Northern Asian Powerlist 2020 launched
The inaugural Northern Asian Powerlist 2020 launched on 2 October 2020 showcases the prominent businesses, professionals, influencers, women, media, politicians and third sector across the Northern Powerhouse.
This is the first time that the role of British Asians has been recognised for strengthening the economy of the north of England and to have made a substantial contribution to the Northern Powerhouse.
There are 4.3m British Asians in the UK contributing £120bn to the economy each year, also enhancing the livelihoods across our towns and cities. The Northern Asian Powerlist is about telling that story and illuminating these leading figures.
Sharon Jandu Project Director for the Northern Asian Powerlist, who developed the idea following her experience as an Asian business woman and in holding several high profile roles throughout her own career says, “This is about recognition for successful British Asians in business who are based in the North from their peers and from leaders from all walks of life. There are some fantastic stories here in this Powerlist and I hope that everybody will take a close look at the stories of grit, of achievement and pushing the boundaries. Against the backdrop of global uncertainty, it is these stories that bring us back to what matters and keeps us optimistic. We want these brilliant people to be role models for people of all backgrounds to strive, to achieve, to be their best.”
The Powerlist has been whittled down from hundreds of brilliant nominations from across the North. From these a panel of judges who include Professor Monder Ram, Henri Murison, Roger Marsh, Gill Laidlaw, Simone Roche, Qasim Majid have chosen the ultimate winners in the following 11 categories; political leadership, driving the digital economy, entrepreneurial zeal, inspiring others, contributing to our environment, being a social change maker, a cultural icon, a leading woman and an emerging leader.
The winners were announced at a virtual launch event hosted by TheBusinessDesk.com and supported by Lord Bilimoria, Roger Marsh, Sharon Jandu, Jake Berry and Nicola Chance-Thompson.
None of this would have been possible without the support from Leeds City Region Economioc Partnership, Squire Patton Boggs, NatWest, Manchester India Partnership, Yorkshire Asian Business Association, Leeds Beckett University and Simon Collingwood, who have contributed their time and energy to this project from its inception.
A Message From Lord Bilimoria of Chelsea CBE DL
It gives me great pleasure to support the celebration of the contribution and impact British Asians are having in every community across the North of England. The Northern Asian Powerlist 2020 list has profiled the achievements of the top Asian businesses, professionals, influencers and politicians. From the media and the arts to science, technology and medicine, the Asian community is making its presence felt.
As the birthplace of the industrial revolution, the North has a long history of fostering innovation. Contributing to nearly 19% of the UK’s GDP, the North represents over 15 million people and more than one million private sector businesses. With over 20 universities, many of them globally renowned, it presents a great academic and research ecosystem geared to science and technology innovation. Connected to the rest of the world through seven international airports and 12 major ports, it is a high-potential and high-impact region. For the UK to prosper, it needs to increase its productivity across all regions, and it needs to harness every bit of talent available across the North and beyond. We have so much talent across all of our communities. This list not only highlights the achievements of a diverse UK Plc and the North in particular, but also acts as an inspiration for generations to come.
