- Scott James, 31, from Ammanford, Carmarthenshire, created Coaltown Coffee
A man who got a D grade in GCSE business has shared his remarkable success story since leaving school, that has seen him build a firm worth nearly £1million.
Scott James, 31, from Ammanford, Carmarthenshire, left his sixth-form college after three months and ‘scraping through’ his GCSE exams.
Receiving a mixture of B to D grades in his GCSEs, Mr James can now see the funny side of his exam results – as the owner of the hugely successful coffee company that has clients including Selfridges and the House of Commons.
Since building his first coffee roaster nearly 11 years ago, using parts of his family’s barbecue and a Ford Ka, Scott has taken Coaltown Coffee from strength to strength.
With company assets worth £873,000 in 2022 – along with being a wholesaler to 268 partners around the world – business is booming and shows no signs of slowing down any time soon.
A man who got a D grade in GCSE business has shared his remarkable success story since leaving school, that has seen him build a firm worth nearly £1million
Scott James, 31, from Ammanford, Carmarthenshire, left his sixth-form college after three months and ‘scraping through’ his GCSE exams
Indeed, three of the business’ Arabica coffee blends are available to purchase from London’s high-end department store Selfridges.
Having struggled to succeed academically, but excelling outside of education, Scott has sought to provide encouragement for any teenagers who might disappointed with their GCSE results today, urging them that ‘you can do anything with your life’.
He said: ‘There is too much emphasis on education, that you have to learn everything in school and if you don’t you’re a failure’.
‘I don’t think many people are built for that system.
‘But as long as you have passion and ambition, you can do anything with your life. People who have that drive should be encouraged,’ per BBC News.
He added that being able to find success through creating his own business has changed his attitude towards his dyslexia, which he now views as a ‘superpower’.
The coffee business owner now actively hires neurodivergent people into his company, having hid his dyslexia at school.
He continued: ‘I hid the fact I was dyslexic, I didn’t want anyone to know about it’.
Since building his first coffee roaster nearly 11 years ago, using parts of his family’s barbecue and a Ford Ka, Scott has taken Coaltown Coffee from strength to strength
‘I think the world is a lot more accepting of change now, and we talk about neurodiversity a lot more.’
As for what the future holds for Coaltown Coffee, Scott is keen to ‘grow the business to be the brand for post-industrialisation’ – by building new cafe spaces and collaborating with heritage brands.
Giving advice to students obtaining their results, Scott said: ‘If you’ve done really well, congratulations.
‘But every day has a lesson, this is not the end of the story, it’s just a part of it.’
