The winners of Suffolk BME Business Awards event in Ipswich

A record number of entries were received for the sixth Suffolk BME Business Awards at the University of Suffolk, on Ipswich Waterfront, on Tuesday. 

Hosted by BSC Multicultural Service (BSCMS) and sponsored by Kerseys Solicitors, SAI Estates and Ipswich Bazaar, guests gathered to find out the winners of this year's categories. 

The winners, nominees and members of BSC Multicultural Services following the awards ceremony. (Image: Lucy Taylor)

There were nine categories in total, ranging from business of the year to health champion.

BSC welcomed an array of guest speakers including the mayors of Ipswich and Felixstowe before the award ceremony.

Elango Elavalakan, mayor of Ipswich,  praised the businesses at the award ceremony. (Image: Lucy Taylor) Elango Elavalakan, mayor of Ipswich, said that BME businesses make a huge contribution to Suffolk life, not just economically and socially. 

He praised the awards, adding: "It provides inspiration and aspiration to many that may feel disadvantaged.

"It is wonderful to celebrate the success of so many BME businesses in Suffolk and hear about the wonderful achievements of so many of you." 

David Rowe, mayor of Felixstowe, said there was an awful lot to celebrate. (Image: Lucy Taylor)

David Rowe, mayor of Felixstowe, said: "You are the ones who are driving economic growth. You are the ones that are serving the residents in your community and you are giving back to your community and supporting your community. 

"We are celebrating what you have achieved and that's an awful lot." 

Award co-ordinator Mohammed Alam said that many of the nominees were "an integral part of their community". 

Mojlum Khan, another of the award's co-ordinators, said: "Suffolk has changed dramatically, the demographic of Suffolk is no longer the same as 35 years ago.

"The sooner we realise that, the better for us, because both of us have travelled from Newmarket to Felixstowe, from Sudbury to Lowestoft and there are growing ethnic minority communities through the county and these are creative people who are setting up businesses, left right and centre.

"It's a very diverse county and if we want to make this county even greater we need to embrace that and move forward with it. 

"These businesses are contributing millions of pounds every year to our local economy so we need to treasure them and invest in these businesses in their capacities and help them to grow even more."

Mark Murphy MBE hosted the event alongside Roland Gilbertson. (Image: Lucy Taylor)

The evening was compared by Mark Murphy MBE and former BSC business award winner Roland Gilbertson. 

Following the conclusion of the awards, Boshor Ali, the chair of BSC Multicultural Services, received a special award for his contribution to the charity over the last 27 years. 

The winners and nominees were as follows:

Anouar Krich and Hass Laoukili of ADCO won Business of the Year (Image: Lucy Taylor)

Business of the Year

ADCO Construction Ltd - WINNER

Fast Cabs

IPS Trading UK LTD/ IPSOne

Square Pharmacy

Stylish Furniture Ltd

Nasir Jilani of the Chequers Indian Lounge in Great Blakenham. The business won catering Business of the Year. (Image: Lucy Taylor)

Business of the Year (Catering)

Ballingdon Valley

Maharani Indian and Bangladeshi Cuisine

Ocean Fish Platter

Salami Deli

The Chequers Indian Lounge - WINNER

Turkish Delight

Jetnor Brati of Lucky's Coffee won Business Person of the Year at the Business Awards. (Image: Lucy Taylor)

Business Person of the Year

Chandima Perara

Jetnor Brati - WINNER

Nasir Jilani

Nurul Islam Chowdhury

Siddhesh Vaze

Desmond and Karen Chiu of GoCo Limited which won new business of the year. (Image: Lucy Taylor)

New Business of the Year

Cappadocia Meze Grill

Ela Traditional Turkish Barbeque & Meze Bar

GoCO Limited - WINNER

Indian Habibi

Jilani Majestic Indian Dining

Lavash Turkish Restaurant and Meze Bar

Hazem Attia and Kelly Peck from Ipswich Karate Academy which won Community Business of the Year. (Image: Lucy Taylor) Community Business of the Year

Al-Amin Halal Grocery

Ipswich Karate Academy - WINNER

Lucky’s Coffee Shop

Nacton Road Fish Bar

Nice Travel Solutions Ltd

Lydia Yuk Kiu Tse won Female Entrepreneur of the Year. (Image: Lucy Taylor)

Woman Entrepreneur of the Year

Susan Nwabude-Ofunne

Lydia Yuk Kiu Tse - WINNER

Justina Adamska

Monika Erdogan

Hatice Arslan

Clem Turner chair of the Caribbean & African Community Health Support Forum and Veronica Akrofi receive charity of the year. (Image: Lucy Taylor)

Charity of the Year

Caribbean & African Community Health Support Forum - WINNER

Gambian Welfare Association Suffolk & Norfolk

Karibu African Women’s Support Group

Waveney BME Forum

Suffolk Sri Lankan Society

Ipswich Cycling Community

Sickle Cell Suffolk Barbara Gutherie, Elaine Tappin, Tamar Tappin, Jennifer Flowers and Nekesha Pittson. (Image: Lucy Taylor)

Health Champion of the Year

Ipswich Cycling Community

Ipswich Karate Academy

Sickle Cell Suffolk - WINNER

The Fitness Hub

Square Pharmacy

Mustapha Singateh and Sefo Kanuteh of Gambian Welfare Association received the Judges Special Award. (Image: Lucy Taylor) Judges Special Award 

Lowestoft Muslim Centre

Gambian Welfare Association - WINNER

Brunswich Rd Post Office & Convenience Stores

The Curry Inn

Ipswich Dry Cleaners

The event is supported by the University of Suffolk.