AN ENTREPRENEUR dropped out of school at 15 without any qualifications – but now runs a £500,000 business working his dream job.
Oliver Hodgson, 20, left school during year 10 without any formal qualifications after years of relentless bullying.
But through unwavering self belief, persistence and a clear vision, he has built his own six-figure PR firm.
He now employs seven team members – but is set to expand to 10 in the autumn – and says they’re on track for a turnover of £500k by June 2025.
Oliver didn’t secure any GCSEs or A-Levels but has reassured those receiving their results that companies look beyond grades – saying they “aren’t the defining factor of any young person’s future“.
Oliver, who runs Platinum Live, from Whitehaven, Cumbria, said: “Long gone are the days of students being funnelled down one size fits all routes.
“It is very archaic and does not allow people to express themselves.
“Grades aren’t the defining factor of any young person’s future. They aren’t make or break.
“In reality, so many companies nowadays are focused more on people who are adaptable team players willing to learn and grow and those with real experience and talent – not what grades they got in their GCSEs.
“The education system today is not a true reflection of the modern working society, from how people dress in the workplace to hierarchy and working practices. Times have moved on.”
Oliver has also provided opportunities to four interns aged between 16 and 20 this summer.
The interns were given a crash course in media relations and copywriting, as well as photography and design.
He said: “Providing internships is really important to me – to show what working is really like.”
Oliver encourages students to pursue their passion – regardless of their results.
He said: “That brown envelope, whatever the results students pull out today, will not define them as a person.
“Even if people don’t get what they hoped for, opportunities will still be out there – you just have to go out and find them.”
Oliver discovered his career aspirations aged 14 through his first ever internship at his local MP’s press office.
He said: “I remember thinking ‘I want to get into this world’.
“People who have just finished their GCSEs need to think about what they really want to do and follow it.
“We like to show the interns how we got to where we are.”
After a horrible time being bullied at school – with nasty graffiti written about him on the toilet cubicle walls – Oliver’s mental health issues led to him leaving school.
In hindsight, Oliver has seen the silver linings of leaving school early.
He said: “Schools are becoming exam factories. Mounting insane pressure on young teenagers leads to serious mental health issues.
“Kids feel they will only succeed in life if they have A* qualifications. It’s so wrong.
“You only have to look online to see how many inspiring leaders of today started with nothing, no grades and no money. Think Richard Branson, Deborah Meaden, Mike Ashley and so forth.”
Set on PR as a career path, Oliver started working aged 15 with the local taxi driver company and a local nightclub.
Oliver says he started out with just £25 in his bank account – of which he spent £12 registering the company with Companies House.
He said: “Access to finance has always been tricky as the banks tend to laugh at you being a young MD, but I have constantly found a way.”
Oliver got his first big break in June 2020 when he secured an account from a healthcare company at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
He said: “I still work with them. I am big on relationships – they are never going off my books.”
Pupils under-18 who failed to achieve a 4/C in English Language and Maths can resit in the autumn.
Oliver opened his first office in May 2021 and acquired his first celebrity client in Gary McKee – also known as Cumbria’s ‘Marathon Man’ – who ran a marathon every day of 2022.
As Gary’s publicist, Oliver helped him to raise more than £1.4m for Macmillan Cancer Support and West Cumbria Hospice at Home.
Oliver was also balancing his time with running an events management company until January this year when he turned his undivided attention towards his business, Platinum Live.
Platinum Live has provided PR, social media, content creation and consultancy services to more than 70 clients with a social media reach of more than 22m.
The creative communications agency has worked alongside people such as Tinie Tempah, Chris Moyles and Scouting for Girls.
Oliver said: “Platinum Live is going from strength to strength.
“The average age of the team is 38 and hiring decisions in the past 12 months have always been based on experience.”
Oliver encouraged young people to harness technology to get ahead and build experience.
He said: “Most young people have laptops and a WiFi connection, which is incredibly powerful.
“Gen Z get a lot of stick for supposedly being lazy but I don’t think it is true. I want to be an example of that.
“You have got to be a team leader and a doer.
“I never take no for an answer. I am just speaking to the wrong person. If 10 people say no, I will find the 11th who says yes.”
Although Oliver encouraged young people to take the initiative, he has also been supportive of taking breaks and seeking out life experience.
He said: “There will be so much anxiety built up around results but they are only 16 – there is no rush.
“And I always advocate for career breaks or travel.”
