Safaraz Ali Honoured as Founder of the Year 2024
Pathway Group proudly announces that our co-Founder and CEO, Safaraz Ali, has been awarded the Founder of the Year 2024 at the Pakistan Achievement Awards. This honour reflects Safaraz’s dedication to creating a positive societal impact through Pathway Group and its ecosystem of initiatives, championing social mobility, diversity, and opportunity across the UK. His vision for Pathway Group has built a powerful legacy—one that continues to transform lives by delivering education, skills, and employability support to communities.
'driving industry-wide change'
Pathway Group’s expansive initiatives include the Multicultural Apprenticeship & Skills Alliance and Multicultural Apprentice Network, both founded by Safaraz to address the diversity gap within apprenticeships and skills training. These platforms have united thousands of apprentices, mentors, and employers, providing resources, mentorship, and pathways to excellence across sectors. By connecting over 3,000 apprentices and 500 organisations, including notable partners such as BT, Severn Trent, and the Royal Navy, these initiatives are changing the narrative around diversity in apprenticeships, creating over 200 role models who continue to inspire and uplift communities.
Furthering this mission, Safaraz launched the Apprenticeship Diversity & Social Mobility Forum, a collaborative space where industry leaders, policymakers, and educators work together to address the barriers to diversity and inclusion within apprenticeships. The Forum has fostered valuable discussions, round-tables, and policy advocacy that drive industry-wide change and enhance access to opportunities for all.
Pathway Group also leads with its innovative business networking brands under Pathway2Grow, including popular events like Chutney & Chat. This unique business networking format has attracted thousands of professionals, fostering an environment of connection and collaboration across various industries. Pathway2Grow’s networking brands, tailored for small and medium businesses, have become synonymous with professional growth and opportunity.
Our annual Festival of Apprenticeships further illustrates Pathway Group’s commitment to creating accessible entry points for future talent. This nationwide event connects apprentices, employers, and training providers, offering insights, resources, and networking opportunities to empower young people in their career journeys.
In addition to the Pathway Group initiatives, they are other impactful organisations such: Nationwide Care Services, F5 Foster Care, and Nationwide Care Pharmacy. These ventures address diverse needs within the health and social care sectors, each playing a crucial role in supporting vulnerable individuals, fostering inclusive care, and promoting community wellbeing.
Nationwide Care Services is one of the UK’s leading care agencies, dedicated to providing compassionate and culturally responsive care to multi-ethnic communities. Working closely with local authorities and NHS Trusts, Nationwide Care Services delivers over 25,000 hours of essential care each week across the UK. With a team of over 1,000 carers the service is tailored to meet the varied needs of its clients, from elder care to support for individuals with disabilities, ensuring that each person receives high-quality, personalised care.
F5 Foster Care is an initiative focused on recruiting, training, and supporting foster carers to provide safe and nurturing homes for children and young people. It is critical to address the nationwide shortage of foster carers and strives to place children in stable, supportive homes that respect their cultural backgrounds and individual needs
Nationwide Care Pharmacy provides a range of pharmacy services, including prescription fulfilment. By bringing pharmaceutical services directly to clients and care facilities, Nationwide Care Pharmacy ensures that vulnerable individuals and those with limited mobility receive the medications and health support they need without unnecessary barriers.
Safaraz’s role in establishing Health, Skills, Employability initiatives underscore his commitment to building businesses with purpose. Through these initiatives, he has empowered individuals to become change-makers and leaders, His recognition as Founder of the Year honours not just his achievements. We are immensely proud of Safaraz’s vision and leadership as we continue to expand and make a lasting difference in the communities we serve.