Category: People

Columnists
Talking dolma, direct flights & refugees with Faiza Shaheen, Labour’s new hope for Chingford & Woodford Green

One of the most closely contested constituencies of this General Election is one in East London. Labour are after a big scalp: that of Iain Duncan Smith, the former Conservative leader and architect of the widely despised Universal Credit benefits system. Standing against him is Faiza Shaheen, a 36-year-old British economist. The Labour candidate grew […]

Entrepreneurs
A hat-trick of awards for JJ Food Service – the UK’s largest Turkish Cypriot-owned business

National wholesaler JJ Food Service is celebrating after winning three prestigious industry awards on three consecutive days. On Thursday, 10 October, the JJ team were in Central London for the Women in Wholesale STAR Awards. The wholesaler has been spearheading industry efforts to actively recruit more females into various warehouse roles, and its ambitious targets, […]

Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurs should “look beyond price” for the best insurance

Ender Yavaş Upton of Fairweather Insurance Services is reaching out to the Turkish community in Britain, both established entrepreneurs and those who have arrived more recently via the Ankara Agreement, to ensure they have the right insurance cover for their existing business or new venture. Fairweather Insurance, established 35 years ago, prides itself on finding […]

Entrepreneurs
“Denim king” British Turkish Cypriot businessman Şükrü Ahmed dies

On Saturday, 21 September, Turkish Cypriot businessman Şükrü Ahmed passed away in London aged 83 following a heart attack. He had been receiving treatment for an infection at Whipps Cross Hospital in the month leading up to his death. His family said they are “heartbroken” by this “huge loss” of Mr Ahmed, who was a […]

Features
My World: Olcay Bayır
 

Blessed with a heavenly voice, Olcay Bayır has been singing for as long as she can remember. She was born in Gaziantep to a Kurdish Alevi family steeped in the âşık (wandering minstrels) tradition, and her career as a classically-trained singer-songwriter is a perfect marriage of her roots and global music experiences following her move […]

HP People
When only a lawyer will do: a quick guide to securing a good commercial tenant

In the age of the internet, many people are tempted to rely on template documents to do the job of experts [‘uzmanlar’]. It may be cheaper, but it doesn’t always pay to exclude the professionals, who can not only advise, but also devise bespoke documentation right for your specific circumstances. T-VINE turns to Yildiz Betez, […]

Entrepreneurs
Nova’s Kitchen – “a slice of Cyprus in Folkestone”
 

There’s a little slice of Cypriot cuisine being cooked up on Folkestone’s Harbour Arm, a part of the town that is rapidly becoming a destination and beacon for some exciting food and drink ventures. I moved to Folkestone three months ago, and was quickly followed by my friend and chef Hulya Erdal of Made By […]