A TOTAL of 15 organisations and people linked to Bradford are among the finalists for the British Muslim Awards 2020.

Organisers of the 8th awards, which aim to showcase the strength of the British Muslim community, have released a list of more than 350 shortlisted for the prestigious awards.

Those finalists will learn later this month if they have been successful in one of more than a dozen categories.

Bradford finalists include the Muslim Women’s Council and Khidmat Centre as Community Pioneers of the Year; Bradford-based charity Human Relief Foundation as International Charity of the Year; and multicultural supporters group Bangla Bantams as Social Inclusion Group of the Year.

In addition both Regal Food and Nafees Bakers and Sweets are in the running to be named Food Business of the Year.

Bradford College students Sabeha Salam and Jasmin Akter, who were selected last year for Yorkshire County Cricket Club’s girls’ team, have also been jointly shortlisted for the Rising Star in Sport award.

Organisers, Oceanic Consulting, explained that the awards exist to recognise a wide range of achievements from inspiring individuals, including those who positively impact business, charity, sport, arts, culture, religious advocacy, education and medicine.

The award ceremony itself will be held on Friday, January 31, at the Mercure Piccadilly Hotel in Manchester.

The 8th British Muslim Awards 2020 are presented by Trusted Utility Consultants and Muslim Global Relief, and are organised by Oceanic Consulting – the UK’s leading ethnic awards company.

Chief executive officer Irfan Younis said: “The British Muslim community is one to really be celebrated and talked about.

“They’re a community of amazing achievements, skilled entrepreneurs, business acumen, social mobility and inspiring role models who have consistently gone from strength to strength.

“Best of luck to all finalists, we look forward to an exciting night.”

With 13 years of experience, Oceanic Consulting host a number of annual award ceremonies, including the Curry Awards, Asian Business, Asian Food, British Muslim, British Indian, British Sikh and Britain’s Asian Wedding Awards.

The finalists for the British Muslim Awards 2020, highlighted by organisers as being local to Bradford, are:

Food Business of The Year: Regal Food and Nafees Bakers and Sweets;

The Mohammed Sarwar Civil Service Award: Waheed Hussain of Bradford Care Alliance;

Services to Education: Zahir Irani of University of Bradford;

Small Business of the Year: 360 Secure Systems and Artz-I;

International Charity of the Year: Human Relief Foundation;

Social Inclusion Group Of The Year: Bangla Bantams;

Rising Star in Sport: Sabeha Salam and Jasmin Akter of Yorkshire County Cricket Club;

Dr Abbas Khan Services to Medicine Award: Mohammed Hussain of Bradford NHS Trust;

Professional In Business: Amir Hussain of Yeme Architects;

Digital Activity Of The Year: Sanzaa;

Community Pioneers of The Year: Muslim Women’s Council and Khidmat Centre.