Nicola’s pledge to match Norman’s £1m

First anniversary celebrations at MAHDLO for Oldham Enterprise Fund. Norman Stoller and Dave Benstead (OBLG Chair).

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 MINUTES after Oldham’s greatest philanthropist Norman Stoller pledged another £1 million to support an entrepreneurial culture in the borough, a Saddleworth businesswoman offered to match the offer.

Not that Nicola Jeffery-Sykes has the cash in the bank, but she is determined that the rest of the Oldham’s business community plays it part in getting Oldham working.

Nicola, who established Claridata Ltd at Active House, Pob Green, Uppermill, in 2000, was in the audience at Mahdlo, the Oldham youth zone project in Egerton Street, when Mr Stoller made his pledge in front of 100 guests.

The event, hosted by the Oldham Business Leadership Group, was to celebrate 12 months of success for the Enterprise Fund established with the Stoller Charitable Trust donation.

Participants — including recipients of support and funding — were in the audience to hear how the enterprise fund works to give Oldhamers the best possible chance to become successful.

After Mr Stoller explained that he had offered £250,000 a year for four years, and the likelihood was that the money would run out in three due to the success of the initiative, he made his commitment to a further £1m.

Oldham Council leader Councillor Jim McMahon and chief executive Carolyn Wilkins led the applause for what can only be described as a quite magnificent gesture.

After Mr Stoller and David Benstead had shared a cake — created by one of the enterprise fund recipients Daniel Arundel, of Arundel Bakery — Nicola told Chronicle Business: “Today has been truly inspirational and everyone in Oldham should be proud of what is being achieved in their name.

“For Mr Stoller to give another million pounds is just amazing.

“I believe that the rest of us in the Oldham business community have a responsibility too and I am prepared to lead a group that will see if the rest of Oldham can raise the money to match Norman’s second million.”