A carpenter and joiner from Pembrokeshire who set up his own business at the age of 21 is urging young people collecting their GCSE and A-Level results this year to consider entrepreneurship as a career route.

Twenty-six-year-old Dominic Hicks, left school at 16 to begin an apprenticeship in joinery. Dominic spent three years as an apprentice and two years as a full-time employee before setting up his own business from his parent’s garage at the age of 21.

As around 56,000 young people across Wales prepare to collect their results this summer, Careers Wales has released new data on how the coronavirus pandemic has affected young people’s plans for the future.

75 per cent of respondents said they are worried about their A-Level grades, and 38 per cent felt the pandemic had affected their plans after Year 13.

However, just 2 per cent of respondents who had planned to go to university said they’d changed their mind and only 6 per cent were planning to defer their university place until next year.

Dominic, who has now been running a successful business for five years, says setting up a business at a young age gave him more time to learn from his mistakes.

He said: “I’ve always been very hands-on and loved making things from a young age. I used to do a lot of woodworking with my grandad, he taught me some of the basics.

“I’ve known since I was 14 or 15 that I wanted to be my own boss, and I chose to pursue carpentry and joinery because it was something I enjoyed doing. When I left school I started an apprenticeship at Keating Joinery to learn the skills I would need to set up my future business.

“Towards the end of my apprenticeship my college entered me into WorldSkills, an international skills competition. Being a member of WorldSkills Squad UK was a really beneficial experience.

“As an apprentice you learn from the people around you, so I was used to doing things in the way they were done by my employer.

“During the competition I got to travel around and learn from lots of different people, which improved my skills and gave me the confidence to set up my own business.

“I set up my first workshop from my parent’s garage. There was a lot to learn, but I started off by keeping it simple and taking on smaller batches of joinery – making things like doors and windows.

“I learned by doing, and as time went on I got more confident and started taking on bigger jobs until I was able to get my own business unit in Pembroke Dock.

“I had one employee who left to work in France last year, I haven’t replaced him yet but I’m very busy at the moment catching up on work from the lockdown so I’m hoping to take someone else on soon and continue growing the business.”

“My advice to anyone getting their results this year is to remember that grades aren’t everything. I passed all my exams, but my hand skills and practical experience were the most important things I needed to get through my apprenticeship and set up my business.

“If you want to be your own boss, there’s no time like the present. Setting up my business when I was young meant I had a lot to learn, but it also gave me more time to make mistakes and now I have a successful business at 26.”

Working Wales is encouraging the young people who will receive their results this month to consider all their options for the future and make an informed choice to start their story.

Working Wales, delivered by Careers Wales, is a free service from the Welsh Government part-funded by the European Social Fund.

Working Wales is a one-stop-shop for impartial, expert careers advice which helps people aged 16 and over choose a career that’s right for them and find long-term employment.

Advisers from Working Wales and Careers Wales will be available on both results days to offer help and guidance to young people and their parents or carers receiving their GCSE and A-Level results, whatever their chosen path.

Nikki Lawrence, Careers Wales Chief Executive said: “We know the results day period is likely to be a particularly challenging time for many this year. No matter how you’re feeling about results day, the best thing you can do is research all your options so you can make an informed decision about your next steps.

“Working Wales will have advisers available on both results days to offer support and guidance to help you make the right choice for you.”

Kirsty Williams, Minister for Education, said: “I want to wish the best of luck to everyone receiving their GCSE or A-Level results this summer.

“This year, deciding on your next steps might seem like a particularly daunting task. Although we’re living in uncertain times, it’s important to remember that help and advice is available to support you in choosing a path that’s right for you.

“Whether you’re thinking of continuing in full-time education, pursuing work-based learning like an apprenticeship or going straight into work, Working Wales and Careers Wales are there to help you make an informed decision.”

For more information, search Working Wales Start Your Story or call free on 0800 028 4844.