An Oldham man who helped create one of the UK's leading social brands has been nominated for a national entrepreneur award.

Ryan Williams, from Chadderton, previously co-founded and co-owned KOMI Group, a social media and marketing agency, before selling his stake in 2022.

Since then, he has been doing keynote speaking and consultancy work and has now been nominated for a national award.

Mr Williams has been shortlisted for Creative Entrepreneur of the Year for the North West at The Allica Bank Great British Entrepreneur Awards.

The 35-year-old said: "I'm really ecstatic about it, it's fantastic and I'm really made up about it.

Ryan Williams helped co-found KOMI Group before exiting in 2022Ryan Williams helped co-found KOMI Group before exiting in 2022 (Image: Ryan Williams)

"It's my first nomination in my own name as we won awards at KOMI Group, but this is great."

Mr Williams was working in the IT department at Manchester Metropolitan University while creating parody social media pages such as Deluded Brendan and Slow Sports News.

In 2016, he and two other men set up a company, which rebranded as KOMI Group in 2020.

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Mr Williams left his IT job to run the content team at the company and in 2022, the group received investment from the investment company British Growth Fund, which led him to decide it was time to move on.

Since then, Mr Williams has done public speaking to businesses, schools and colleges, as well as social media consultancy.

Mr Williams said it was fantastic to be nominatedMr Williams said it was fantastic to be nominated (Image: Ryan Williams)

He has also done mentoring work with young people and serves as a trustee on Oldham Athletic Community Trust's Board of Trustees.

Speaking of his current work, Mr Williams said: "It's interesting, it's been nice to work for myself, but you're always ready to go again as an entrepreneur."

The Great British Entrepreneur Awards are set to be held on November 18 at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.