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BBC MasterChef Host Greg Wallace Presents This Year’s Curry Award

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I have been working on the Bangladesh Caterers Association (BCA) curry awards since 2017 and each year the competition becomes fiercer and the actual night more glamorous. This year the awards night was held on 30 October 2022 and is now in its 16th year, where this special event announces the regional winners of its prestigious Chef and Restaurant of the Year Awards and celebrates their success as a community.

This year, industry expert and celebrity Greg Wallace, MBE, and Tasmin Lucia-Khan were the hosts of the night, which took place at the Park Plaza, London. The theme for the awards was – ‘Celebrating Success & Inspiring Others’, a theme that is close to the heart and mission of BCA.

There were seven regional chef winners, three takeaways who won ‘Takeaway of the Year’ and ten winning restaurants, with a new category for ‘Best Newcomer of the Year’, which was won by Pach Bhai, in Whitechapel, London. Each winner was chosen from hundreds of outstanding entrants and was judged on their innovation, presentation of food, hygiene standards, and customer service.

These awards celebrate the success of local restaurants, who are critical in keeping local communities thriving and crucially the very best of the Bangladeshi curry industry, shining a light on great local curry houses that are creating some of the best experiences on the high street. All the winners are not just inspiring this industry, they are keeping the legacy of British curry alive and show the best of what our curry houses have to offer.

Times have been tough for the hospitality industry in recent years. They battled the global pandemic, and lockdowns and are now facing their biggest challenge with the cost-of-living crisis. Confidence of this sector has tumbled, and times are tough. These uncertainties are impacting Britain’s curry industry and unless costs come under control, many curry restaurants will go under, and sadly many jobs will be lost.

Sadly, the great British tikka masala – the nation’s favourite dish – is under threat as never before and the curry industry is being hit by cost increases in everything from gas to spices, vegetable oil to mango chutney. Pre-pandemic, the UK’s curry industry contributed £4.2 billion to the national economy and now during these uncertain times, BCA seeks to unlock this industry’s full potential once again, as one of the biggest engines for growth in the UK economy.

This is an organization that believes in community, where together with its 12,000 members it can make a difference. So, if you are reading this, do try to support your local curry house, if you can.

 

Book, Corporate Social Responsibility Is Not Public Relations Shortlisted

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This has been a good news week and humbling set against all the devastating news that is happening in Ukraine right now. The book, Corporate Social Responsibility Is Not Public Relations, which was published in 2021 has been shortlisted by the UK Business Book Awards.

It is such a proud moment for me and the book, for it to be acknowledged and to be shortlisted, alongside a strong list of books and authors.

There are 15 global interviews in this book and I was lucky to interview these brilliant minds, as their wisdom and knowledge makes the book. I was also incredibly lucky to have environmental journalist, Lucy Siegle write the foreword for the book, which gives it context.

When I was writing the book, we were going into a global pandemic and I had no idea at that time, how much the pandemic would influence the book. COVID-19 has accelerated the need for corporate social responsibility (CSR) and put it high on the agenda for all types of businesses and sectors. Now more than ever, it is important for all organisations to have authentic CSR at the heart of both their business strategy and brand.

There is also a special chapter on India within the book, which for me is an important part of the book because we can learn so much from the East. In this chapter, I have interviewed an Indian Yogi, who talks about CSR and mindset, and that CSR is a shift in thinking for all entrepreneurs, CEOs, and business leaders, across all sectors and regions.

On a personal note, this book has been an achievement, because when writing it, I had just lost my mum. At that time I had this block in my head, where the words did not make sense. I now realise, that I was writing through grief.

I feel like a winner, and I have no fingers crossed. My hope now is that more people buy the book so that we can make the changes that this planet so desperately needs.

 

Waterstones, Enfield, 30 September from 6.30pm to 8.30pm

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Life has been slowly limping back to some kind of normal and as our children head back to school and we master a hybrid working from home and office, we are also now experiencing events. So, am very excited to announce that I will be hosted by my local Waterstones in Enfield, for their very first book event since the pandemic, which will also be my first face-to-face book event since the book was published this February!

It will be a small gathering of people who are interested in corporate social responsibility, ethical business, and of course in my book itself, Corporate Social Responsibility Is Not Public Relations.

If you would like to know more about the event and perhaps even join me on 30 September do drop me a line at sangeeta@serendipitypr.co.uk

 

Nari Tu Narayani

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On 5 June from 3pm to 4pm on Sky TV channel, 711, I will be on this programme called, Nari Tu Narayani (which means woman you are a Goddess) discussing aid to India during this devastating second wave. I will be representing Bridge India, a charity that has been doing critical, humanitarian work in India right now – sending medical supplies, oxygen machines and food parcels.

These efforts are still continuing, as this second wave of the virus is far from over in this part of the world, and while India may have slipped off our national news agenda, the situation in India is still dire. Like many others, over recent weeks, I know of many people who have lost their lives…young, fit and healthy people.

I will be discussing the situation in India, what it means to us sitting here and the work of Bridge India.

Also on the show will be another panellist, Dr Renu Jainer and we will be hosted by journalist, Smita Sarkar, I hope you will tune in.

The Role Of Nature, Wellness & Wellbeing In The Digital Age

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On 2 June from 1pm to 2pm, come and join me and this panel for this free event, where we are discussing wellbeing in the workplace in this digital age. Now, wellbeing at work has finally become important, particularly during this global pandemic and is very much part of a company’s corporate social responsibility initiatives.

Come and find out more and hear from this great panel. Details to book click here

Corporate Social Responsibility Is Not Public Relations: The Book Is Flying

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It is Spring, Easter has come and gone and here in the UK we are about to re-emerge from lockdown and suddenly, we have a lot to look forward to…time has flown and yes, it has taken me this long to write about all the wonderful and positive things that have happened and are happening for my new book, Corporate Social Responsibility Is Not Public Relations

 The Launch

I cannot believe that it has been a full month since the book had its official publication day on 18 February this year. Like everything that has been happening, the launch event was virtual, and on the day we had just over 100 people join from all over the world. It was great to see so much support for the book, which has continued. The book has been warmly received by both the media and the public.

Irish Tech News & Podcasts

Interest in the book has led to different opportunities and conversations, which includes me creating a special mini podcast series for the award winning, Irish Tech News. The first podcast from this series, launches this April. I have interviewed a mix of people, some of whom are in the book and some new voices, who are all talking about corporate social responsibility (CSR) and the things that they are doing to create change and make impact.

The first podcast is now live and is with entrepreneur, Leigh Kathryn Bonner who is one of Forbes Under 30, who is behind her CSR led-business, ‘Bee Downtown.’

In this particular podcast, Leigh gives us an insight into bees, who we discover are one of Mother Nature’s best storytellers!

The other, Irish Tech News podcast interviews I have coming up, are with – a  new purposeful tea company; a clown who is helping to make children laugh in refugee camps; an expert on sustainable and ethical investments; an ethical fashion entrepreneur and more.

Publicity Received

The book has been featured on Reputation Today, who ran a few pieces; India CSR Network also showed the book a lot of love and ran four stories; Asian Voice Newspaper; India Global Business; Viewdigital; Digital Journal; Enfield Dispatch; and Irish Tech News did a podcast with me about the book, which led to the mini-series.

Coming Up

I also have a few interviews just around the corner, including being interviewed on other podcasts. In fact, I am looking forward to joining Books and Friends on 19 April.

The book launches in the US in May and there’s more exciting news to announce soon.

Gratitude

But, the most important thing right now is to thank everyone who has bought the book! Thank you!! As an author, there’s nothing like the thrill of knowing someone is reading ‘your book.’

 

Reflections of 2020

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Our year started with a lot of promise, but then our lives were suddenly put on hold. During this time, we have learnt to be flexible and pivot, come up with new plans, be resourceful, even more hardworking and creative, as we have had to fit our lives around our homes.

2020 has probably been the most memorable year for all of us, for perhaps all the wrong reasons. It has been a year of sadness and uncertainty. Precious loved ones lost, but never forgotten.

It has been a year with some positives, where community has become important and has helped kept us going, along with our gardens, parks and we where have reconnected with Mother Nature, who has been patiently waiting for us to reconnect with Her.

It has also been a year of family and friendships.

As we move towards the new year, rather than put 2020 firmly behind me, I shall remember the lessons learnt from it; remembering what it means to be home, safe and well, with my small family.

So, I will see you in 2021, ready to embrace whatever the future brings, which will be possibilities and new opportunities.

Wishing you all a healthy, safe and positive new year!

What Will Mainstream Media Look Like Post The Pandemic

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When we all emerge from this pandemic, it will be a very different media landscape. We have seen that movies and television shows have delayed productions around the world and many of our much loved media titles, might not exist, as they struggle for survival.

Though television can be consumed while we are in lockdown, the creation of it still involves bringing people together on set. Widespread efforts to curb COVID-19 has triggered unprecedented change in the TV business. Where productions have stalled, writers’ rooms have moved to teleconferencing and radio presenters have guests either zooming or phoning in.

Many alternative weeklies have stopped printing and laid off employees, because of sharp advertising declines, as many businesses have stopped operating or sadly gone bust.

Journalists, photographers and advertising staff at print titles have lost their jobs and fear they will fear that they will not be re-employed when the crisis is over as sales and advertising revenues are not expected to return to pre-virus levels. Long-term, this crisis could have a devastating effect to the news industry’s bottom line.

Though there have been faint glimmers of light, where I have read how online news platforms have seen a spike in web traffic and subscriptions, as the pandemic has attracted record-breaking audiences for online news sources. Traffic to The Guardian’s website has increased more than 50 percent exceeding all previous records, and there had been a substantial surge in the number of readers taking out digital subscriptions or signing up to make regular contributions to support its journalism.

However, it’s worth noting that media outlets like The Guardian have long struggled to earn substantial revenue from digital advertising.

Yet, while we are now all addicted to the news, wanting accurate information. UK national print newspaper sales have fallen by as much as 30 percent since the start of the government-ordered coronavirus lockdown, according to industry sources, with journalists at many local newspapers placed on leave and warnings that hundreds of reporters could be left without jobs as the advertising market collapses.

On top of this, so many independent newsagents have closed, and supermarkets are expected to cut the numbers of copies of media titles they take because of reduced footfall. Free newspapers have also been hit by the collapse in commuters and ad revenue, with London’s Evening Standard adopting an improvised door-to-door delivery model, with a reduced circulation of just over 400,000 copies being posted through letterboxes in the center of the capital.

Rasmus Kleis Nielsen, director of the Reuters Institute at the University of Oxford told The Guardian that he predicts “huge declines in advertising revenues” owing to the looming recession that is likely to result in hundreds or even thousands of job losses in British journalism. He has predicted the economic effects of the pandemic could potentially remove 10 percent of all frontline journalistic jobs in the UK.

Nielsen voiced a concern of many in the industry, when he said a particular worry for British newspapers was that remaining print readers would lose the habit of reading a physical product during the lockdown.

No industry is being left untouched, many will have to innovate and change their business models to make a comeback and be part of the new world…a phoenix rising from the ashes.

 

Photo Credits: Sean McMenemy and Geralt

 

Coronavirus: Mother Earth is Pressing The Reset Button

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Times are eerie and chaotic, as the world wages its war with coronavirus. Schools are closing, supermarket shelves are becoming empty, people are stockpiling, toilet roll has become gold, people are now working from home, telecommunication companies are experiencing a surge in internet use, self-isolating and social spacing are now part of our vocabulary, we no longer shake hands and the list goes on.

Everyone keeps asking themselves (as remember we are self-isolating!) What’s happened? What’s happening? When will this all end? No one has the answers, we are in this Hollywood blockbuster on our own, there’s no super hero to save us.

Except one thing is clear, our habits are changing in real time. We are re-prioritising what is important to us…friends, family, communities and neighbourhoods. Our connected on-lines worlds are more important than ever before and as our children stay home not doing the normal things that they should be doing with their friends, we now want them to connect with their friends online, to have some kind of normal in all this turmoil.

If we all stopped for a moment, stood still and took a breadth, we would realise that right now in this chaos, that our Mother Earth is pressing the reset button and the world needs a rebalance.

There are always winners in battles and in this war on coronavirus, I was wondering who are the winners – Toiletry brands? Supermarkets? Pharmaceutical companies? manufactures of toilet roll?! None of these. There is only one winner and that’s the lungs of the planet. With countries like China forced to scale back on its production and the reduction in air travel, data is already showing a reduction in pollution.

In an extraordinary way brands, businesses and organisations are reminding us to be kind right now…we have Pret giving free drinks to our heroes at the frontline, the NHS. LinkedIn, is opening up its learning courses for free and using its platform to share news more broadly, help businesses use live video to replace onsite events, and deal with business continuity. Luxury brand, LVMH Moët Hennessy, the French company behind major brands like Louis Vuitton, Fenty Beauty and Benefit Cosmetics, announced that its factories, which normally manufacture perfume will shift to manufacture hand sanitizer gel and will be delivering the products to French healthcare authorities for free. Gas and electricity suppliers have agreed an emergency package of measures to ensure vulnerable people do not get cut off amid a virus outbreak. Ex-footballers, Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs are opening their hotels to NHS workers free of charge. While Chelsea FC will be putting up NHS hospital staff for free in their hotel during this coronavirus crisis.

So, what can we be doing to get through this, amidst the worries of our finances, jobs and homes. That answer is to reconnect with ourselves, breathe, reflect, read, meditate and most of all learn to be kinder to ourselves, and just be kind.

Photo Credit: Main image by FrankundFrei from Pixabay