Phil, a committed FSB volunteer and proud supporter of all the work of the Federation for more than 20 years, passed suddenly on Sunday.
An adopted Boltonian but originally from Birmingham, during his activism Phil served as North Manchester branch chair for two terms, and following reorganisation of the volunteer structure, was one of Greater Manchester’s Area leaders until January last year. Phil remained as a serving FSB Borough Lead for Bury and Bolton upon his passing.
Phil, who owned security business Key Control Services in Farnworth, hosted and supported hundreds of FSB events over the years from workshops to trade shows, and was also involved in FSB campaigns from the Clean Air Zone to championing work to make public sector procurement easier for small firms to access.
More lately, however, Phil was perhaps best known among the small business community in GM for his prowess as a serial networker, and tutored many of the organisations membership advisers on which events to attend in their patches.
Holly Bonfield, FSB North West Regional Chair, said: “Phil was part of the local and regional FSB scene for such a long time, starting as a Bolton Branch member, quickly getting involved in Branch events and sharing his expertise on all things security. More recently, as GM Area Lead, he contributed to various important policy areas, helping to shape the North West’s responses to the challenges we all face as small businesses.
“Phil, and his contribution to regional small business thinking, will be very much missed by many of our members and the wider FSB staff team across the North West.”
