Top 8 Entrepreneurs Without A-Levels

To many people, one’s potential for success is measured by education and achievements. That is, how well you do in school and university is directly linked to whether or not you’ll be successful in your professional career and life in general.

However, it’s becoming increasingly clear, especially in modern times, that this isn’t necessarily the case. In fact, there are plenty of other things that influence success.

And, on top of that, everybody is different, and school measures intelligence within a very specific set of parameters which simply does not and cannot account for these differences.

One such traditional parameter of intelligence and supposed indicator of success is the A-levels – the UK’s advanced level of its General Certificate of Education.

A significant amount of pressure is put on children throughout their schooling careers to excel academically and eventually do well in their A-levels so that they can be successful later on in life.

But, while this kind of traditional education and success certainly is helpful for many students, it doesn’t mean that those who don’t do well in their A-levels, or don’t take them at all, will necessarily be unsuccessful.

In fact, there are plenty notable figures in history who have been incredibly successful, defying all traditional expectations, without getting top marks in school.

 

What Are A-Levels?

 

The A-Level, more commonly referred to as A-levels, is a subject-specific qualification that forms part of the General Certificate of Education. It follows the General Certificate of Senior Education (GCSE) that students take at the age of 15 or 16, depending on their birthdays.

A-levels are taken by students aged 16 and older, and usually, the qualification requires about two years of studying and testing.

In A-levels, students can score between A and F, with A being the highest possible grading and F being the lowest and, ultimately, a fail.

A-level gradings are used for entrance to institutes of higher education both within the UK and internationally too. Most institutes require a minimum of three A-level subject passes.

Since A-levels are closely associated with higher education, it’s no wonder that so much emphasis is put on them.

However, at the end of the day, performing poorly in your A-levels, or not taking them at all, doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t become successful.

 

Different Types of Skill and Success

 

Traditionally, schools and classic academia have measured intelligence within a very specific framework that required students to do well in predetermined subjects within specific guidelines – things like languages, mathematics and science have always been seen as ways to identify whether a child is smart.

While these subjects and traditional education more broadly certainly are important, it simply doesn’t tell the full story of what makes somebody intelligent and whether or not they’ll be successful. In fact, it excludes a large number of students who may simply have skills that fall outside of the traditional boundaries of school subjects.

Some students are practically skilled and are able to make things do incredible things with their hands while others are incredibly creative and able to come up with ideas that don’t fit the mould.

Unfortunately, while A-levels certainly offer a lot to society as a way of measuring students’ success in school, the testing system simply isn’t not broad enough to dictate whether not a child can and will do well in life.

 

8 Successful Entrepreneurs Who Didn’t Get Their A-Levels

 

There are plenty of other ways that young people can forge on and create success within their own lives and careers without great A-level results and university qualifications.

Here are 8 successful entrepreneurs who didn’t get their A-levels but still managed to excel in life and become successful entrepreneurs.

 

1. Sir Richard Branson

 

Sir Richard Branson is probably one of the first people that comes to mind when considering successful individuals and entrepreneurs specifically who didn’t achieve high scores in their A-levels.

In fact, Branson didn’t do his A-levels at all – he notoriously left school at the age of 16, much to the despair of a few of his teachers, and went on to pursue entrepreneurial endeavours.

The story goes that his secondary school principal told a young Richard that he would either “go to prison” or “become a millionaire”, and he couldn’t have been more right – about the latter, at least!

In the late ’60s, teenage Richard Branson started his first business, a magazine called “Student” which was aimed at young people and providing them with a platform to share their opinions about important topics.

It was only a few years later, in 1970, that Branson started Virgin, originally a mail-order record business, that went on to become the multi-billion dollar company he’s known for founding today. Later, the company expanded into Virgin Atlantic Airways, Virgin Mobile and Virgin Galactic, among other things.

Today, Branson is best known for his incredible entrepreneurial mind and his defiance of traditional expectations.

 

 

2. David Page

 

David Page was never particularly academically inclined and generally disliked school and all the discipline it brought with it. When he was just 17, Page was expelled from his Wilmbeldon-based school, never having completed his A-levels.

Instead, young Page went on to seek out employment and found himself working his way up from the bottom on the restaurant industry.

After many years of involvement in PizzaExpress, a popular franchise in the UK at the time, David proved his worth in the company, eventually finding himself in a senior position and being largely responsible for the chain’s newfound success.

This early exposure to the service industry undoubtedly played a role in piquing his interest in restaurants, igniting the entrepreneurial spirit that would serve him for years to come.

Via PizzaExpress, Page became CEO of The Restuarant Group, its parent company, and he was responsible for the establishment of a great deal of expansion into new business ventures.

After many years of success in leadership, Page went on to found Fulham Express and Franco Manca in 1999 and 2008 respectively, both of which became exceptionally popular  restaurant franchises that have maintained their success to this day.

David Page’s success is generally attributed to his commitment to learning and gaining experience, which allowed him realise and constantly improve his strengths and knack for understanding and strategising within the restaurant and service industry.

 

3. Deborah Meaden

 

Today, Deborah Meaden is best known as a “Dragon” on the popular television show, “Dragon’s Den”, but she wasn’t always perceived as a immensely strong and successful business tycoon.

In fact, she’s said publicly on a few occasions that she was never really academically inclined in the traditional sense and rather had her eye on bigger things.

True to character, Meaden chose to leave school at 16 without having attempted her A-levels, with the intention of attempting to dive right into the business world. Initially, her interest in business school led her to enroll in business school, but it wasn’t long before she decided that experience would teach her more than theory.

She went on to gain experience in a few different jobs, including one at a fashion house, that allowed her to gain valuable experience – however, unlike many other entrepreneurs, her interest wasn’t necessarily in specific industries, it was in entrepreneurship and business more generally.

By 19, Meaden had launched her first business from Italy that specialised in exporting glass and ceramics, and her company went on to supply some very successful stores including the likes of Harvey Nicols. While this initial company didn’t end up lasting, it certainly set the stage for things to come.

Deborah Meaden’s most notable success came later after she became involved in Weststar Holidays, a holiday park business owned by her family.

She ended up buying and taking full control of the company until 2005 when it was sold for GBP 3 million.

Meaden’s recipe for success, it seems, was her acknowledgement of not only her strengths and weaknesses but the power of her passion for business.

 

4. Jo Malone

 

Today a renowned British entrepreneur, Jo Malone struggled in school, ultimately unable to complete her A-levels, largely as a result of her struggle with dyslexia and her subsequent difficulty in participating in traditional schooling.

At 15 years old, Malone started helping her mother who worked as a facial therapist, and simultaneously, discovered an interest in and passion for creating different fragrances.

It wasn’t long before she started experimenting at home, making her own concoctions in her family kitchen, later creating real therapeutic oils, perfumes and other beauty products.

After receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback from friends who she’d gifted her homemade products to, Jo Malone decided to make things official, and in 1994, she started her very first luxury fragrance boutique in London.

One of her most famous products, the unique “Lime Basil & Mandarin” cologne, is still a best seller to this day, proving not only her success but her persistence in the market too.

Her company which she had named after herself was eventually sold to Estee Lauder in 1999, and although the exact price that Jo Malone London was sold for has never been disclosed, it’s fair to assume it would’ve been a pretty big figure. She later went on to become involved in a few other entrepreneurial ventures.

Jo Malone’s success story is one of overcoming challenges and putting her own strengths and creativity to use.

 

5. Mike Ashley

 

Mike Ashley is another successful entrepreneur who not only didn’t excel academically but also chose not to complete his A-levels. Instead, he left school early to get started in the business world and his very first job was at his local squash club.

After becoming interested in sports equipment and apparel, Ashley decided he wanted to start his own company and took a risk by loaning a large sum of money from his family. With these funds, he opened his first shop in Maidenhead in 1982 at the ripe age of 18.

The shop quickly became popular and it wasn’t long before new branches were popping up all over the UK. By 1996, the chain was rebranded to Sports Direct which went on to become a global success.

Under Ashley’s leadership, Sports Direct acquired several smaller businesses and expanded into Europe.

By 2007, the company went public and the initial public offering (IPO) valued Sports Direct at a staggering $2 billion.

Ashley went on to do a lot more in his career, including purchasing a football club and opening new businesses, including the successful and well-known Frasers Group.

Mike Ashley found success not in spite of its unsuccessful academic career, but rather due to his relentless work ethic, strategic mind and aggressive business style.

 

6. Heston Blumenthal

 

Heston Blumenthal, a famous British chef, TV personality and successful entrepreneur has spoken openly about his disinterest in school and academics as a teenager, including the fact that he obtained only one A level which is barely passed.

One thing he was always interested in, however, was cooking, with his culinary passion ignited during a family holiday to France during which he was lucky enough to visit the three-Michelin-star restaurant, L’Oustau de Baumanière.

However, it was still a while before he was able to immerse himself in cooking professionally, and did a few odd jobs for various companies while enjoying and learning about cooking in his free time.

Essentially, Blumenthal taught himself how to cook and used his creativity and unique ingenuity to come up with some of his most magnificent creations.

Despite his disinterest in school, he was particularly fascinated by the idea of food science which he later became known for.

In 1995, Heston Blumenthal made his first big move in the culinary world and purchased a pub called The Fat Duck, starting off as a normal bistro that quickly transformed into an experimental haven that showcased his immense talent.

It wasn’t long before The Fat Duck became well known, and by 2005, it achieved its third Michelin star and the title of “Best Restuarant in the World”.

Blumenthal went on to expand his empire, opening a plethora of additional businesses and restaurant chains.

Indeed, his success is an incredible testament to the fact that traditional academia doesn’t suit everybody, and for some, creativity, intelligence and success comes as a result of thinking outside the box.

 

7. Charlie Mullins

 

Best known for founding Pimlico Plumbers, Charlie Mullins is another success story with untraditional origins. Although he wasn’t academically inclined and didn’t walk away from school with A-levels or any formal higher education, Mullins went on to become one of the most revered entrepreneurs in the UK.

In fact, his interest in plumbing, which he says was already prominent by the age of one, was a major reason why he decided to leave school at 15. By that stage, he’d already been offered a plumbing internship with a local plumber and it was by experience that he learned important skills.

Mullins maintains that his hands-on, industry experience was the key to his success, as it not only inspired but enabled him to start his own business by 1979.

Transforming from a one-man-band to the largest independent plumbing company in London, Charlie Mullins and Pimlico Plumbers’ success came down to the business’s reputation for punctuality, work ethic, customer service and excellence.

Later, Charlie Mullins made a move to give back in the way his mentor gave so much to him by running training programmes and more.

Mullins is a classic example of somebody who may not have fit into the academic mould as a teenager but was immensely talented in terms of practical skill and entrepreneurship, showing that there’s no “one-size-fits-all” answer to success.

 

8. Alan Sugar

 

Born to a working-class family, Alan Sugar struggled in school from a young age and, much to nobody’s surprise at the time, left school at 16 without having completed his A-levels.

However, his humble beginnings instilled in him a desire for something more, and Sugar didn’t believe that his lack of success at school meant he couldn’t make something of himself.

Thus, it wasn’t long before he embraced his entrepreneurial spirit and started selling odds and ends out of his car, ranging for car aerials to photographic film.

He later formalised this endeavour after starting his company, Amstrad, and by the 1980s, Sugar was manufacturing and selling home computers that offered great quality and were affordable too. His product soon became competitive within the personal computer market, and by 1986, Amstrad went public.

Sugar later led Amstrad to expansion into other technological equipment and closely followed technological and innovative trends in the industry over the next few decades which ensured the company’s continued success and dominance in the market.

In 2007, Amstrad was sold for GBP 125 million, marking the end of Sugar’s time at the helm but a significant financial return. Alan Sugar went on to become a household name in later years, hosting “The Apprentice” and generally being involved in other entrepreneurial ventures over the years.

Sugar has always attributed his success to his hard work and perseverance despite his supposed “failure” in academia and his difficult upbringing.

 

Are A-Levels the Be-All-and-End-All?

 

The simple answer is: no! While formal education – in the form of GCSEs, A-levels and any other traditional exams and learning styles – certainly has its place in the world, it’s not for everybody. And, that’s okay.

If you’re able to excel in A-levels, that’s great, and if you’re not, that’s also okay.

Ultimately, everybody has different strengths, weaknesses, passions and ambitions, but the common denominators are hard work, determination and perseverance, and these are things anybody can work hard on – with A-levels or without them.