Council Director awarded MBE in New Year Honours

A long-serving Blackburn with Darwen Council senior officer has been recognised in the Queen’s New Year Honours list.

Sayyed Osman is the borough’s Strategic Director for Adult Social Care and Health. He has served with Blackburn with Darwen for almost 20 years, and clocked up over 30 years in public service.

Announced as part of the Queen’s annual New Year Honours list, Sayyed is to receive an MBE in recognition of his contribution to the communities of East Lancashire.

Sayyed, who lives in Blackburn, said:

Throughout my life and career I’ve always considered it a privilege to work in the service of people. I am grateful to God to be in a position of leadership, responsibility and authority, I see it as my duty and a civic trust to serve our communities to the best of my ability.

I’m not sure who nominated me for this honour but I am truly humbled by the thought that they consider I merit such recognition. When you see the difference we can make to people’s lives it is reward itself. I have tried to shy away from awards and such things in the 30 plus years of public service. I just simply want to make a positive difference.

It’s important to recognise that no one can achieve or make a difference on their own. It is always in partnership, in collaboration and with other people.

The last two years have been particularly difficult for all of us and many people have gone the extra mile and shown incredible humility and resilience, therefore whole sectors and communities deserve our thanks and recognition. Not least the NHS services, Primary Care, Social Work, Education, emergency services, the voluntary, community and faith sector, volunteers, private sector partners for their kindness, frontline workers and many more.

In receiving this honour, I dedicate this to my wife and family who provide me with relentless support and have allowed me to work long hours to do what I am passionate about. I dedicate this to all my colleagues, elected members and teams that I work with day in day out, as well as the partner agencies, stakeholders, volunteers, residents and communities for their support and partnership.

This honour is not for me, this is for ‘us’. I accept it in this spirit and wish everyone the best of health, happiness and peace for 2022.

Sayyed began his career in the housing sector at Blackburn with Darwen BC in the early 1990s before taking up roles working for North British Housing (now Places for People), Anchor Trust and the Guinness Trust in various management positions. Sayyed has delivered significant regeneration and development for housing and communities across the North in what was a very successful career in housing.

He joined Blackburn with Darwen Council in 2002 and has worked at Deputy Director and Director level with responsibility for a number of departments, including Adult Social Care, Safeguarding, Community Safety, Prevent & Countering Extremism, Neighbourhoods, Adult Learning, Social Integration, and Housing Needs & Homelessness.

He has effectively motivated and led Council-wide and multi-agency teams achieving outcomes for the people of Blackburn with Darwen across a variety of projects. What these projects have in common is to support and empower residents to live the best possible lives they can.

Over the years Sayyed has also acted as school governor at both primary and secondary level, and has also been a trustee of Blackburn Youth Zone.

Coun Mohammed Khan CBE, Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, said:

I’m delighted that Sayyed is getting recognition for his unwavering commitment to our local communities. He is a man of strong morals and inspirational leadership, who freely gives his expertise to support our local community and never turns away anyone who needs help.

Blackburn with Darwen is blessed with plenty of people willing to give their time to support others, and Sayyed has been a key part of harnessing this – he has led on the development of the Council’s Your Call initiative and the Lancashire Volunteer Partnership, always recognising the qualities of the people in our borough.

Sayyed Osman has recently accepted a new position as Deputy Chief Executive for People Services at Oldham Council. He will leave his post at Blackburn with Darwen Council in 2022.

Denise Park, Blackburn with Darwen Council Chief Executive, added:

Sayyed is the Council’s longest serving chief officer and has played an enormous role over the past two decades in ensuring that we have achieved consistently high performance.

I’m delighted for him, and his family, that his dedication and hard work has been recognised with this MBE award. It is truly deserved and a fitting tribute as he nears the end of this time with Blackburn with Darwen Council.

I will be sad to see him leave us, but know that he will continue to deliver exceptional results for the people of Oldham.