Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award: Aly Esmail

Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award (supported by CareTech and Sheikh Holdings): Aly Esmail, director of the SME Group

Having joined his parents in the family business around a decade ago, Aly Esmail has helped make the SME group one of the most successful in its sector.


The group runs a wide range of fast food restaurants, partnering with some of the top franchise names in the world. Under Esmail’s watch, SME has expanded beyond its traditional London base and has now branched out into hotels with Choice Hotels International and InterContinental Hotels.

The company has over 1,000 employees and the Esmail family are well known philanthropists, donating to a number of worthy charities.

More For You

UK border

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the drop was driven by fewer non-European Union nationals and their dependants coming to work or study, and more Britons leaving the country.

Getty Images

UK net migration falls 69 per cent: ONS


NET migration to the UK fell by 69 per cent to 204,000 in the year to June, according to official figures released on Thursday, giving prime minister Keir Starmer a boost.

The fall continues a downward trend as Starmer’s Labour government faces pressure from Reform UK, which has focused on immigration.

Keep ReadingShow less