Bradford's 24 brilliant nominees for British Muslim Awards 2022

The 24 men, women and businesses have been shortlisted in the awards, which recognise the wide achievements of British people of Islamic faith, in fields including business, charity, law, and education.

The awards highlight the contribution to British society these people have made in the past 12 months, and the winners in each category of the awards will be revealed at a ceremony on Thursday, February 24, at the British Muslim Heritage Centre in Manchester.

A number of well-known figures from the district are shortlisted, including community campaigner Sofia Buncy (Leading Lights), community leader Noreen Khan (Community Initiative), Muslim Women’s Council founder Bana Gora (Community Pioneers), and award-winning headteacher Naveed Idrees (Services to Education).

Four Bradford lawyers have been shortlisted; Aneesa Ehsan and Amar Rashid in the Achievements in Law category, and Miriam Khan and Tanzeela Hussain in the Rising Star in Law award.

Feversham Primary's headteacher Naveed Idrees

Bradford businesspeople have also been shortlisted, with Nasar Hussain (Business Achievements of the Year), Fox & Windmill founders Habiba Desai and Sara Razzaq (Entrepreneur of the Year), 360 Secure Systems and Mumbai Bites (Small Business of the Year), and Usman Manzoor (Creative Entrepreneur) all shortlisted.

Habiba Desai is one half of publishers Fox & Windmill, founded last year championing fiction by South Asian authors, said the nomination is "a real honour".

She said: "We are really proud to be nominated, it's validation of what we are doing and how important and necessary it is.

"We've made more connections and reaching out into the community, and made an incredible amount of progress in a short time, and support from the community has played a big part in that.

"Whatever happens we're really excited, and just being nominated is a huge achievement and a real honour."

Tennis coach Nalette Tucker, with Judy Murray watching on. Pic: Getty/LTA

In the sporting world, Bradford’s world heavyweight champion arm wrestler Umar Khan is up for Rising Star in Sport, pioneering tennis coach Nalette Tucker is shortlisted for Woman of the Year, and Bengal Tigers Cricket Club are shortlisted for Community Group of the Year.

Irfan Younis, chief executive of British Muslim Awards organiser Oceanic Consulting, 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.”

World arm wrestling champion Umar Khan

The full list of Bradford nominees is:

Charity of the Year – Mercy Mission

Noor Inayat Muslim Woman of the Year – Nalette Tucker

Achievements in Law – Aneesa Ehsan, Amar Rashid

Business Achievements of the Year – Nasar Hussain

Entrepreneur of the Year – Habiba Desai and Sara Razzaq (Fox & Windmill)

Services to Education – Naveed Idrees

Community Initiative of the Year – Noreen Khan

Small Business of the Year – 360 Secure Systems, Mumbai Bites

One to Watch – Saira Ali

Social Inclusion Group of the Year – Neighbourhood Resource Centre

Leading Lights of the Year – Sofia Buncy, Shadim Hussain, Sofia Mahmood

Rising Star in Sport – Umar Khan

Dr Abbas Khan Services to Medicine Award – Mohamed El-Tanani

Creative Entrepreneur – Usman Manzoor

Community Group of the Year – Bengal Tigers Cricket Club, Al Markaz ul Islami

Rising Star in Law – Miriam Khan, Tanzeela Hussain

Community Pioneers of the Year – Bana Gora