Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Former football player ventures into business

by NADEEM BADSHAH 

JHAI DHILLON has swapped a professional career on the football pitch for pitching in the business world.


The former Chelsea academy player has formed a winning partnership with his brother Simmy to set up a meal preparation firm. The brother's company Rice n Spice (RNS) delivers cooked meals to customers with access to nutrition experts.

Its clients including Leicester City midfielder Demarai Gray and Wycombe Wanderers' Adebayo Akinfenwa. And the start of the year is their busiest time with more people looking to eat healthily.

Jhai left Stevenage football club to focus on some new goals as an entrepreneur.

The 24-year-old said the bond with Simmy, 22, has helped them form a successful team since the launch in 2017. He told Eastern Eye: "A lot of people say you shouldn't work with family and friends and mix business. But literally we are best friends as well as brothers.

"If people don't understand what their role is there is a conflict of interest but we accept we have different strengths in different areas where we are both in charge. He's fully focused on the marketing side, whatever he says in that respect goes.

"I have an input but in terms of operations that is more my area. It's been good. I wouldn't want to go on this journey with anyone else apart from him. I really enjoy it.

"If we have an argument half an hour later it would be like the argument never happened because we are so close. We're both so aware of the other person."

The brothers honed their entrepreneurship skills from a young age where they bought sweets and sold them in school to classmates.

Their meal business www.rnsmeals.com now has 16 staff in Hertfordshire and uses social media platforms including their Instagram account @rice_n_spice_.

The expansion has allowed Jhai to return to playing non-league football as a semi-professional with Hitchin Town.

Another vital member of the squad is the boys' mother who has inspired their drive and work ethic. Jhai added: "She used to work part-time. She is able to retire from her previous job and work with us. She can have more of an input.

"She doesn't have to work now, she chooses to and helps as and when we need it. Her job at Tesco brought us two up. She can have a direct impact, she gave all of that up to bring us up.

"This is bringing something back to her."

Jhai was the winner of the first Asian Star competition run by Chelsea football club in 2009. He played football full time for Stevenage FC on a scholarship after his GCSE exams. The defender was offered a professional contract and stayed at the club for four years.

But he said transferring from football to business was not a tough decision due to a lack of first-team opportunities. "I got to the point where I was a pro and was training but wasn't playing on the weekend.

"The manager at the time wasn't that interested in playing youth players, it was frustrating. I just thought why can't I just enjoy non-league, play every week, train and be part time, and also work alongside it where the business came into it.

"I wasn't enjoying it as much. It wasn't that difficult - we are employing lots of people, which I wouldn't have been able to do if I was in League One for example so I feel I have made an impact. I left and went back to play in a non-league team and the enjoyment came back."

And he has urged young footballers to have a back up plan for when they hang up their boots.

"At League Two or League One level you don't earn great money. When you retire you still have to work. One tackle could end your career and you're going to still need to do something after that. I would encourage people to continue to study.

"You train 9am until midday then you're done. You have a lot of free time to do Open University or whatever you want."

More For You

India and UK flags
Getty Images/iStockphoto

UK-India finance group marks one year, calls for steps to attract global investment

INDIA must take an investor-centric approach to attract global funding for its growing sustainable infrastructure needs, the UK-India Infrastructure Financing Bridge (UKIIFB) said in a report released in London on Monday.

The UKIIFB, co-chaired by NITI Aayog and the City of London Corporation, completed one year this week. The group was launched in September last year to help bridge the gap between global investor interest and infrastructure projects in India.

Keep ReadingShow less
Trump CEOs

Sitting at the centre of a long table, Trump was flanked by First Lady Melania Trump and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates on one side, and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg on the other. (Photo: Getty Images)

At White House dinner, Trump lauds Nadella, Pichai

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump praised Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Google CEO Sundar Pichai during a White House dinner with top technology executives on Thursday. The two Indian-American leaders thanked him for his leadership and for policies in the technology and AI sectors.

Trump described the gathering as a “high IQ group,” calling the executives “the most brilliant people.” Sitting at the centre of a long table, Trump was flanked by First Lady Melania Trump and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates on one side, and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg on the other. Pichai and Apple CEO Tim Cook sat across from him, while Nadella was seated toward one end of the table.

Keep ReadingShow less
 India-EU-iStock

The visit coincides with the 13th round of India-EU negotiations on a proposed free trade agreement, which both sides aim to finalise by December. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

EU envoys to hold strategic talks in India, focus on trade and security

THE EUROPEAN Union's Political and Security Committee (PSC), made up of envoys from the 27 member states, will begin a five-day visit to India on Wednesday. The visit will focus on strengthening overall ties, including efforts to conclude a free trade agreement that has been under negotiation for years.

The committee, headed by Ambassador Delphine Pronk, is visiting India for the first time. It will hold strategic discussions with senior Indian government officials, defence industry representatives, civil society organisations and leading think tanks.

Keep ReadingShow less
Uber

Takeaway apps have become a source of employment for undocumented migrants

Getty Images

Uber warns UK food delivery costs could rise amid crackdown on illegal migration

Highlights:

  • Uber warns Home Office rules targeting illegal gig economy workers could increase takeaway delivery costs in the UK.
  • Undocumented migrants have historically used food delivery apps for work, exploiting limited right-to-work checks.
  • Companies like Uber Eats, Deliveroo, and Just Eat have introduced stricter checks, including facial recognition and document verification.
  • Compliance and administrative costs have contributed to a fall in Uber UK profits despite rising revenues.
  • Government enforcement includes thousands of interviews and hundreds of arrests for suspected illegal working.


Uber’s UK accounts at Companies House welcomed the Home Office’s efforts to deter migrants and people smugglers from risking Channel crossings. However, the company cautioned that “new legislative requirements could have an adverse impact on our business, including expenses necessary to comply with such laws and regulations.”

Takeaway apps have become a source of employment for undocumented migrants, attracted by historically limited right-to-work checks. Delivery riders have sometimes sold or rented their accounts on social media to “substitutes” who may be working illegally.

Keep ReadingShow less
Co-op and Bestway strike new deal to back independent retailers

Dawood Pervez (L), managing director at Bestway Wholesale and Katie Secretan, managing director of Co-op Wholesale

Co-op and Bestway strike new deal to back independent retailers

A NEW partnership has been formed between Co-op Wholesale and Costcutter Supermarkets Group (CSG) to support independent retailers across the UK.

Goes beyond the standard supply deal, it aims to bring the combined expertise and resources of both businesses together, helping local retailers compete in an increasingly tough convenience market, a statement said on Thursday (4).

Keep ReadingShow less