> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.theferret.scot/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # A high profile events boss left staff almost £50,000 out of pocket. Now they’re fighting to get their money back - URL: https://www.theferret.scot/irfan-younis-staff-money-back/ - Published: 2026-11-08T06:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-11-08T05:59:59.000Z - Description: Glasgow-based Oceanic Media is known for holding glitzy ceremonies across the UK, Ireland and the United States, but multiple former staff allege its ‘rogue’ boss failed to pay them the wages they were due. - Author: Karin Goodwin - Tags: Investigations, Work, Society, 24 hours The mainstream media has often reported on the winners of these awards. But rarely on the company behind them. So [join The Ferret](https://www.theferret.scot/membership). Keep journalism independent and beholden to no-one. And if you have a story to share, [get in touch](https://www.theferret.scot/contact/). [Join us today ](https://www.theferret.scot/membership/) **A Glasgow businessman who organises glitzy award ceremonies across the UK, Ireland, Canada and the US, has withheld tens of thousands of pounds in wages from young and vulnerable staff according to “heartbreaking” testimony from whistleblowers, an investigation by The Ferret has found.** Companies run by Irfan Younis, often trading under the [Oceanic brand](https://theoceanic-group.com/?ref=theferret.scot), organise glamorous events including the [Hair and Beauty Awards](https://oceanic-awards.com/hair-beauty-awards/?ref=theferret.scot), the [Wedding Awards](https://oceanic-awards.com/the-wedding-awards/?ref=theferret.scot) and the [Asian Business Awards](https://theasianbusinessawards.co.uk/?ref=theferret.scot). But staff allege he is operating an “exploitative” model which targets young women and migrant workers and has seen at least 12 staff take successful claims to employment tribunals, which collectively awarded them more than £48,000\. The Ferret found that at least £27,000 of that total has gone unpaid despite repeated warnings from authorities. Ex-employees told The Ferret they expected the true total would be far higher. We spoke to 10 former staff members who shared screenshots and emails of their desperate attempts to chase their unpaid monthly wages or money they were owed for freelance work. Some were denied annual leave or told it was “not company policy” despite having contracts which specified it was, in accordance with [UK employment law](https://www.gov.uk/holiday-entitlement-rights?ref=theferret.scot). Most interviewees were in their twenties when they worked for Oceanic, and some were in their first jobs or on migrant graduate visas. They claimed this made them more vulnerable because of their immigration status, lack of family networks and knowledge of UK employment laws, plus their need for work, which made them easier to exploit. They said it was time for the businessman to face “real consequences” for his actions and called for others to exercise a boycott on his award ceremonies and other businesses until workers were paid. Legal experts told us the system for [enforcing the rights](https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2026-05-12/national-disgrace-workers-taking-bosses-to-court-forced-to-wait-until-2030?ref=theferret.scot) of low-paid [workers](https://www.theferret.scot/tag/employment/) urgently needs reform by the UK Government and opposition politicians called for an investigation into the “deeply concerning” allegations, to ensure Younis and other directors were held to account. > “I did the work, I won my case at tribunal, and I still haven't been paid.” — Isbah Amin Younis, who runs Oceanic Media and is listed as a director of the companies employing staff, said in response to one tribunal award that “an internal communications breakdown” meant they were not represented and did not appeal, although they would have done so had they known about it. Staff we spoke to worked for several companies run by Younis, including Creative Oceanic, Oceanic Media, National Campaign International, Oceanic Group, General Advertising SY Limited and MJU Consultants. Only [some](https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/oQio07mRxthNOCqOsVZVSIMsV4g/appointments?ref=theferret.scot) are currently still trading, with others going into liquidation. Some employees had contracts with one company – including those that were either dissolved or had never been registered – but had pay slips from another. Younis’ public facing brand, Oceanic Awards, which is not a registered company, recently announced it had organised 100 events across the UK and Ireland – a “company milestone” according to its website and social media posts. It also announced plans to “return” to organising events in Canada and the US with 2027 dates announced for New York, Toronto and Ohio. Oceanic claims that awards are based on public votes. Nominees are then contacted and asked to buy tickets. The Ferret found many examples of award ceremonies that were cancelled, sometimes with very little notice. [Social media posts](https://www.facebook.com/foilandpinsalon/posts/this-is-awful-this-company-has-done-this-to-thousands-of-people-all-over-the-uk-/493793410061999/) allege customers are left chasing refunds, sometimes unsuccessfully. The owner of one prominent food business, who was left over £1,250 out of pocket after the Irish Food Awards 2026 was postponed at short notice. The owner said he could not make the replacement date and lost what he had paid for staff transport and hotels. He claims he has not yet been given a refund. Complaints about similar behaviour have previously been raised in [Wales](https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2025-09-10/awards-company-leaves-businesses-hundreds-of-pounds-out-of-pocket?ref=theferret.scot), and elsewhere in [Ireland](https://www.irishnews.com/news/business/company-linked-to-controversial-glasgow-awards-firm-in-process-of-being-liquidated-UJU7GYOXHZDA3J34BBOBGTSLIU/?ref=theferret.scot). Oceanic told ITV that when it had to delay an event “enough notice was provided” for a new date, which was voted on and confirmed with ticket holders. > “The testimony from these workers is truly heartbreaking. ” — Holly Bruce, Scottish Greens Former employees claimed they also fell foul of bad company practices. Some said they had not had wages paid at all for several months. Others alleged they were paid months late, or in various instalments, despite this being in breach of contract. Screenshots showed they repeatedly emailed, called and Whatsapped Oceanic as they became increasingly desperate, unable to pay for rent and living expenses. Some were able to get what they were owed after several months of chasing. Many others claimed they were not. Four people told us they took outstanding claims to an [employment tribunal](https://www.gov.uk/courts-tribunals/employment-tribunal?ref=theferret.scot) and The Ferret found a further eight tribunals online – a total of 12 decided between May 2018 and November 2025\. All the completed tribunals found in favour of the complainant citing "unauthorised deduction of wages" usually worth thousands of pounds. Some judgements instructed ex-staff to be paid compensation for unfair dismissal. The Ferret understands at least one tribunal is currently pending. Our interviewees are collectively owed almost £27,000\. They shared testimonies of suffering severe stress as a result. One young woman was evicted from her flat when she could not pay her rent. In another case, a young worker claimed he was only paid £150 after messaging when they were unable to pay for food or travel on payday despite being due wages worth over £1,500\. Several returned home to India, Pakistan and European countries after the experience. Workers’ rights charities said it could be difficult for migrant graduates to get work if they found themselves unemployed as their visas are capped at two years. The chief executive of the [Work Rights Centre](https://www.workrightscentre.org/?ref=theferret.scot), Dr Dora-Olivia Vicol, said: “People know that finding another job gets harder with every month of their visa that runs out. So there is a fundamental power imbalance that [unscrupulous employers](https://www.theferret.scot/food-delivery-companies-must-address-safety-concern/) know to exploit.” Isbah Amin is one of them. She won her tribunal in November 2025 after wages of £1,584 and holiday pay of £1,114 went unpaid but has still not managed to reclaim the money. She said: “I did the work, I won my case at tribunal, and I still haven't been paid. From the start I was given promise after promise that payment was coming. Each time I was told they couldn't pay because clients hadn't paid them, yet the business has kept running the whole time. “They have ignored the tribunal judgment, a charge for payment served by sheriff officers, and a government financial penalty warning. Chasing money I'm legally owed has taken a huge amount of my time and energy, and it has been exhausting and stressful. > Being brown or an immigrant should never make someone an easier target. — Isbah Amin “In my experience, many of the people who worked there were young, from immigrant backgrounds, and unsure of their rights. Being brown or an immigrant should never make someone an easier target.” “I want my money, and for him to face real consequences. He shouldn't be able to hide behind company names while the people who did the work go unpaid. I also think any business that cares about ethics should think hard about working with a company whose work is being done by people who aren't being paid.” Others said they were still struggling to recover “mentally and emotionally” from what they had been through with the company. Holly Bruce, the Scottish Green MSP for Glasgow South, where Oceanic is based, called for action to be taken. “These allegations are deeply concerning and demand urgent and thorough investigation,” she said. “No employer should be allowed to treat its staff in this way, and it is vital that those responsible are held to account. “The testimony from these workers is truly heartbreaking. Behind these allegations are real people whose lives, wellbeing and mental health have clearly been affected. It is completely unacceptable that it should take media scrutiny and the bravery of whistleblowers for these issues to come to light.” All companies, she said, had “a basic responsibility to look after their staff and create safe, supportive working environments.” Last year The Bureau of Investigative Journalism found [rogue bosses](https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025-10-02/employment-tribunals-scandal-of-toothless-scheme-to-punish-non-paying-bosses?ref=theferret.scot) who refused to pay employees money they were owed were going almost entirely unpunished by a government scheme designed to crack down on them. The employment tribunal penalty enforcement [scheme](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/employment-tribunal-penalty-enforcement-and-naming-scheme?ref=theferret.scot) was launched in 2016 in an attempt to make employers who had been found to be at fault pay up. But according to data obtained through freedom of information requests by the Bureau last November, about three quarters of more than 7,000 workers who have since turned to the scheme did not get their money. The figures showed that of legally binding settlements worth £46m, nearly £36m of that has gone unpaid. > “Crooked bosses know that if workers on insecure visas don't get paid, they often have no choice but to return home. They ​wager that younger workers lack the networks or the nerve to bring their crimes to light. But cases like Oceanic prove that workers have the courage to fight back.” — Cailean Gallagher, Workers’ Observatory David Martyn, a partner with Thompsons Solicitors Scotland who runs the firm’s employment law department, said the situation was an all-too-common one facing workers in precarious employment, “particularly recent migrants to the UK or those whose immigration status may make them more vulnerable”. “The wider system for enforcing the rights of low-paid workers, particularly where the sums claimed are relatively modest, needs to be reviewed and reformed by the UK Government,” he said, as workers face multiple difficulties when an employer refuses to pay wages they have earned. He claimed legal aid was often not available, making even getting representation at an employment tribunal difficult as the cost of instructing a solicitor would often exceed the amount the worker would recover in unpaid wages. He also cited long delays, leaving people in limbo for years. “Even after an award is made, there is [no guarantee](https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025-10-02/employment-tribunals-scandal-of-toothless-scheme-to-punish-non-paying-bosses?ref=theferret.scot) the employer will pay,” Martyn added. Cailean Gallagher, a researcher at the University of St Andrews and co-founder of the [Workers’ Observatory](https://workersobservatory.org/?ref=theferret.scot), which focuses on precarious work, said: “For every case like Oceanic, so many more stay out of sight. He claimed that Scottish policies on “[fair work](https://www.mygov.scot/introduction-to-fair-work?ref=theferret.scot)” did not reach far enough while “the UK Government fanfare about a [Fair Work Agency](https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/fair-work-agency?ref=theferret.scot) looks unlikely to result in enough inspectors to enforce the rules”. “As usual, it will fall to workers to monitor their labour conditions and contracts, share information, and work with allies, journalists and worker organisations to bring to light this side of Scotland many of us prefer not to see,” he added. He advised workers to share experiences and look for support from workers’ rights organisations and trade unions. The Ferret contacted Irfan Younis on Wednesday, 4 November and he initially said our deadline was “too tight” and claimed the fact that some sources had remained anonymous was “unfair”. We later sent him all publicly available tribunal judgements for reference but he did not respond “By making these accusations in this way you've made it impossible for me to be able to respond,” a company representative told us after our first email. “Regarding the case of Isbah Amin, it is unfortunate that an internal communications breakdown resulted in us not being made aware of her tribunal case. Consequently we did not respond to the allegations and were not represented at the tribunal. “For the same reason we did not appeal. We would have at the very least contested her claim had we known about it. “It is also worth pointing out to you that Isbah has signed a non-disclosure agreement with us and we will now be discussing her case with our legal team.” ****Our reporting makes a difference** Good journalism should reveal something new, stand up to scrutiny, and leave the public better informed. That takes time – and your support. 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