Birmingham Always Comes Up - Pathway Group Supporting the Birmingham Awards 2025
Birmingham has been in the news again – from the stories about Handsworth to the talk around Aston Villa and local pride.
It feels like no matter what happens, Birmingham always comes up.
And that’s exactly how it should be.
This city has history, heart and a few challenges too – but it’s full of people who care, who work hard, and who keep pushing it forward.
At Pathway Group, we’re proud to be part of that story.
cornerstone of the city’s business and community life
For more than 25 years, we’ve worked across Birmingham and the wider Midlands – supporting people into work, training, and careers through skills, employability, and apprenticeships.
That’s why we’re delighted to once again support the Birmingham Awards 2025, a celebration of creativity, enterprise, and community impact.
Now in their 10th year, the Birmingham Awards have become a cornerstone of the city’s business and community life – recognising the individuals and organisations who make a real difference every day.
The Scale of the Challenge: NEETs in Context
Birmingham has given us so much – people, partnerships, and purpose.
The Birmingham Awards shine a light on what this city does best: bringing people together to create opportunity and impact.
I’m proud that Pathway Group continues to play its part in supporting and celebrating Birmingham’s success stories.
Safaraz Ali, Co-Founder and CEO, Pathway Group
Congratulations to all the winners and finalists – your achievements continue to inspire us and show why Birmingham remains one of the UK’s most dynamic and diverse business communities.
Partnerships that Make a Difference
This year’s winners once again reflected Birmingham’s depth of talent and enterprise:
- Accessibility in Action Award – Evac+Chair
- Arts & Culture Award of the Year – Birmingham Hippodrome
- Bar/Pub of the Year – Flight Club Birmingham
- Business of the Year – Touchwood Solihull
- Businessman of the Year – Simba Rwambiwa
- Businesswoman of the Year – Jo Haydon
- Charity of the Year – Birmingham Hospice
- Community Champion of the Year – Darnish Amraz MBE
- Contribution to Education Award – Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust
- Employee of the Year – Mark Walsh – Birmingham Mind
- Entrepreneur of the Year – Sultan Choudhury OBE – Offa
- Festival or Event of the Year – Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival
- Inclusive Employer of the Year – Midland Heart
- Independent Retailer of the Year – Booghe Toys
- Networker of the Year – Andy Wilkinson – OWB Creative
- Restaurant of the Year – Ciaro Italian
- Small Business of the Year – Adored Pets Cuisine
- Social Enterprise of the Year – The Burnt Chef Project
- Sporting Initiative of the Year – Birmingham City FC Foundation
- Start-Up of the Year – Blue Diamond Recruitment
- Tech for Good Award – Play Moments
- Young Achiever of the Year – Macie Rostill – Finesse Windows Ltd
- Brummie of the Year (Male) – Ed James
- Brummie of the Year (Female) – Marverine Cole
- Lifetime Achievement Award – Black Sabbath
- Lifetime Achievement Award (Posthumous) – Ozzy Osbourne
- Special Recognition Awards: Purple Square AV – Manj & Amma, Edwin Ladd – Photography, and Naeem Arif.
These individuals and organisations represent the diversity and ambition that make Birmingham one of the UK’s most dynamic business communities.