Harringay is home to many successful businesspeople and the award-winning international estate agent Azad Ayub is an outstanding example of just how far local entrepreneurscan get. Coming from a family that values a good education, Azad arrived in the UKas a civil engineer in 1974 after completing his studies in Dhaka, East Pakistan now in present-day Bangladesh and then graduated with a Master’s from Imperial College London in 1979.

He has traded in Harringay’s property market since 1980 and has expanded his business to Spain, Pakistan and the United States after decades of hard work. Starting from scratch he founded his company Azad Ayub Ltd which initially specialised in accommodation for British and international studentsand young professionals. The companynow employs more than 20 people and has expanded its strong portfolio, owning and managing both residential and commercial properties in the UK and abroad.

Ever humble in his success, Azad has kept his traditional old-fashioned office on Wightman road for over thirty years. For him, the one to one customer service that this working space offers is more important than glitz and glamour.

Azad made his first investment locally by buying a house in Harringay Terrace with £9,000 and lived there until 1980 before moving to a new home on Burgoyne Road. After spending two years working in Nigeria and making use of a good opportunity when two men rang his doorbell one day and offered him loans of up to £5 million, Azad continued to pursue his love for Harringay byinvestingmore of his earnings in local properties.

The area was not the cultural melting pot it is today when Azad first started to work in the Harringay property market and he has seen many changes arrive in the locality. Back then area was mainly populated by middle aged white British people as well as a significant Greek community. As both a resident and trader, he has never had a bad experience with neighbours and has continued to welcome ever more diverse newcomers over the years. Azad has never lost sight of the contributions other business people have made locally and particularly admiresthose ofthe area’s prominent Turkish, Kurdish and Turkish Cypriot population.

For Azad, this community has made the area a more attractive place to live as they have helped to create a seven-day economy by keeping their shops open 24 hours a day making sure food is always available for residents. Changes like these along with the area’s good transport links to the centre have contributed to rises in house prices, he explains, adding that Harringay’s convenience has helped it grow more desirable.

Azad and his company have been awarded for their achievements in various fieldsincluding the 2013 Best Green Landlord of the Year, an Inspire! award for working with Hackney students by hosting work experience placements, the 2011 Green Letting Agent of the Year, an Investor in People award and the2009 North & West London Business Awards’Training & Staff Development prize.

Azad has also supported humanitarian causes by working with the British Refugee Council to find suitable rented accommodation for refugees.

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