Over 250 people packed into the Holiday Inn, Sheffield for the ABDN SY Breaking Barriers networking event on the 21^st October 2010 which attracted a diverse business community from across the region. The delegates enjoyed a night of inspirational speeches from the likes of the Leader of Sheffield City Council Paul Scriven and the Chief Executive of Business Link Yorkshire Helen West. A powerful business case study video was also showcased on the evening which demonstrated the businesses that have been supported through the organisation followed by food and networking.

The Leader of Sheffield City Council, Paul Scriven has said that ABDN SY will be a key player in ensuring that Asian businesses help the city to prosper, “I am delighted the South Yorkshire branch of ABDN is strong and supporting local business people from the Asian community to create more local wealth and jobs. Sheffield’s future is dependent on the growth of the private sector which in turn will lead to an increase in jobs and ABDN SY will be a key player in ensuring that this happens”

Irshad Akbar Chair of ABDN SY said that he was amazed at the turnout and the buzz that was created in the room, “It was the first time mainstream businesses had the opportunity to network with Black Asian Ethnic Minority Businesses. All key agencies in South Yorkshire that includes, The Chambers, the emerging Local enterprise partnership, Local Authorities, Educational Providers and mainstream businesses need to work in collaboration with ABDN to ensure that the private sector can regenerate South Yorkshire.”

The event raised nearly £1,000 for the Pakistan Flood Relief.