When Sarah Khan-Bashir MBE collected her Community Contribution Award she used her time to encourage businesses to invest in young people.

The businesswoman, who runs family law firm SKB Law, wants to "bridge the gap" between businesses and young people looking for jobs.

Mrs Khan-Bashir, who puts social impact and the local community at the heart of her work, recently launched her latest project - SKB law academy.

She will be hosting free legal clinics at local venues to increase access to legal rights for women and girls, with a focus on Islamic divorce, and is exploring ways to help more women to enter or return to law after raising a family.

The academy will also target young people with an interest in law.

She said: "We have amazing young businesses in Bradford, we have amazing young people in Bradford.

"The young people are struggling to find jobs. It’s trying to bridge that gap.

"It just gives them communication skills.

"Networking is hard even for adults. If we can teach them how to connect that’s half the battle.

"Every workshop that I go to I see young people that just want to show off their skills and they’re not being given the opportunity."

In a call to boost opportunity in the district, she wants to see businesses make contact with at least one school or college.

She said: "We would love to see a city wide approach."

The award-winner says it is in Bradford's nature to build people up and break down barriers.

She said: "We've just sat on a table with people we don't even know.

"Bradford has got this warmth and people are having conversations.

"People will open themselves up to you.

"It's beautiful."

Mrs Khan-Bashir also helped establish Bradford’s Police Museum and is the regional chair for the Prince’s Trust youth charity.

Other finalists in the PWC sponsored category included Enable 2 CIC, a Bradford-based interpreting and translation agency, and Gordons LLP - which has been helping homeless young people across Bradford.