Throughout our academic journey, we are constantly reminded that university is the ultimate destination to achieve success. However, it’s important to note that it isn’t the only path to success.
Young entrepreneurs who possess the drive and independence to pursue their own goals often forego the traditional route of education and career, achieving remarkable success in their own unique ways.
For students who find themselves anxious about results day or apprehensive about Clearing, take comfort in knowing that alternative options, such as apprenticeships and college courses, exist.
Inspiration can be found in the success stories of young entrepreneurs like Luke Hood, creator of UKF, a YouTube channel that has garnered over a billion views. Bucking traditional academia, Hood parted ways with his forensic computing course at the University of West England after UKF’s astounding growth. Today, his platform promotes top-tier dubstep music and offers tickets, merchandise, and podcasts through its own website.
David Carter, the founder of Corporate Group, is another young entrepreneur who passed on a university education. He recognized an opportunity in app development when he discovered that thousands of 99p apps were sold daily. Capitalizing on this trend, The App Factory creates and produces apps for its own brand and those of other companies.
Jamal Edwards, founder of SB.TV, built a career as a result of his love for music. Having created a media platform in 2006 for freestyle rap and British grime music videos, the company garnered attention from celebrities such as Usher, Channel 4, and Adidas. Jamal was even selected to carry the Olympic torch for the 2012 Olympics.
Entrepreneurial success does not require technical or digital skills. Fraser Doherty achieved success at the age of 14 with a simple recipe for Super Jam, based on a recipe his grandmother shared. Today, Super Jam is sold in over 2,000 supermarkets globally, and Doherty has even created a charity, the Super Jam Tea Parties, offering free parties for elderly people living alone or in care homes.
GiveMeTap is another socially conscious venture tackling real issues, created by entrepreneur Edwin Broni-Mensah. GiveMeTap aims to revolutionize the water supply industry in the UK and Africa by partnering with businesses across the country. Customers purchase a GiveMeTap bottle, which they can use to fill up at participating businesses, with every two bottles purchased ensuring access to safe water for one person for life.
Although higher education can be an excellent vehicle to drive forward one’s career, it is important to recognize that success is not simply a byproduct of one’s degree, but rather, the result of the determination, creativity, and passion that one dedicates to their ideas and endeavors.
