The Federation of Small Businesses has welcomed a new membership adviser to its Greater Manchester team as Tawanda Kafesu takes over their east-Manchester patch, which covers Rochdale, Oldham and Tameside.

Mr Kafesu joins the FSB as the lead sales role for the patch and will be the go-to person for business owners in the area seeking to join.

He said: “I know the patch really well as I have until recently lived in Rochdale, but now call Chadderton home.

"I have spent the past few weeks getting out and about and meeting local business owners, as well as existing FSB members.

“My aim is to start a new face to face networking group, although I have yet to find a suitable premise, so I am more than open to ideas.

"I want to be the face of the FSB in east Manchester and I’m looking forward to meeting as many entrepreneurs and small business owners in the region over the next few months."

He added: “This is a terrific patch with a really diverse mix of businesses, in a fabulous city region – I am raring to go!

"The FSB is more than just a membership organisation, it offers so much more value to its members through the lobbying work – and I want to help get that message out.

"I know locally FSB has led the fight against the Clean Air Zone, and helped hundreds of businesses as they struggled to access grants during the Covid lockdowns.

"This is an organisation I am proud to be working for now.”