Business News for London
WRITTEN BY LLB STAFF REPORTER
Sunday May 22, 2022
A refugee-turned-social entrepreneur who provides
outstanding care services to the elderly and upskills talents with a refugee
background to be professional carers across West London has been named Young
Entrepreneur of the Year at the UK final of FSB’s high-profile Celebrating
Small Business Awards, co-hosted by TV presenters Clare Balding and JJ
Chalmers.
Abdul Shiil first came to the UK from Somalia with his
family under asylum seeker status in 2001 and settled in West London. Inspired
by his mother, who used to run a charity for disenfranchised Black and ethnic
minority women, Abdul went on to build his social enterprise Sahan Cares in
2012, with a vision to give back support he received to the community.
His company offers training programmes to potential carers
and employs them for care services to elderly people and those in need. All of
his employees are from a refugee background.
Starting with only three staff at the beginning, Abdul is
now leading a team of 90 carers who have since successfully delivered more than
600,000 hours of services. His family-run social enterprise has evolved from a
start-up to a high-growth business with more than £1.8 million annual revenue,
now operating in three West London boroughs.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Prime Minister Boris Johnson
praised Abdul for his efforts in driving up vaccine uptake in the black and
ethnic minority groups and reaching a 100% vaccination rate within his
organisation.
Abdul is a regular speaker at business conferences with a
focus on corporate social responsibility. He is also a doctoral candidate
currently researching on the relationship between elderly people and technology
advancement.
FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards is the most
high-profile event of its kind nationally, with more than 3,000 entries, and
showcases the best of small business entrepreneurship in every part of the UK.
Sahan Cares Founder Abdul Shiil said: “It’s a great honour
to receive this high-profile national award from FSB, and I am very proud of
the social enterprise enterprise we have built with our team of carers.
“Having gone through my very own experience as a member of a
disadvantaged group, I’m committed to empowering people with similar background
and providing support to those in need.
“This award is a morale booster for our plans to extend
services to people in need of mental health support.”
FSB National Chair Martin McTague said: “It’s encouraging to
see how Abdul has not only built and developed his social enterprise but been
so generous in contributing his time and efforts towards the greater good
within our communities. Small businesses are agents of social change, and I wish
Abdul in taking his organisation from strength to strength.”
FSB Regional Chair Michael Lassman added: “Delighted to see
London entry Abdul Shiil win the UK Young Entrepreneur of the Year award in
Glasgow – what an inspiration”.