A woman who founded a fashion chain and started a floristry business from hospital had a wealth of advice to share with Oldham businesswomen.

Dr Nighat Awan OBE, chief executive of the Shere Khan group, overcame paralysis, lung problems, cancer and a heart attack, to create her business empire.

Dr Awan was keen to tell likeminded female entrepreneurs in Oldham about her journey to success during a lecture at Oldham Library and Lifelong Learning Centre, and gave tips and advice along the way.

During the lecture, she also revealed she had been inspired by a young Saddleworth woman who was in attendance.

She said a chat with Aidhetare ‘Addy’ Hoxha, aged 27, who has been running the Uppermill restaurant, Sorella since she was 24, galvanised the businesswoman.

Addy told Dr Awan about her journey to Oldham after her family escaped war-torn Kosovo and about her Italian restaurant.

Dr Awan said: “If your work makes you happy, then it never feels like work and if you have an idea, push it.

“You know every level of your business so keep control of it.

“I have been so lifted by the energy in the room tonight and truly inspired by Addy.”

Addy said: “When I heard who was speaking I thought I had to come along.

“Nighat is such an inspiration”.

Dr Awan had bought a restaurant for her birthday when she was younger which she eventually modelled into the Shere Khan restaurants and brand that is seen today.

The OBE winner said: “Entrepreneurship is in the DNA and people either have it or they don’t.”

She also said resilience can be drawn from strong female role models while a supportive family and a decent mentor is essential to success.

However, she also said the most important lesson was to “help the poor – giving is the biggest gift, helping people has made my life worthwhile.”

The event, hosted by Asian Business Leaders, has meant the group is now committed to a new scheme to help young people and women to ‘level-up’ in business.

Co-founder of the group, Muzahid Khan DL, said: “It was during lockdown that I met so many women carrying through enterprising ideas.

“We want them to take those skills and passions and turn them into lucrative businesses.

“We want to support towards their entrepreneurship journey and inspire hope and within that hope there has to be the kind of inspiration Nighat brought tonight.”