The Multicultural Apprenticeship and Skills Alliance is proud to acknowledge the recognition of its Founder, Safaraz Ali, who has been awarded an MBE in the King’s New Year Honours for services to diversity and inclusion in business.
This honour represents far more than an individual achievement. It is an opportunity to recognise the collective effort of those committed to building a fairer, more inclusive skills system.
First and foremost, this is a moment to say thank you.
Thank you to the employers who actively invest in inclusive apprenticeship and skills pathways, often going beyond minimum requirements to create genuine progression opportunities.
Thank you to training providers, community organisations and delivery partners who work collaboratively to remove barriers and support individuals into sustained employment.
Thank you to policymakers, commissioners and stakeholders who engage with evidence, data and lived experience to shape skills policy that better reflects local labour market need.
Reflecting on the honour, Safaraz Ali said:
“This recognition belongs to the employers, providers, partners and communities who are committed to doing the hard, often unseen work of inclusion. MASA was created to align effort, share learning and ensure that skills investment leads to real opportunity. Progress only happens when responsibility is shared.”
The Multicultural Apprenticeship and Skills Alliance was established to address persistent gaps in access, progression and representation across apprenticeships and the wider skills system. While awareness of diversity and inclusion has grown, outcomes remain uneven, particularly for individuals from underrepresented backgrounds.
Across the economy, employers face skills shortages, productivity pressures and rapid technological change. Apprenticeships and skills programmes are critical to meeting these challenges, but only when they are designed with quality, progression and retention at their core.
MASA brings together employers, providers, policymakers and community leaders to create a space for collaboration rather than competition. The focus is on practical solutions, informed by data and experience, that connect skills provision to workforce planning and economic growth.
Safaraz Ali’s recognition reflects the importance of this collaborative approach. Through MASA and its wider network, partners work collectively to move beyond short-term initiatives towards sustainable, system-level change.
The Multicultural Apprenticeship and Skills Alliance remains committed to supporting employers and partners who want to turn intent into impact. Inclusion is not an optional add-on to skills policy. It is central to productivity, social mobility and long-term economic resilience.
