Jamie is a 23 year
old internationally
recognised
entrepreneur that
has previously been shortlisted
as one of the Top 20 Young
People In the World, a title once
held by former U.S. president,
John F Kennedy.
Jamie started his entrepreneurial journey
running market stalls aged 12, which by the
time Jamie turned 15 was making him a profit
of £500 per week. After leaving school with
few qualifications, Jamie co-founded a printing
company that produced corporate work wear
and trained young people in enterprise skills
with any leftover profits. This company went
on to have corporate clients such as Asda, IKEA
and Aston Villa.
Now aged
23, Jamie is
a Director of
Spark Global
Education,
a business
focused on
developing innovative programmes, products,
applications and platforms for the education
and housing association sectors. Jamie also
invests in start up businesses, blogs for
virgin.com and is a charity trustee.
What schools did you attend and what
lessons did you enjoy most?
I attended Perry Beeches Schools in
Birmingham. I most enjoyed History, PE and
Business Studies.
What were your aspirations as a child?
I wanted to be a footballer, (like most teenage
boys I guess!) but then when I started business
studies in year 9, it became clear to be that
I wanted to be my own boss and carve out a
career as an entrepreneur / business owner.
What impact did they have on you?
I had one particular teacher who kept telling
me I was lazy, and wouldn’t amount to much.
At the time I thought he was just being mean,
but now I look back I think he gave me the
motivation and desire to want to prove him
wrong, but also prove to myself that I could
achieve what I set out to achieve.
What advice do you wish you had received
when you were at school?
That academic education isn’t the only learning
we need to succeed. When I left school at 16
and entered the real world, I suddenly found
that reading, finding an industry mentor and
self education was what was going to get me
ahead, not the grades I had failed to obtain.
What job did your teachers think you would
be best suited for?
I remember my careers day, and because
my brother was in the forces, they matched
me to that but then one of my teachers said
I wouldn’t do well as I don’t take kindly to
authority! Painter and decorator was also
matched on my job suitability list.
What is your role/job now?
I run a company called Spark Global Education
where we provide tools, and online platforms
to international and domestic students. We’ve
gone from being a one man band (me) to now
being 12 of us and alongside this I’m a school
governor of an alternate provision free school,
and also a non executive advisor to start ups.
For general enquiries
0808 291 3524
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