business Power Awards had not just celebrated success; they had reignited pride, purpose and unity across the region’s business landscape.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to the Business Power Awards 2025 Event Partners – Janan, Morrisons, Ison Harrison Solicitors, Bradford 2025, Regal Foods, Blacks Solicitors, Akbars, Kingsman Solicitors, Ideal Carpets & Furniture, United Foods, Jinnah Restaurants, Adams Foodservice, Abu Bakr Superstores, International Restaurant, Shimlas, Sekhon Group, and Scent Salim – whose generous support and shared belief in Yorkshire’s entrepreneurial spirit made this extraordinary celebration possible.
Winners Business Power Awards 2025
- Entrepreneur of the Year: Kamran Rashid – CEO, Impact Hub Yorkshire
- Start-Up of the Year: Queen Libas
- SME of the Year: Jahan Foods
- Restaurant of the Year: Jinnah
- Fashion Outlet of the Year: Janan
- Family Business of the Year: United Foods Cash & Carry
- Brand of the Year: Shimlas
- Beauty & Aesthetics Business of the Year: Prity Salon
- Retail Business of the Year: Worldwide Foods
- Social Enterprise of the Year: Link AP Academy
- Accountancy Firm of the Year: The Accounting Company Leeds (TAC)
- Law Firm of the Year: Kingsman Solicitors
- Professional of the Year: Sarah Khan-Bashir MBE, Solicitor & Founder SKB Law
- Special Recognition Award: (Post Humous) Shabir Hussain Founder Akbars
- CEO of the Year: Younis Chaudhry MBE, CEO Regal Foods
- Power Couple of the Year: Mrs Harmesh Kaur & Mr Nirmal Singh MBE
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr Amjad Pervez
