Safaraz Ali

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Safaraz Ali Safaraz Ali MBE Co-Founder of F5 Foster Care, Nationwide Care Services. Founder of Multicultural Apprenticeships brands & Pathway2Grow.

If you’re an established leader facing any business challenge-lets talk. Seeking Foster Carers across Midlands region. BIO for Safaraz Ali MBE

Safaraz (Saf) Ali MBE is a social entrepreneur, having grown up in inner-city Birmingham, and he is proud of doing so too. Safaraz has been described as a driven individual with a sense of duty to change lives and do the right thing. Now, with over twenty-two years' experience, Safaraz focuses relentlessly on adding value and delivering impact in all that he does. He started his journey as a social entrepreneur in 2000 by founding Pathway Group: an organisation committed to changing lives through skills and work. He has been Instrumental in Pathway Group delivering an extensive range of programmes starting as an ESOL provider then delivering the Train to Gain programme, Adult Community Learning, Youth Contract, Troubled families, the Innovation Fund. In addition to various European Social Fund activities, such as Skills Support for Workforce, Skills Support for Unemployed, Skills Support for Redundancy, Skills Support for Work Programme and English and Maths Qualifications to name a few along its 24 years plus journey. As the CEO of Pathway, Safaraz is committed to career development and progression through continual learning, reflected in all aspects of his ethos to business. Working within the Skills arena and the welfare sector, the group provides career opportunities through employability, and apprenticeships programmes. In 2012, Safaraz had the vision to be a leader of change within business networking. To achieve that goal, he founded Pathway2Grow: a networking entity with the concept of "Network, Learn and Grow". This vision was to serve business communities nationally. Safaraz did this by running free events alongside other business owners to raise personal and professional profiles to help grow businesses, the events are sub-branded as Chutney and Chat, Coffee and Natter, Samosa Saturday, Peer Meetup and Cereal Network and are run by

The vision became a reality when over one hundred events were held yearly in more than ten locations across the UK. Currently, there have been over ten thousand business connections established as a result of the events. In recognition of his position within the business and social entrepreneurial community, Safaraz has been invited to judge several awards.

• For the last seven years, Safaraz has been a judge for the Great British Entrepreneur Award
• He is presently the Head Judge for the Birmingham Awards
• A National and Regional Judge for the UK Government's National Apprenticeship Awards
• A Judge for Nachural - Signature Awards and the Summer Ball & Awards Entrepreneurship Awards. It gives Safaraz great pleasure to undertake these roles in an entirely voluntary capacity. Safaraz is inspired by the difference these events make in encouraging entrepreneurship and leadership development. Safaraz feels that he can be a role model for small businesses, encouraging wealth creation and growth. Safaraz is a co-founder and chair of Nationwide Care Services, a home care business working with NHS Trusts and Social services. Nationwide Care Services work on the hospital discharge, hospital prevention and various community care initiatives across both West Midlands and East Midlands with plans to grow organically and by acquisition if the opportunity arises. The Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards (previously known as BAME Apprenticeship Awards and prior to that the Asian Apprenticeship Awards) is probably Safaraz's most significant legacy. The work he has done towards the cause has laid the foundations for future generations. As part of this continued commitment, Safaraz is driving the Multicultural; Apprenticeship Alliance and Multicultural Apprentice Network brand setup to promote ethnic diversity within apprenticeships by sharing good practices and encouraging organisations to talk about the issues and possible solutions and signup to their DEI Pledge. Amongst other responsibilities, Safaraz also found time to become a published author. He actively writes "Canny Bites, " quick, informative, & impactful bites of business wisdom. His third book is titled 'Attract, Retain and Grow your team to grow your business and the fourth book is titled: Successfully Scale Up or Exit your Business.Many business owners and leaders alike have found his 'bites' genuine and refreshing, and with the growing popularity of his writing,

Safaraz now has his own Podcast titled 'Canny Conversations – compelling conversations with a cause'. Here is one of his episodes to get you started – reputation and brand: https://cannyconversationspodcast.co.uk/reputation-and-brand-podcast-by-safaraz-ali/

Safaraz has been volunteering and supporting grassroots community football academies as Ambassador and as a Non-Executive Chair and having a role as membership secretary for a bereavement service. Safaraz Ali is often called upon by media and local influencers to appear on podcasts, radio and local TV shows and write articles on topics ranging from leadership, people, entrepreneurship, and anything relating to diversity and BAME communities. Safaraz is active and a Social CEO and operates several other social media channels himself such as:
• https://twitter.com/SafarazAli
• linkedin.com/in/safaraz/
• https://www.youtube.com/user/safaraz/ over 800 videos – also see link below:
• https://cannyconversationspodcast.co.uk/cannybites-videos/

Opportunities:

OPEN to receiving invitations to be guest to support Local Digital media organisations, Podcasts and to submit an article for a business page or magazine. For recruitment related enquiries - find Safaraz Ali on Linkedin and also view bit.ly/TeamPathway



To read further: http://www/safaraz.co.uk

Persuade or be Persuaded.When was the last time you changed your mind?Enough to do something differently afterwards?You ...
20/10/2026

Persuade or be Persuaded.

When was the last time you changed your mind?

Enough to do something differently afterwards?

You go into a conversation fairly sure of your position. You’ve thought it through and you’re ready to explain why it makes sense.

Then someone asks a question or makes a point you hadn’t considered? One of the things I value in any relationship is being able to talk openly and learn from each other.

As pragmattic leaders we ask people to speak openly and honestly with us. It matters what happens when they do.

Safaraz Ali

Alan used to manage me.Somewhere along the way, the man who was my manager became my best colleague.It’s an interesting ...
18/10/2026

Alan used to manage me.

Somewhere along the way, the man who was my manager became my best colleague.

It’s an interesting change in a working relationship. Someone first gets to know you when it’s their job to manage you. Over time, you get to know each other beyond the roles. You become more comfortable sharing an opinion, questioning something and saying what you really think.

You also stop feeling you have to prove yourself in every conversation.

You need someone who knows you well enough to challenge you. Someone whose opinion you’ll take seriously, even when it’s inconvenient.

Of course, you have to be willing to hear it. There’s little point valuing someone’s experience and then only listening when they tell you what you want to hear.

And then there’s Alan’s retirement.

He’s tried more than a handful of times now. I’m not sure whether we should still be counting them individually or treating it as one ongoing attempt.

The thing about a good colleague is that you’d rather they stayed. You get used to having them around. Their understanding of the business, and of you, is difficult to replace.

When I think about Alan and I, the lesson is fairly simple: give working relationships room to develop.

The person managing you today could become someone you choose to work alongside for years. Keep learning from them, even after the reporting line has changed.

I’m grateful ours became the relationship it did.

And Alan, if you’re reading this, thank you.

We can discuss retirement another time.

Safaraz Ali

We’d both written a book yet had had plenty to learn.This photo is from about ten years ago, with an old friend. His boo...
15/10/2026

We’d both written a book yet had had plenty to learn.

This photo is from about ten years ago, with an old friend. His book was about creating the life you desire, personal development and self-discovery. Mine was my first Canny Bites book: 52 Bites of Business Wisdom for Leaders and Entrepreneurs.

A good excuse to sit down, chew the fat and compare notes.

I enjoy conversations like these. You can share what’s working, talk about what you’re struggling with and get another view from someone whose experience is different from yours.

It’s also good to have someone who’ll question you with the right balance of challenge and support.

Two simple questions I find useful:

WWW: What went well?
EBI: Even better if…

Give yourself some credit for what went well. Then have an honest look at what could have been better.

I do like “even better if” because it encourages you to think about what you would change next time. Something you can actually do something about.

Often talking things through helps you see what you may not pick up on your own. I’ve had plenty of those moments.

Safaraz Ali

“Are you a doctor?”I get asked this quite a lot, particularly when I’m outside the UK.I used to say no and then try to e...
04/10/2026

“Are you a doctor?”

I get asked this quite a lot, particularly when I’m outside the UK.

I used to say no and then try to explain what I do!

For the last five or six years, I’ve been answering differently.

“Is it because I’m fat and bald?”

“No, no, no! You just have that look about you.”

“I’m only joking with you. I get asked that a lot. I’ll take it as a compliment.”

This usually breaks the ice.

I’m more comfortable with these little exchanges now. A bit of humour helps, and once we’re talking, the conversation can go anywhere.

We sometimes dismiss small talk, but you have to start somewhere and we need to get better at it than just the weather or where you’re from.

If someone makes the effort, give them a little back. Smile, make eye contact, ask them something. Don’t leave them doing all the work.

The same applies at work. We want people to ask questions and speak to us when something is on their mind. It helps if we’re approachable in the ordinary, everyday conversations first.

I’m still not entirely sure what makes me look like a doctor. But it’s given me many interesting conversations.

Safaraz Ali

P.S. I wrote a piece called “Pep Up the Pleasantries” in my Canny Bites book and recorded a short video on it too, for anyone interested here’s the link to the video: https://youtu.be/7Ph8G8AsFxM?si=GIUAQ71iJqEmKUT_

A London cabbie was surprised by how much I knew about Dolly Parton.I was in the back of a black cab when the news of he...
04/10/2026

A London cabbie was surprised by how much I knew about Dolly Parton.

I was in the back of a black cab when the news of her death came up. He started talking about her and I had quite a bit to add. I knew about her upbringing, her songwriting and the work she’d done to get children reading.

He seemed stunned. In his own way, he said he didn’t come across many Indians who knew about these things.

I’m British Pakistani in my eyes, but I took his main point as a compliment as I understood his meaning.

This reminded me of something my dad taught me: if you can have a conversation with anybody about almost anything, that’s real wisdom.

This brings me to my point about being “Professionally curious”, it’s one of my favourite phrases that I use of all time in many contexts. It’s something I look for when recruiting, and something I keep talking about with my children and anyone else who’ll listen.

“Did you ask?”

“Are you not interested?”

I probably sound like a nag sometimes. But I think it’s a key skill. If someone tells you something you don’t understand, ask them about it. If you meet someone doing interesting work, find out how they got into it.

There’s so much we miss because we leave the next question unasked.

At work, I like people who want to understand how things work, take an interest in their colleagues and look beyond their own job. Experience matters, but I also want to know whether someone is still learning or has decided they already know enough.

There’s an old saying: knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is knowing it doesn’t belong in a fruit salad.

We’ve got access to more information than we could ever use. I do wonder whether our wisdom is keeping up.

AI can give you an answer. You still have to understand it, question it and know when it’s useful. That judgement develops through listening, experience and thinking about what you’ve learnt.

For me, that’s lifelong learning. It happens in everyday conversations, including whether we take enough interest to ask another question.

My dad’s advice has stayed with me. Hopefully some of my nagging will stay with my children too.

With how quickly the world of work is changing, I think staying professionally curious is the only way we stay relevant and current.

Safaraz Ali

P.S. Pictured with my daughter and neice at our village Bhaloat, Azaad Kashmir a few years ago now.

I started volunteering because I wanted a better CV.I’m quite happy to admit that.I wanted to improve my prospects, gain...
04/10/2026

I started volunteering because I wanted a better CV.

I’m quite happy to admit that.

I wanted to improve my prospects, gain experience and give myself a better chance of moving forward. I had no idea how much would eventually come from getting involved.

I’d failed all my GCSEs. It was a shock to the system. I returned to education and began finding my feet, but there was still plenty to work out.

While working at Britannic Assurance back in 1999 to 2003, I began volunteering with colleges, helping them connect with local communities.

That meant going into mosques and temples, community centres as well as connecting with local and regional civil servants - building relationships and helping people access education and health Those relationships developed into opportunities across health and social care and employability.

There was no grand business plan when I first volunteered. I wanted to develop myself and do something useful.

And I still volunteer today.

I currently give my time to four non-exec or advisory roles: with Birmingham City University, the Open University, a charity and a trade body as well judging for awards programmes and writing articles for publications.

I have more experience to offer now, but I still have plenty to learn. Being involved gives me opportunities to do both.

Years ago, there was a lot of talk about the “Big Society”. I thought the concept was great: encouraging people to take a more active role in their communities and contribute to society.

In my view, the ex*****on never lived up to the promise. The idea deserved much better follow-through.

But we can still act on it in our own lives.

We all have opinions about what needs improving. Opportunities for young people. Support for families. The state of our neighbourhoods.

Getting involved gives us something practical to do with those opinions.

You might help a charity understand its finances. Support a youth club. Become a school governor. Mentor someone trying to find their way. Help a community organisation recruit the right people.

Something you find straightforward could be the very thing holding somebody else back.

And you’re allowed to benefit too.

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to learn, build confidence or improve your career prospects while contributing. That was part of my motivation.

What matters is how seriously you take the commitment.

People learn a great deal about you through those small things (as well as you learning more about yourself)

As someone born and brought up in Alum Rock, Birmingham, and as a British Muslim, I see contributing to society as part of our responsibility to the place we call home.

It is also a way of expressing gratitude for the opportunities and support we’ve received.

I know time is a real consideration. Work, family and everyday responsibilities already take a lot. Start with something you can sustain. A modest commitment you keep is far more useful than a big promise you can’t deliver.

If you’ve been thinking about getting involved, contact one organisation this week. Tell them what you can offer and ask where it might be useful.

I’m grateful people made room for me when I was finding my feet. Putting my hand up was one of the better decisions I made.

Safaraz Ali

P.S. useful volunteering websites below - just google these as there are not live links.

GOV UK- Volunteering⁠: Government guidance and links to organisations offering volunteering opportunities.
BVSC - Volunteer Brum⁠: A local starting point for volunteering with Birmingham’s charities, community groups and voluntary organisations.
NCVO - Find a volunteering opportunity⁠: National voluntary-sector guidance, including routes into professional skills volunteering and trustee roles.

04/10/2026

If you’ve ever thought about fostering - even just a spark of curiosity - now is the time to act.

✅ Whether you’re single or married
✅ Own or rent your home
✅ Working full-time or retired
- fostering might still be for you.

📞 Call us on 0121 271 0555
📧 Or email [email protected]



Safaraz Ali
F5 Foster Care

03/10/2026

What we do at ThinkFest Events

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27/09/2026

The Multicultural Apprenticeship and Skills Alliance - a public affairs and peer support group for providers and employers who want to do the right thing. Open for Patron Membership and collaboration.

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Amington House, 95 Amington Road
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