“One of the UK’s most exciting young entrepreneurs”
(Richard Branson)
the UK’s most exciting young entrepreneurs.”
Ben added: “Because much of my
early work was done via the internet, people had no idea how old I was. There was no need to tell them. Since it all came out in the open, things have gone crazy. When I sit back and think what has happened, my mind starts to go fuzzy.”
In December, Ben was named the Number One on The Times Magazine Superteen Power List.
He has also shot up the Richtopia British Entrepreneurs Top 100 to be placed at number 34, along with tycoons Richard Branson and Lord Alan Sugar.
He said: “It’s great to be recognised in
a list that includes so many people I’ve always looked up to. The next step is to break into the top 10.”
Ben’s companies turn over a six-figure sum each year but his targets for 2016 are relatively modest - to pass his driving test and buy a house in Maidstone.
As he is still only learning to drive, Ben gets to his office by bus – a 50
minute journey each way from his home in Gillingham.
He said: “The office in Maidstone is
great. It’s right at the centre of things and close to shops, restaurants – and coffee shops. I’d like to buy a house here then I would be so much closer to work. Like all towns, Maidstone has its bad parts, but it’s a great place to be. I like it.”
Ben’s business brain switched on when
a family friend asked the 11-year old computer whizz to design a website. “l learned how to do it from You Tube.”
“He paid me £50 and I thought, ‘hey –
I can do with a bit more of that!’ I didn’t know anything about business when I started. Let’s face it, I was just leaving primary school. But I set about learning how I could get more work in. The sweet shop must have loved me! By the age of 12, I had 25 customers – and money in the bank.”
He was offered his first public
speaking engagement at the age of 15 - at the ExCel centre in London in front of 3,000 people.
But it hasn’t all been plain sailing. He has been on the receiving end of some malicious blogs and tweets, even a scam
to con him out of cash. But he’s no fool – and very wary of girls who are more interested in money than the man.
He is busy campaigning for business
bank accounts to be made available for youngsters under the age of 18 and trying to influence the payment gateways and merchant accounts, which also restrict the ability of U18s to be in business.
“I want to be sure that if there are budding young entrepreneurs out there that they aren’t held back by their age.”
Ben is an ambassador for Young Start-
Up Talent (YST), awards and for the National Entrepreneurship Challenge, a scheme set up to help teach and inspire enterprise for young people in schools.
He also works alongside the FSB to
inspire young people and said: “I hope I can provide valuable support which I wished I had known myself when I was starting out.”
Opposite: Ben is regularly called upon to speak at business conferences in the UK.
Clockwise: Ben and the mentors on Pocket Money Pitch; addressing a group of students at the opening of the Medway University Technical College; meetimg Labour MP Chuka Umunna; and in discussion with former Labour party leader Ed Milliband and young entrepreneurs at the Federation of Small Businesses.
Mid Kent Living 9
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64