Jump to content

Syed Ahmed (businessman): Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Hatnote no longer needed
 
(102 intermediate revisions by 64 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|British businessman}}
⚫
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2012}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{advert|date=March 2023}}
{{Notability|1=Biographies|date=August 2023}}
{{BLP sources|date=August 2023}}
}}
⚫
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
⚫
| name = Syed Ahmed
| honorific_prefix =
| name = Syed Ahmed
| image = SyedAhmed.jpg
| honorific_suffix =
| alt =
| image = Syedahmed.JPG
| caption = Ahmed in 2019
| image_size = 220px
| native_name = সৈয়দ আহমেদ
| alt =
| native_name_lang = bn
| caption = Ahmed in 2007
| birth_name =
⚫
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1974|9|17|df=y}}
| native_name = সৈয়দ আহমেদ
| birth_place = [[Sylhet]], Bangladesh
| native_name_lang = bn
| birth_name =
| death_date =
⚫
| death_place =
⚫
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1974|9|17|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Sylhet]], [[Bangladesh]]
| nationality = British
| death_date =
| other_names =
⚫
| alma_mater = [[Sir John Cass Redcoat School]]<br />[[West London College]]
⚫
| death_place =
| death_cause =
| years_active =
⚫
| known_for = ''[[The Apprentice (British TV series) series 2|The Apprentice]]''
| resting_place =
| residence =
| website = {{URL|syed-ahmed.com}}
| nationality = [[United Kingdom|British]]
| other_names =
| ethnicity = [[Bengali people|Bengali]]
| citizenship =
⚫
| alma_mater = [[Sir John Cass Redcoat School]]<br/>[[Ealing, Hammersmith and West ]]
| years_active =
| employer =
| organization =
| agent =
⚫
| known_for = Candidate on ''[[The Apprentice (UK)|The Apprentice]]''
| notable_works =
| style =
| home_town =
| salary =
| net_worth =
| height =
| weight =
| television =
| title =
⚫
| term =
| predecessor =
| successor =
| party =
| movement =
| opponents =
| boards =
| religion = [[Islam]]
| denomination =
| spouse =
| partner =
| children =
| parents =
| relatives =
| callsign =
| awards = Quiet mark award (for his company's progression in the hand dryer industries.)
| module =
| website = {{URL|http://www.syed-ahmed.com/}}
| footnotes =
}}
}}


'''Syed Ahmed''' ({{lang-bn|সৈয়দ আহমেদ}}; born 17 September 1974) is a [[Bangladesh]]i-born [[United Kingdom|British]] [[entrepreneur]], [[Businessperson|businessman]] and [[Celebrity|television personality]].<ref name=monkey>{{cite news |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2006/nov/01/mediamonkey |title=Monkey goes to the National TV Awards |publisher=Guardian |date=2006-11-01 |accessdate=2009-05-02 |location=London}}</ref> He is the founder and CEO of the British design and manufacturing hand dryer company SAVortex. He is best known for being a contestant in the 2006 series of ''[[The Apprentice (UK Series Two)|The Apprentice]]'', where he was fired in Week 10.
'''Syed Ahmed''' (born 17 September 1974), is a British businessman of Bengali descent. He is the founder and CEO of Savortex, a British technology company. He participated in the 2006 edition of ''[[The Apprentice (British TV series)|The Apprentice]]'', a UK television series, finishing in fifth place.


==Background==
==Early life==
Ahmed, originally from [[Sylhet Division|Sylhet]], [[Bangladesh]],<ref>{{Citation |title=Wadsworth, Alfred Powell, (26 May 1891–4 Nov. 1956), Editor Emeritus Manchester Guardian (Editor 1944–56); Director Manchester Guardian and Evening News Ltd |date=2007-12-01 |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u244064 |work=Who Was Who |access-date=2023-06-25 |publisher=Oxford University Press}}</ref>{{failed verification|date=August 2023}} relocated to the [[United Kingdom]] with his parents when he was nine months old, and grew up in [[List of sub-regions used in the London Plan#List of sub-regions|East London]].<ref>{{Citation |last=White |first=Frederick H. |title=A Slap in the Face of American Taste: Transporting He Who Gets Slapped to American Audiences |date=2016-04-01 |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.3366/edinburgh/9781474411424.003.0007 |work=Border Crossing |access-date=2023-06-25 |publisher=Edinburgh University Press}}</ref>
Ahmed was born in [[Sylhet]], [[Bangladesh]].<ref name=manchester>{{cite web |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/entertainment/film_and_tv/s/203/203701_sugar_begins_hunt_for_new_apprentice.html |title=Sugar begins hunt for new Apprentice |publisher=Manchester Evening News |date=2006-02-08 |author=Ian Wylie |accessdate=2008-08-26}}</ref><ref name=bbcmedia>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/5270904.stm |title=Media troubling Apprentice stars |publisher=BBC News (BBC) |date=2006-08-21 |accessdate=2009-05-01}}</ref> When he was nine months old,<ref name=st1>{{cite news |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/related_reports/article1265205.ece?token=null&offset=0&page=1 |title=Apprentice star gets a taste for the high life (Page 1) |publisher=The Sunday Times |author=Ali Hussain |date=2006-08-21 |accessdate=2009-06-09 |location=London}}</ref> he moved with his parents to England and was brought up in [[East (London sub region)|East London]]<ref name=thesun1>{{cite news |url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article56816.ece |title=Yes, Ahm so happy |publisher=The Sun |date=2006-07-22 |accessdate=2009-06-10 |location=London}}</ref><ref name=newage>{{cite web |url=http://www.newagebd.com/2008/oct/10/oct10/xtra_inner4.html |title=British Bangladeshis who have made a mark |author=Tamara Zaman |publisher=New Age Xtra |date=2008-10-16 |accessdate=2009-05-02}}</ref> in a devout Muslim family.<ref name=dm1>{{cite news |url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-436491/My-love-Syed-tore-apart.html |title=My love for Syed tore me apart |author=Michelle Dewberry |publisher=The Daily Mail |date=2007-02-19 |accessdate=2009-05-02 |location=London}}</ref> He attended the [[Sir John Cass Redcoat School]] in [[Stepney]] from the age of 11 to 17 achieving 7 [[GCSE]]s. He then attended the [[Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College|Hammersmith College]], where he achieved a [[Business And Technology Education Council (BTEC)|BTEC]] in [[Business]] and [[Finance]]. He later managed restaurants, including the Titanic, part of the White Starline Group, owned by [[Marco Pierre White]].<ref name=manchester/><ref name=bbcmeets>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2006/02_february/07/apprentice_boys.shtml |title=The Apprentice series two meets the boys |publisher=BBC (Press Office) |date=2006-07-02 |accessdate=2009-06-09}}</ref> He was in the [[Air Training Corps]] and dreamed of becoming an [[Royal Air Force|RAF]] [[Aviator|pilot]] but decided to go into business instead.<ref name=mailonline>{{cite news |url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-400186/Yes-Apprentice-parents.html |title=Yes we're Apprentice parents |author=Natalie Clarke |publisher=The Daily Mail |date=2006-08-11 |accessdate=2009-05-02 |location=London}}</ref>

Ahmed is currently the [[CEO]] of SAVortex, which specialises in high-speed, energy efficient [[hand dryers]].<ref name=savortex>{{cite web |url=http://www.savortex.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/SAV_ImechE_Presentation-SA.pdf |title=SAVortex Presentation |publisher=SA Vortex |accessdate=2015-12-29}}</ref> Ahmed's development of the SAVortex technology was shown in an hour-long documentary, ''Hot Air'', broadcast on [[Sky Digital (UK & Ireland)|Sky]]. Ahmed initially financed the business himself.<ref name=digitalspy>{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/realitytv/a61323/syed-ahmed.html |title=Syed Ahmed |author=Nick Levine |publisher=Digital Spy |date=2006-02-18 |accessdate=2008-10-16}}</ref> Ahmed was a director of the [[Information technology|IT]] [[recruitment consultancy]] firm ''IT People'' until May 2006, and a director of Magenta Partnerships Limited from June 2006 until February 2007.

He has made speeches to the young business enterprise community,<ref name=youngchamber>{{cite web |url=http://www.youngchamber.com/CaseStudy-detail.asp?csid=14 |title=Report on Isle of Wight Young Chamber Conference 2006 |publisher=Young Chamber |year=2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090905010821/http://www.youngchamber.com/CaseStudy-detail.asp?csid=14 |archive-date=2009-09-05 |accessdate=2009-05-01}}</ref><ref name=MCC>{{cite web |url=http://www.tuduloo.co.uk/mcc/mcc4.html |title=University of Oxford Special: Oxford University’s Trading Places |publisher=MCC |date=2008-04-28 |accessdate=2009-05-02}}</ref> and the more general enterprise community in Britain.<ref name=danstory>{{cite web |url=http://www.danstorey.com/herts-connections-syed-ahmed/ |title=Herts Connections - Syed Ahmed |date=2008-09-08 |website=DanStorey.com |type=Blog |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708231113/http://www.danstorey.com/herts-connections-syed-ahmed/ |archive-date=2011-07-08 |accessdate=2009-05-02}}</ref>


==''The Apprentice''==
==''The Apprentice''==
⚫
Ahmed appeared as a candidate in [[The Apprentice (British TV series) series 2|series two]] of ''[[The Apprentice (British TV series)|The Apprentice]]'', a British reality television show hosted by [[Alan Sugar]]. The series was broadcast from February to May 2006.
{{Further|The Apprentice (UK series two)}}
⚫
Ahmed appeared as a candidate in [[The Apprentice (UK Series Two)|series two]] of ''[[The Apprentice (UK)|The Apprentice]]'', a British reality television show hosted by [[Alan Sugar|Lord Alan Sugar]]. The series was broadcast from February to May 2006. On the show Ahmed was a member of the "Invicta" team. He was a notable candidate on the show, but was fired in week 10.

One of his quotes on the show was a "£100,000 salary is not enough but it's a good place to start."<ref name=gerald>{{cite book |last=Haigh |first =Gerald |title=Inspirational, and Cautionary Tales for Would-be School Leaders: Tales for Would-be School Leaders |publisher=Routledge |year=2008 |pages=138}}</ref>

==Post Apprentice==
Ahmed appeared on [[Sky News]] as a paper reviewer – reviewing current and forthcoming newspapers in a celebrity panel. He also has appeared on interviews, at [[BBC Breakfast]] with candidate [[Jo Cameron]] on the [[BBC]],<ref name=bbcbreakfast>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/breakfast/4755687.stm |title=You're fired... |author=BBC Breakfast |publisher=BBC |date=2006-05-10 |accessdate=2009-06-10}}</ref> and also at [[GMTV]] on [[ITV Network|ITV]].<ref name=thisislondon1>{{cite web |url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/showbiz/article-23363969-details/Apprentice+star+'protecting'+Michelle+from+media/article.do |title=Apprentice star 'protecting' Michelle from media |publisher=Evening Standard (London) |date=2006-08-21 |accessdate=2009-06-10}}</ref> He appeared on [[Sky One]]'s program called ''[[The Match (Sky One TV series)|The Match]]'', where 80 celebrities take part to win a place in a celebrity football squad.<ref name=tdm1>{{cite news |url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-400859/Badgers-big-idea-lands-TV-show.html |title=Badger's big idea lands her a TV show |publisher=The Daily Mail |date=2006-08-16 |accessdate=2009-06-10 |location=London}}</ref> Ahmed again appeared on another [[Sky One]] show, called ''[[Cirque de Celebrité]]'' (from October 2006), featuring celebrity circus acts, and he was voted off in the second week. He subsequently returned as a guest judge.<ref name=virgin>{{cite web |url=http://www.virginmedia.com/tvradio/galleries/realitytv/apprentice2008/best-worst-candidates.php?ssid=2 |title=Best and worst of The Apprentice - Syed Ahmed |publisher=Virgin Media |accessdate=2009-05-02}}</ref>

A Sky One documentary (from June 2007) called, ''Syed Ahmed - Hot Air?'', featured Ahmed attempting to launch a new company which specialised in hand and body dryers, with £20,000 of his own money, to develop in three months.<ref name=thesun3>{{cite news |url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/reality_tv/26569/Syed-pays-for-body-warmer.html |title=Syed pays for body warmer |author=Leigh Holmwood |publisher=The Sun |date=2007-04-26 |accessdate=2009-06-09 |location=London}}</ref><ref name=guadiantv>{{cite news |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/tvandradioblog/2007/jun/20/lastnightstvsyedahmedhot |title=Last night's TV: Syed Ahmed - Hot Air? |author=Lucy Mangan |publisher=Guardian |date=2007-06-20 |accessdate=2009-06-09 |location=London}}</ref><ref name=twofour>{{cite web |url=http://www.twofourbroadcast.com/syed-ahmed.asp |title=Syed Ahmed - Hot Air |publisher=Twofour Broadcast |accessdate=2009-06-09}}</ref> The program followed the launch of the SA Vortex's hand dryer products.<ref name=abf>{{cite web |url=http://www.abfed.co.uk/index.asp?p=News-And-Events&s=News-And-Events-Archive&a=45 |title=Syed Ahmed - Hot Air |publisher=Asian Business Federation |author=Louise Snell |accessdate=2009-06-09}}</ref>

In December 2010, Ahmed was a host at the [[Spice times]] Restaurant Awards in Romford, Greater London. <ref name=SpiceTimes>{{cite web|url=http://www.spicetimes.co.uk/spice-times-awards-press-release/ |title=Syed Ahmed Host |publisher=Spice Times Publishing Ltd |author=Spice Times Press Release |accessdate=2010-12-31}}</ref>


==Charity work==
==Charity work==
Syed is an ambassador for international charity [[WaterAid]] which supports projects all over the world and Bangladesh.<ref name="st1">{{cite news |last=Hussain |first=Ali |date=2006-12-31 |title=Apprentice star gets a taste for the high life |newspaper=The Sunday Times |location=London |quote=Born in Bangladesh, he arrived in Britain when he was nine months old.}}</ref>
In 2008, Ahmed organised and led a race in support of a breast cancer charity.<ref name=cityrace>{{cite web |url=http://static.cityrace.co.uk/pdfs/apprentice.pdf |title=Sir Alan Sugar's Apprentices Line Up For The 2008 Standard Chartered Great City Race In Aid Of Breakthrough Breast Cancer |publisher=Standard Chartered |date=2008-07-08 |accessdate=2009-05-02}}</ref> He also sends money to families and charities located in Bangladesh.<ref name=st1/> Ahmed was one of the four contestants with [[Secret Millionaire]]s, who attended the Geared for Giving campaign to help promote the Workplace Giving, on May 2009.<ref name=geared>{{cite web |url=http://www.gearedforgiving.com/campaign-news/apprentices-and-secret-millionaires-get-geared-for-giving/ |title=Apprentices and Secret Millionaires get Geared for Giving |publisher=Geared For Giving |date=2009-05-06 |accessdate=2009-06-10}}</ref> Ahmed also took part in a charity relay to raise money for children in [[Gaza Strip|Gaza]]. Gaza100, was held on 24 May 2009 in [[Mile End Park]], east London, attracting over 1,500 people, which included also Apprentice candidates, [[Ghazal Asif]] and [[Tre Azam]].He has also raised money from climbing a mountain and sent that money to Bangladesh villages water pumps for nice lush clean water <ref name=gaza100>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8065753.stm |title=Charity relay sets world record |publisher=BBC News (BBC) |date=2009-05-24 |accessdate=2009-06-07}}</ref>


==Awards and nominations==
==Awards and nominations==
In January 2015, he was nominated for the Entrepreneur of the Year award at the [[British Muslim Awards]].<ref name="asianimage">{{cite news |last= |first= |url=http://www.asianimage.co.uk/news/business/11745550.British_Muslim_Awards_2015_finalists_unveiled/|title=British Muslim Awards 2015 finalists unveiled|work= |location= |publisher=''Asian Image''|date=23 January 2015|accessdate=1 August 2015}}</ref>
In January 2015, he was nominated and won the Entrepreneur of the Year award at the [[British Muslim Awards]].<ref name="asianimage">{{cite news |url=http://www.asianimage.co.uk/news/business/11745550.British_Muslim_Awards_2015_finalists_unveiled/|title=British Muslim Awards 2015 finalists unveiled|publisher=Asian Image|date=23 January 2015|access-date=1 August 2015}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
{{Portal|Biography|United Kingdom|Bangladesh}}
{{Portal|Biography|United Kingdom|Bangladesh}}
*[[British Bangladeshi]]
* [[British Bangladeshi]]
*[[Business of British Bangladeshis]]
* [[Business of British Bangladeshis]]
*[[List of British Bangladeshis]]
* [[List of British Bangladeshis]]


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
*{{Official website|http://www.syed-ahmed.com/}}
* {{Official website|syed-ahmed.com}}
*{{Twitter|syedahmed|Syed Ahmed}}


{{The Apprentice UK}}
{{The Apprentice UK}}
Line 109: Line 62:
[[Category:British people of Bangladeshi descent]]
[[Category:British people of Bangladeshi descent]]
[[Category:Naturalised citizens of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Naturalised citizens of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Bangladeshi businesspeople]]
[[Category:The Apprentice (British TV series) candidates]]
⚫
[[Category:British businesspeople]]
[[Category:The Apprentice (UK TV series) candidates]]
[[Category:Participants in British reality television series]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from London]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from London]]
[[Category:People from Sylhet]]
[[Category:People from Sylhet]]
[[Category:People educated at Sir John Cass Redcoat School]]
[[Category:People educated at Sir John Cass Redcoat School]]
⚫
[[Category:21st-century Bangladeshi businesspeople]]

[[bn:সৈয়দ আহমেদ]]

Latest revision as of 05:43, 8 November 2024

Syed Ahmed
সৈয়দ আহমেদ
Ahmed in 2019
Born (1974-09-17) 17 September 1974 (age 50)
Sylhet, Bangladesh
NationalityBritish
Alma materSir John Cass Redcoat School
West London College
Known forThe Apprentice
Websitesyed-ahmed.com

Syed Ahmed (born 17 September 1974), is a British businessman of Bengali descent. He is the founder and CEO of Savortex, a British technology company. He participated in the 2006 edition of The Apprentice, a UK television series, finishing in fifth place.

Early life

[edit]

Ahmed, originally from Sylhet, Bangladesh,[1][failed verification] relocated to the United Kingdom with his parents when he was nine months old, and grew up in East London.[2]

The Apprentice

[edit]

Ahmed appeared as a candidate in series two of The Apprentice, a British reality television show hosted by Alan Sugar. The series was broadcast from February to May 2006.

Charity work

[edit]

Syed is an ambassador for international charity WaterAid which supports projects all over the world and Bangladesh.[3]

Awards and nominations

[edit]

In January 2015, he was nominated and won the Entrepreneur of the Year award at the British Muslim Awards.[4]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Wadsworth, Alfred Powell, (26 May 1891–4 Nov. 1956), Editor Emeritus Manchester Guardian (Editor 1944–56); Director Manchester Guardian and Evening News Ltd", Who Was Who, Oxford University Press, 1 December 2007, retrieved 25 June 2023
  2. ^ White, Frederick H. (1 April 2016), "A Slap in the Face of American Taste: Transporting He Who Gets Slapped to American Audiences", Border Crossing, Edinburgh University Press, retrieved 25 June 2023
  3. ^ Hussain, Ali (31 December 2006). "Apprentice star gets a taste for the high life". The Sunday Times. London. Born in Bangladesh, he arrived in Britain when he was nine months old.
  4. ^ "British Muslim Awards 2015 finalists unveiled". Asian Image. 23 January 2015. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Syed_Ahmed_(businessman)&oldid=1256099650"