Organizers of an awards ceremony aimed at promoting black and minority ethnic (BME) businesses say it will help inspire others.
The Suffolk BME Business Awards will be held for the sixth time this year, having been launched in 2016.
These are run by BSC Multicultural Services and Suffolk University.
Professor Gurpreet Jagpal, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Business and Entrepreneurship, said: “We want to highlight the amazing things that different people who come to Suffolk are doing.”
The awards night will be held in November at the university's waterfront building in Ipswich.
Professor Jagpal said: “My passion is to blur the boundaries between the world of education and the world of business and to ensure that our students and staff have the opportunity to engage with industry.
“But it is also true that they are working on the business and also supporting them with their current and future education and skills requirements.”
Roland Gilbertson of ThinkBiznes has been named Business of the Year for 2022.
“As people of color, I think it's important to be able to support entrepreneurs, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds and black and minority ethnic communities, because we have contributed so much to this society,” he said. .
“If we are going to continue, we have to be in a position to contribute financially.”
Another previous winner, Imani Solhind, is the founder and CEO of KMT Rising.
She said: “Even though I got laid off, it was a huge boost for me to know that yes, I can do this.
“It certainly gave me proof as a black woman here in Suffolk that I could do this, and it encouraged other young people to do the same.”
The categories are:
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Business of the Year (Catering)
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Startup/New Business of the Year
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Female Entrepreneur of the Year
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Health Champion of the Year
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Business Person of the Year
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Community Business of the Year
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Charity of the Year
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Special Jury Award of the Year
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Business of the Year
Nominations close on Monday, September 30th, and the gala will be held on November 26th.
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