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Khalid Sharif from Ilford gave up his career in IT to follow his dream to set up his own business.

Spotting a gap in the market, Sharif formed Ummah foods - a company specialising in bringing a range of mainstream foods to a young British Muslim audience by making them Halal.

If at first you don't suceed....

Sharif first came up with the idea to create a range of soups.

"I spent a lot of time and money creating the product and developing it and getting the taste just right. But it was an absolute flop. We got it totally, totally wrong. No-one bought it."

28 tried and failed attempts later, Sharif says he fixed upon creating his own chocolates after talking to Muslim women about what they wanted.

"A lot of young Muslim women were telling us that they had an issue - they loved their chocolate but there was nothing out there that matched their dietary needs."

Getting it right

So Sharif set about creating his own range of 'chocohalal', free from animal products and manufactured in an environment without risk of contamination from alcohol or other products that would offend Muslims.

"Breaking into a big supermarket chain is very exciting. We've worked really hard to get the product right this time.

"The idea took us quite a few years of trial and error. We surveyed over a thousand Muslim women in the UK and everything they told us has defined this product

"It's a huge step forward and I hope it will show other young entrepreneurs that it is possible."

Over the past few years the demand Halal foods has risen steadily. Currently the UK industry estimated to be worth around £2.8 billion. So is Sharif excited at breaking into what could be a potentially lucrative niche market?

Giving back to the community

"From day one it was important for us to use the product in a way that would give back to the local community and we realised you didn't need to be super profitable either to make a difference.

"For example, helping a young artist get off the ground by getting them to design them wrapper instead – it's something you'd have to spend money on anyway so it's win- win for everyone involved."

His company has pledged ten per cent of their profits to Muslim charities and the company are already involved in a variety of local community projects. From assisting young Muslim business men and women into enterprise, helping local mosques become greener and sustainable buildings to advising government bodies on how to engage Muslim communities.

Role model

More recently Sharif has become an ambassador for Make Your Mark, an organisation which encourages and promotes business enterprise across the UK. His role see's him travel across the borough advising young people about how to go about making an enterprise idea into reality.

"For me, the hardest thing was not having a mentor, so I didn't know that it was okay to get things wrong.

"It's so important that young people today have a mentor that inspires them to achieve. And if that person looks like you, sounds like you and even shares the same sort of background as you, then it might make you think, well if he can do it so can I."

Got a story? Email me: kulwant.sohal@bbc.co.uk