A multi-award winning entrepreneur and business model innovation expert who has helped establish and scale several hundred businesses in the North East.
Ammar is Chair of the Business Growth Board and SME representative on the North East LEP Main Board, Founder and Chairman of not for profit social enterprise Asian Business Connexions (ABC) and President of the Federation of Asian Business alongside being a Fellow of the Institute of Leadership & Management (FInstLM), and Royal Society of Arts (FRSA).
He has a particular interest in enterprise education as ex-Chair of Governors of a Primary School, Chair of the Progression Forum and a David Goldman visiting Professor of Practice at Newcastle University.
Ammar launched the Primary Inspiration through Enterprise (PIE) Project Charity in 2013, the first of its kind within the UK to deliver enterprise vocational qualifications to primary age pupils.
Ammar was appointed a CBE in 2014 for outstanding services to Business and the Community, and has been consistently recognised across the UK for his tireless efforts in supporting and promoting trade and industry, including British Asian Entrepreneur of the Year in 2019, Maserati top 100 Entrepreneur, Williams and Glyn top 50, Institute of Directors Special Judges Award, and British Community Honours Award to name but a few.
Other roles held by Ammar include Honorary Colonel of the 101st RA Royal Artillery, past-chair of the Institute of Directors North East North, Member of the All Party Parliamentary Group for BAME Business, Private Sector Representative on European Structural Funds Advisory Board, Patron of Charlie Bear for Cancer Care Charity, Founder of the SME Centre of Excellence which helps SMEs start, survive and thrive, and he hosts his own radio show on Spice FM.
