This was the cry from the guest speaker Paul Lalli, the CEO of Solid Systems Global at the inaugural Nachural Summer Business Ball and Awards
This was the cry from the guest speaker Paul Lalli, the CEO of Solid Systems Global at the inaugural Nachural Summer Business Ball and Awards dinner at the Wolverhampton Racecourse on Friday the 15th July. The MD of the multi million pound turnover company based in Derby explained how he struggled to secure employment despite a raft of qualifications, and how eventually after doing so, ended up buying the US owned company that employed him initially as a technician. He has since grown the company into one which operates on five continents. His offices include those situated in the EU and he was able to articulate that whilst he was to a certain extent immune from the EU exit because of the geographical spread of his business, it was clear that the future was uncertain for those UK companies operating exclusively in the EU through additional beaucracy and tariffs. But he added that with hard work and persistence, all difficulties could be surmounted.
Mr Ninder Johal who is CEO of the organisers of the Awards, and who was until recently the President of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce and sits as a Black Country LEP Board member spoke about the fall out of the Brexit vote. Whilst he asserted that it was going to be very uncertain in the short term but if the UK continued to innovate and add value to their products and build on the strengths of its economy and its role in world affairs, the future was still very bright. He spoke about the need to assert leadership and more critically to involve the voice of business during the Brexit negotiations.
He also spoke about the positive future for the local region and the potential of the West Midlands Combined Authority where he sits as a member of the shadow board.
The inaugural Nachural Business awards celebrated a number of awards. The main winners on the night were BJS Distribution, a company with offices in Wednesbury, Black Country. They have grown from humble beginnings but with an emphasis on customer service they have secured major contracts with national retailers to be their delivery arms in delivering items to residents and businesses all over the UK. They are now looking to move into larger premises with a potential of employing hundreds more in the area.
Other award winners included
Business Start up – Zuri Coffee Shop
Community Excellence – SAFS
Regeneration – Park Hall Ramada Hotel
Business Person of the Year – Makhan Singh Padda
Innovation and Enterprise – Interiors Italia
Entrepreneur of the Year – Raj Gill
Businesswoman of the Year – Natalie Murison
Hospitality – Red Leaf
Business of the Year – BJS Distribution
Lifetime Achievement Award for Music – Charan Dass Sohal
The headline sponsor for the event was Nachural and other sponsors included :
Birmingham City University, Cobra Beer, East End foods, FBC Manby Bowdler, Hollywood Monster, Intu ( Merry Hill ) Mercedes Benz ( Wolverhampton ), Microsoft, Pathweay Group, Rational FX, Sandwell Council, Qatar Airways, Vision Print and the University of Wolverhampton.
Promise Dreams was the charity on the night where over 450 people attended and where over £3500 was raised. Hosts for the evening were Sukhi Bart of Brit Asia and Suzi Mann of the BBC and the music for the evening was produced by Amarun Johal.
For further information please contact Ninder Johal – CEO Nachural Music Group
Tel : 07774 116545
Email : Ninder.Johal@nachural.co.uk
Office : 0121 526 3141
Twitter : @ninderjohal