Oldham Council marked Global Entrepreneurship Week with a visit to one of the borough’s growing businesses. 

Cllr Shoab Akhtar, Cabinet Member for Business and Enterprise, called at Kesan Foods to hear how the company has gone from strength to strength over the past few years. 

The business was launched by brothers Mumtaz and Imtiaz Khan who have grown it from start-up to employing 20 people.  

With support from Oldham Council’s business growth team, Oldham Enterprise Trust – through funding provided by the Stoller Charitable Trust – and the Business Growth Hub, the firm has recently expanded and moved to bigger headquarters. 

Now based at Meridian Business Centre, Oldham, the new facility will help them to meet their growing customer base.  

Mumtaz said: “We have worked very hard to build our business up to where we are today – in a new factory and employing 20 people.  

“We are however also very grateful for the support we have received from Oldham Enterprise Trust, Oldham Council and the Business Growth Hub. This support has been enormously helpful.” 

The visit was organised to mark Global Entrepreneurship Week, which celebrates and empowers entrepreneurs across the world – especially people who face barriers or may never have considered starting a business before. It comes as new research has indicated that Oldham is among the top 10 entrepreneurial towns in the UK.  

Cllr Akhtar said: “I applaud Mumtaz and Imtiaz’s enterprise in growing their business and creating jobs for 20 local people. 

“The partnership working between Oldham Council, Oldham Enterprise Trust, the Stoller Charitable Trust and the Business Growth Hub has helped Kesan Foods to thrive. Their success is a fantastic example of the entrepreneurial spirit that we have right across the borough. Businesses like Kesan Foods are putting Oldham on the map and we wish them every success in the future.”  Dave Benstead, Chair of Oldham Enterprise Trust, said: “When the Stoller Charitable Trust made their generous donation to Oldham Enterprise Trust to support local Oldham start-up businesses, this is exactly the kind enterprise and growth that we hoped to enable and support.”