Alumni Spotlight: Syed Ahmed

Syed Ahmed is a successful entrepreneur, growth coach, and philanthropist – and former student of West London College.

In 1995, Syed joined Hammersmith and Fulham College to study business, progressing into employment after successfully completing his course. He worked two jobs to support his family – full-time at an IT recruitment company and part-time as a waiter at Harvey Nichols – helping his parents educate his five younger sisters so that they could also excel.

Syed credits his time at West London College with helping him to develop an entrepreneurial mindset and a solid foundation of knowledge in business and finance. 

Syed’s entrepreneurial spirit led him to be a contestant on the second season of the hit BBC TV show, ‘The Apprentice’, in 2007, and he has done further TV work, including a show for Sky. He currently runs three companies in tech, skincare, and education and started the Momtaj Foundation, a grass route charity that empowers single female-led families in third-world countries, in memory of his beloved late sister.

“Choosing to study at West London College was an easy decision – they were the best college in the area for business studies. The teachers are caring and encouraged me to succeed, helping me develop entrepreneurial skills.”

Syed has been recognised for his work and, in 2015, he was awarded Innovator by Ernst & Young, Entrepreneur of 2015, sponsored by Lloyd’s Banking Group. He is also an RBS Innovations Ambassador, and Barts NHS Apprenticeships Ambassador for his work with the local community in East London.

“If you’re looking at your next steps, my advice would be to identify your passion, find what you’re good at, and how that positively impacts you, your family, community, society, and the world. This helps you find your purpose, vision, and mission, and you can then create a plan, with a relentless belief in achieving it, by a defined timeline. 

“The environment and the training I was provided at West London College gave me the correct foundation to go on and achieve my ambition. Anything is possible with the right attitude.”