BOLTON and Bury Business Person of the Year has paid tribute to his family and staff for his success.

Imran Akram, business director from Asons Solicitors, received the title at the recent Bolton & Bury Business Awards and also praised other figures from Bolton’s business and education community.

Asons Solicitors handles personal injury cases and is expanding into other legal work.

It employs more than 200 staff and is part of the Asons Group, which includes Asons Forecourts, Asons Estates and Asons Marketing.

Speaking from the firm’s Bark Street office, he recalled his feelings on the night of the awards ceremony at the Reebok Stadium before his name was announced.

Imran, aged 36, said: “I was very nervous. I’d only found out I was a finalist earlier that week.

“Other people were saying how prestigious the awards were and I was thinking ‘flippin’ ‘eck’. But despite my nerves I also realised that I don’t like to ‘lose’.

“When they announced my name, the feeling was indescribable. Other people who have won these awards will know the feeling. It was fantastic and it gives you more energy.

“I also felt great respect for my family and colleagues. That’s why I took everyone on stage. One person cannot achieve what we have achieved.

“The award has also added value to Asons and given us more recognition. It’s like boxing and football belt and trophies, or Liverpool winning the championship. In business, this is what it’s about.”

Although Imran was born and bred in Bolton, the former Smithills School pupil supports Liverpool FC.

His brother, Kamran, said: “Since the awards night people have been very kind.

“We’ve received loads of goodwill messages, cards and flowers.

“Our families and parents were at home on the night, but we communicated on Skype. All the kids stayed up late to find out. We’ll be having a big family get-together to celebrate.”

And Imran described the judging was “intense but fair”.

“My interview lasted about one and-a-half hours with KBL Solicitors, who know all about law and have been judges many times,” he said.

“The criteria was not just about a business’s balance sheet, it was also about how a firm has reached its achievements, who has done what, and its corporate social responsibility.

“I just told my story exactly as it is. I said how we built the business from the start, like a mother giving birth. We know it inside out.”

Imran said he brings his business skills to Asons while brother Kamran, aged 35, brings legal expertise and other skills.

He added: “Kamran is the lawyer. People such as lawyers and accountants are very intelligent. They are very artistic in the way they work, but they don’t always know about the bottom-line.

“Kamran has given me the opportunity to work on the business like a blank canvas. We complement each other. “ Kamran studied law in Preston then worked for Joe Egan Solicitors in Bolton as a duty solicitor.

He said: “I represented defendants at police stations, magistrates courts and crown courts. It was interesting work and academically-challenging. I never knew what I’d find.

“However, we have always worked together as a family and ultimately were always going to open a law practice.

“We opened our first office in Chorley New Road and Imran has always been the decision-maker, regarding business, and financial director.”

They brothers paid tribute to their parents, Mohammed and Nasreen Akram, aged 63 and 58.

Imran said: “We lived in a three-bedroom terrace house in Chorley Old Road — mum, dad and seven kids. Life was tough and we never had much. Dad worked in a mill and there was no money.

“However, our parents were good and honest. They taught us respect for others and to stick together as a family.

“Dad always said if we stick together, we’d go a long way.

“Even to this day, the ultimate decision-makers are our mum and dad. When we moved to Bark Street, I asked them about it. They’re not corporate people but they’re down-to-earth and wise.

“I’ve never found it difficult to take decisions because I have my family’s support. If I do get something wrong, it doesn’t matter.”

“We chose the name Asons, standing for ‘Akram sons’, because we wanted to keep our father’s name in the business. It’s our brand and family name.”

Their other brothers are Irfan and Haroon, who runs Asons Marketing, which has 50 staff at Bark Street, and Bilal, a trainee solicitor.

Their sisters are Naaz, a Bolton Council officer, and Nadia, who is studying accountancy.

Away from work, Imran and Kamran are married with children.

Families are important and Kamran likes to play golf while Imran enjoying dining and entertaining.

Kamran said: “Imran is the oldest brother and has always lived up to that role. He was always been the leader of the pack when we were kids. But we have the same goal. We want a better life for our parents and for each other.

“There are no individual agendas. A lot of business partnerships fail because of different personalities. Imran’s award will inspire us to do more. It reassures us that we can take this business to the next level.”

Imran praised others involved in Asons’ success including Keith Davies regeneration chief at Bolton Council, Professor Stephen Hardy at the University of Bolton and Asons’ bank, HSBC.

Imran said: “We care about Bolton too. We’re building links with schools and working with the university on our graduate scheme. We’ve got Investors in People and Sunday Times accolades. Staff, family and community all matter.

“Bolton has got great potential if the right people get support. That needs organisations like The Bolton News, the council and university to back the right people and right investors. Businesses need to support each other and be open-minded.”