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ENTREPRENEUR PRAISED FOR REGENERATION WORK IN WALSALL - 26 October 2009
An entrepreneur who has worked closely with Walsall Regeneration Company in its drive to transform the town and its fortunes has been recognised in a leading awards scheme.
Raj Gill, managing director of Walsall-based family business Globe Property, was a finalist in the regeneration category at the annual Black Country Asian Business Association (BCABA) Business Awards.
Raj was instrumental in the acquisition and substantial refurbishment of two historic buildings in Walsall town centre – Globe House and Wincer Plant House – to provide prime space for new businesses and to create jobs as part of wider efforts to deliver the town’s renaissance.
A total of £2 million has been invested into breathing new life into once vacant premises and today 18-20 businesses are based there, creating more than 150 jobs.
Akshay Parikh, programme director of Walsall Regeneration Company, said: “This recognition for Raj is well deserved. His influential role in restoring these two buildings demonstrates not only how Walsall is changing, but will also act to encourage further investment in the town centre. Both projects continue to make positive contributions to establishing the foundations for tomorrow’s Walsall.
“We have worked with Raj over the past five years and indeed encouraged him to seek investment support from regional development agency Advantage West Midlands for the refurbishment scheme at Wincer Plant House. We need enterprising business people like him from our diverse communities if we are to restore Walsall as a major Black Country town.”
Globe Property is one of the Midlands leading property agents and is also involved in small scale residential development, building homes in the Black Country and restoring homes to bring them back into use.
Raj said: “I was honoured to be chosen as a finalist in the awards. A lot of hard work went into the schemes at Globe House and Wincer Plant House because we believe in the future of Walsall. There are real opportunities to succeed in the Black Country and I hope more people will seize those opportunities.”
BCABA presented awards in seven categories – Business Start-Up, Young Entrepreneur, Community Excellence, Regeneration, International Trade, Innovation and Enterprise and Young Leaders Award - at a special ceremony at the Copthorne Hotel in Brierley Hill before an audience of key business people from the West Midlands.
The association is part of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce and an integral part of its role is to recognise and reward business innovation and achievement. It was established in 2001 to provide a strong voice for lobbying and a platform for Asian businesses.
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Captions: Akshay Parikh of Walsall Regeneration Company (left) and Raj Gill, finalist in the BCABA Business Awards.