Jamie, 18, carves out own business
Oct 5 2007 by Chris Knox, The Journal
A TEENAGER has followed in his parents’ entrepreneurial footsteps by setting up a business which helps students find part-time work.
Jamie Mussett-Harford, 18, set up online recruitment firm jobs4students.biz from his parents’ home in Jesmond after leaving school earlier this year.
He has always wanted to run his own business and admits he couldn’t wait to leave King’s School in Tynemouth after A-levels to pursue his ambition. Jamie was only 14 when he made his first foray into the business world by running a door-to-door gardening service in Jesmond.
“I have always been around business-orientated people, which gave me the bug to start my own company from a young age,” he said.
He was inspired and advised by his father Mark, who owns Big Lukes restaurant in the MetroCentre, and his mother Sharon, who opened designer clothing shop The Loft in Jesmond last month.
He said: “I have had a lot of helpful people around me while setting up the website and this has put me at a great advantage.
Jamie also sought advice from family friend Jeremy Middleton, founder and director of domestic plumbing, glazing and electrical work chain Homeserve.
Jamie funded the launch of the business by saving £3,500 while working at a call centre in North Tyneside during his A-level studies. He also used money he received from his grandmother for his 18th birthday. His website differs from most by catering exclusively for students and working only with the region’s pubs, clubs, restaurants and cafes, which pay £30 to have their part-time positions advertised.
Jamie has recruited seven students to canvass the website around the region’s universities and colleges and plans to increase this number if the business succeeds in its first year.
He has also drawn on the IT skills of his girlfriend Stefanie Foster, who maintains his database of business contacts.
The website, created by Tangletree Design in Blaydon, has already attracted the attention of a number of pubs in Newcastle, including Bar Bl-anc and Bar Burlese in Jesmond, both of which are in talks with him. Jamie says he wants to prove he can make a success of the business without too much help from his family.
He said: “I want to stand on my own two feet and prove I can build up a successful business without too much financial help.
“As the business is only in the very early stages, I’m not too concerned about turnover and money.
“I’m more concerned about the site actually working and getting as much support from local business as possible.”
His father said: “I think the website is a brilliant idea and will save employers lots of time employing students. The idea is simple and direct and my son has my 100% backing.”
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Jamie Mussett-Harford is just one of a number of young entrepreneurs to have emerged in the region in the last couple of years. Click the links below to read stories from our archive about other budding Richard Bransons who could be destined for bigger things in the future:
Bingo! Dan is set to hit the jackpot
Success is child's play for new boss
