Safaraz Ali MBE

Safaraz Ali MBE is the Founder and CEO of Pathway Group, a Birmingham-based social enterprise focused on skills, employability, career development, and social mobility. For more than 20 years, he has built organisations and initiatives that help people unlock opportunity, with a particular emphasis on diversity, inclusion, and support for underrepresented communities.

He is the founder of the Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards and the Multicultural Apprenticeship & Skills Alliance, created to raise awareness of apprenticeships and widen access to meaningful career pathways. His wider work spans social care, networking, and community-focused enterprise, including roles in F5 Foster Care and Pathway2Grow.

Safaraz is also the co-founder of Nationwide Care Services, a leading home care specialist provider working across the Midlands.

He serves as Co-Chair and Director of Equality Council UK, a charity dedicated to advancing equality and inclusion.

Safaraz works with a number of universities in various capacities, including as Entrepreneur in Residence for The Open University, Visiting Lecturer for Aston University, and on the Business Advisory Board as well as being a Community Ambassador for Birmingham City University.

Safaraz is also the Founding Partner for the Business Book Awards, a national programme celebrating the best in business writing and thought leadership.

He is the author of the Canny Bites series of business books and the host of the Canny Conversations Podcast, sharing practical insights on entrepreneurship, leadership, and growth.

Safaraz's leadership has been recognised with numerous honours, including being named Social Entrepreneur of the Year 2024 and being awarded an MBE in the King's New Year Honours specifically for Diversity and Inclusion in Business. His work has helped shape national conversations around apprenticeships, social mobility, and inclusive growth.