Winners graced by royalty at Igniting Dreams Business Awards in Bradford

ROYALTY and dignitaries from across Bradford gathered for an awards ceremony attended by 150 people at the Midlands Hotel in the city centre.

Bradford-based organisation, THE PLAT4ORM CIC, hosted its maiden business event, Igniting Dreams Business Exhibition and Awards Ceremony 2024, on Saturday, June 22.

The prestigious guest list for event included the King and Queen from Ghana and Bradford’s Lord Mayor and several others.

HRH Queen Nana Afua Apiatewa III of Ghana attended the Igniting Dreams Business Awards 2024 at the Midland Hotel (Image: UGC)

Nana Hagan, CEO of THE PLAT4ORM CIC, said: “This event is the start of the company’s global business summit, with its aim to empower young ladies and women, utilising their skills to provide extra income for themselves and those around them.

“The event was targeted to attract women and young ladies with a keen interest in business start-ups and looking to progress their entrepreneurial ideas into fruitful ventures.

Nana Hagan, CEO of THE PLAT4ORM CIC, right, with the King of Ghana (Image: UGC)

“The event was also open to young ladies with varying experiences in budding ventures who are looking to build stronger business acumen, harness potential local partnerships and explore new market opportunities.

“Igniting Dreams seeks to educate women on passive and business growth, help women find investment opportunities, signposting of additional support from other organisations, networking opportunities to meet other entrepreneurs, promoting financial literacy and critical thinking, help women in business planning, cash flow, forecasting and marketing plans.

The Lord Mayor of Bradford, Cllr Bev Mullaney, presents an awards to one of the winners at the Igniting Dreams Business Awards 2024 (Image: UGC)

“This initiative is also designed to help women who are stuck in domestic abuse relationships, struggling to make ends meet, and to also translate their dreams into reality by talking to ladies of higher expertise in the business and entrepreneurial worlds.”

The event kicked off with the browsing of stalls put on by local businesswomen.

The Lord Mayor of Bradford, Cllr Bev Mullaney, browses a stall at the Igniting Dreams Business Awards 2024 (Image: UGC)

Culture met business in the second part of the event as the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Cllr Bev Mullaney, Ghanaian King HRH Nana Odeniho Odoi Awrhireng II and his wife Oheneyere Akua Asantewaa Kyeremateng and HRH Queen Nana Afua Apiatewa III came to honour the event with speeches and awarding the businesses for their remarkable achievements.

The list the award recipients includes:

• Inspirational Woman of the Year - Saliha Sadiq

• Entrepreneur of the Year Award - Vanessa Boateng Ukoro

• Retailer of the Year Award - Yam Spice

• Community Champion - WomenZone

• Start-up of the Year Award - Pazito Mart

• Creative Industry Excellence Award - Shipley Fabrics Sewing School

• Best Hairdressing Firm Award - DEVIV

Some of the dignitaries at the Igniting Dreams Business Awards 2024 (Image: UGC)

After the awards presentation, a number of guest speakers shared their stories and how they helped to become who they are now.

Ms Hagan said: “It was the first of a kind in Bradford city where business met culture and history was made as women from different backgrounds came together to network, educated, inspired and empowered.”

The business exhibition aims to have its next business awards ceremony in 2025.