As thousands of Cumbrian youngsters find out today how they have fared in their GCSEs, a county entrepreneur who set up his own PR business aged 17 has urged school leavers not to let their exam grades define them.
Oliver Hodgson left school at 15 due to a mixture of mental health and social difficulties.
The teen has since gone on to launch Platinum Live, a digital media and communications agency in the Lake District.
“I grew up being told that if I didn’t pass or achieve flying colours that going into an industry of my choice wasn’t achievable or was unrealistic, it turns out this simply isn’t true,” he said.
“Good grades certainly help and can give also provide you with the dreaded fallback plan, but even if you do leave school with excellent grades, it doesn’t necessarily mean you are going to be a shining success.
“Employers, particularly in the creative and start-up spaces, look for experience, commitment, drive, and modern skillsets not just a plain CV.”
According to a recent study more than half of youngsters classified as Generation Z – those born after 1997 – want to start their own business, with Richard Branson, Oprah Winfrey and Mark Zuckerberg cited as the most influential entrepreneurs for young people.
Copeland MP Trudy Harrison believes apprenticeships and practical experience are also a tried and tested route for school leavers.
She said: “Placements and work experience can provide a hands-on insight into many fields of work. This can really make you stand out from the crowd when applying for employment and education opportunities.
“I would recommend them to any one at any stage of their career journey.”
