Nirmal Singh MBE’s inspiring rags to riches story has been recognised with a special honour from the University of Bradford.
He went from arriving in the UK from Punjab, India, aged 15 in 1967 with just £3 to his name, to setting up a multi-million pound property development business.
Tasked with working in the UK and sending money back to his farming family in India, a teenage Nirmal landed at Heathrow Airport, missed his connecting flight to see his family in Manchester, and felt completely lost until a kind-hearted Sikh taxi driver gave him a bed for the evening. He returned to the airport the next day and was reunited with his family in Manchester.
Young Nirmal then found a job in Bradford’s textiles trade, manufacturing duvets and, following the death of his boss and his family’s decision to relocate to Canada, he bought a sewing machine and some cloth and, alongside his wife, Harmesh Kaur, took over the business, which was re-named ‘Nirmal Razai Mart Company Ltd’.
The couple, who have two sons, Narinder and Simmy Sekhon, who as young children would often sleep on the manufacturing table at their business premises due to exhaustion.
As the bedding business thrived, Nirmal used its profits to buy and renovate small, rundown properties, which the couple worked on at evenings and weekends.
The venture, now known as Nirmal Sekhon Group, has turned into a successful property development empire across West Yorkshire, including the completion of almost 2,000 apartments in construction.
His firm has set up Sekhon Community Housing which will help vulnerable people who need accommodation from within the affordable housing sector.
The grandfather-of-five has seen his good work in his adopted home city honoured, after being awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of the University of Bradford – ‘In recognition of his significant commitment to the communities in Bradford and to the University’.
Nirmal, 72, said: “It can only be described as a ‘rags to riches’ story, because when I came to the United Kingdom as a 15-year-old, I only had £3 in my pocket.
“The achievements in my business life have been beyond my imagination, but I achieved my objectives with honesty and integrity of which I am very proud.
“Bradford is my home and is the source of my inspiration, as I have lived here since my arrival to Great Britain in 1967. Irrespective of where you are from, the city has welcomed me, and I feel ambassadorial on behalf of the city, having represented it, regionally, nationally and internationally.
“Anyone can achieve great accolades and heights, according to their positive visualisations, keeping a clean heart, and working hard.”
In another twist of fate, in 1993 Nirmal became the owner of Try Mills in Bradford, the same location he initially worked in when he arrived in the city.
In 1999, Nirmal was awarded an MBE for services to community relations in Bradford.
He was one of the founders of the Yorkshire Sikh Forum, which involves networking with figures like MPs and police, and other faith groups, to help bring communities together.
Of his honorary doctorate, Nirmal said: “I feel honoured to be recognised for this doctorate. It is always a pleasure to be recognised for the work that I have carried out over the last 52 years, irrespective of colour, creed or race.
“I feel elevated to receive this honour, as it is from an institution of my hometown.”
Nirmal had this advice for his fellow University of Bradford graduates: “Enjoy your work and be passionate about your work and you will find success in everything that you do.
“Visualise good things, and always do not fear to help another fellow human being. “Do not follow money, chase passion and enjoyment in the work that you carry out. Money will follow you thereafter.”
