TOP AWARD FOR MUSLIM FINANCE FIRM FOUNDER

A businessman who started Britain's first financial advice service for the Muslim community has been named the North West's Young Entrepreneur of the Year.

Sufyan Ismail, managing director of 1st Ethical, based in Lower Bridgeman Street, Bolton, won the regional final of the Shell LiveWIRE business competition for young entrepreneurs at Manchester's Salford Quays.

Mr Ismail and his business partner, Bashir Timol, a director in the business, won £1,000 and will now go forward to the national final in June competing for a top prize of £10,000.

1st Ethical is the UK's first firm of independent financial advisers to cater exclusively for the Muslim community. There are about 2.5 million Muslims in Britain who are heavily restricted over where they can invest their savings.

The Islamic faith prohibits investments that involve alcohol, gambling, tobacco and pornography. 1st Ethical has invented the concept of Islamic Tax Solutions, which works in harmony with the Muslim faith. The company has a number of corporate and professional clients including doctors and dentists.

Mr Ismail, who lives in Bolton, started the firm in November 2001. He is a Corporate Finance & Economics graduate from Manchester University.

Mr Timol, an economics graduate from the University of Central Lancashire, has a background in senior accounts management and was head-hunted by Mr Ismail from a top UK company.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF

An independent financial advisor from Bolton is one of 12 North West Regional finalists in the Shell LiveWIRE Young Entrepreneur of the Year competition.

Suyfan Ismail, 27, is hoping for the £1,000 prize at the Lowry, Salford Quays, Manchester tomorrow. The regional winner will then go on to a national final and the chance of a £10,000 top prize in London on June 18.

COMPANIES CLEAN UP AT 'OSCARS'

Businesses from Bolton and Bury swept the board at last night's North Manchester Business Awards, winning seven of the ten awards up for grabs.

More than 500 guests from the region's business community gathered for the glittering awards ceremony at the Reebok Stadium's Premier Suite to celebrate the best of North Manchester's commercial talent.

Competition for the region's industry "Oscars" had been intense, with more than 110 entries from businesses in Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale and Wigan.

After the shortlist for the award categories was announced last month, each of the businesses was visited by business advisers from Bolton Business Ventures (BBV), before going before the final judging panel, chaired by Professor Alan Kitson, director of international relations at Bolton Institute and a director of BBV Limited. Paul Davidson of Bolton Business Ventures said that the panel had faced "an almost impossible task", such was the standard of entries for this year's prizes.

Winner of the Tony Rink award for an "exceptional overall business and social contribution" to the region was Richard Hurst, chief executive of the Richard Threlfall Group. Mr Hurst, who received his award from Ross Warburton, served on the Bolton Chamber for more than ten years, as well as being on the Greater Manchester Learning and Skills Council and heading the Vision for Bolton steering group.

The Young Entrepreneur award was won by Richard Adams-Mercer, for Parcel2Go.com, who started his business career selling freshly squeezed orange juice door-to-door while at college. Now his online parcel dispatch service, operating from Coie Street, Bolton, handles deliveries for internet auction site e-bay and has seen turnover increase from £23,000 to a projected £250,000 in 12 months. "This award means a lot to me and the company," he said. "It shows that the team we have are credible players in the sector."

The Ethnic Business award went to Bolton's 1st Ethical Ltd, which invented the concept of Islamic Tax Solutions to meet strict Islamic tenets that prohibit investments involving alcohol, gambling, tobacco and pornography. Another local firm, K & F Frozen Foods, took the runner-up spot.

The Bury Black Pudding Company was the Most Successful New Business, while Marilena Manfredi of Bolton's Prime Lettings and Management took the Woman Entrepreneur title. She was praised by the judges for "her ability to successfully balance the needs of a growing and thriving business with the needs of a growing family". She was particularly commended for the friendly, personable touch she applied to her business dealings.

The town's online industry was also rewarded, as Fisher Educational took the e-Business award, and Wardworth Ltd, also from Bolton, the runner-up. The biggest cheer of the night came when Company of the Year was awarded to Fostering Solutions of Chorley Old Road. A private fostering operation, it has successfully placed more than 200 children and was praised for the way it employs, trains and retains foster carers. Directors, Hilary Doherty and Michelle Cuffe, collected their award and the £5,000 prize.

Hilary said, "This is for all those children. They have had such a hard start in life. Their happiness is a reward in itself, but this is the icing on the cake."