Social media guru Gavin wins award

Gavin Bell, former Peter Jones Academy pupil Dec 2016

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A FORMER Oldham college student who moved here from a remote part of Scotland has won a start-up business award.

Gavin Bell (22) studied at the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy at Oldham College after moving from the Shetland Islands.

He took the plunge aged 18 to move to Greater Manchester to join the academy, where he learned the fundamentals in how to run a business. After completing a one-year course, he started his own social media agency.

His company is based in Edinburgh and called Blue Cliff Media after the dramatic Shetland islands' coastlines. It runs social media campaigns for UK and global clients and is growing rapidly.

Gavin was awarded the New Start Business of the Year accolade at the 2016 Scotland Entrepreneur Awards, sponsored by the WeDO Scotland networking organisation.

After the nomination from WeDO, Gavin went through an extensive application and interview process with judges, before his business was chosen.

He said: "I was thrilled to receive this. This success gave me a chance to step back and realise my achievements. Receiving recognition from others has given me great confidence too."

Gavin said the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy was a "game changer" in helping him to build confidence and realise his entrepreneurial dreams.

He said: "When I was 18, most of my friends in the Shetlands were going to university in places like Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow. I didn't feel university was right for me but I didn't want to stay on the Shetlands, which was remote. I was interested in starting my own business while also doing some kind of learning but wasn't sure exactly what to do.

"Then I saw something about the Peter Jones Academy on Twitter. I contacted some of the students and thought this looked like the best route for me. I liked the mix of launching a business while learning at the same time and being mentored. I thought it was good balance. At that time, there was no Peter Jones Academy in Scotland so I decided to study in Oldham.

"I enjoyed the course. The tutors were fantastic. It was both a nurturing experience, as well as a challenge. I received a practical immersion in running my own business, while being closely supported along the way. I was also exposed to new opportunities and forged the connections that made my business what it is today.

"We spent time at the campus in Oldham but also travelled to businesses and events around the UK, such as visiting Grant Thornton in London."