An internet millionaire who did poorly in his GCSEs urged teenagers not to despair if they fail their exams.
Jamal Edwards, 22, who is worth about £8 million after setting up an online TV station, was joined by Prince Charles as he answered questions on Twitter from worried teenagers.
Mr Edwards, who is an ambassador for the Prince’s Trust, spoke out before A-level and GCSE results next month as part of a campaign to inspire young people anxious over their exams. The former Acton High School pupil, who went on to Ealing College, is on the Sunday Times Young Rich List. Richard Branson described him as a “walking definition of the word entrepreneur”. Mr Edwards, who passed six GCSEs, including three D grades and one E, said: “There is a big crowd of school-leavers out there worrying about what the future holds for them. It wasn’t all that long ago that I was one of them. But what I would say to every one of them is you can do whatever you want. If you don’t know what your next steps are, The Prince’s Trust is helping young people like you every day to get their lives on track.”
His grades meant he took a three-year media moving image national diploma rather than the two-year course he wanted. He said: “It’s not the end of the world. I stressed to try to do as well as I could. I would say don’t kill yourself over it. The world is not going to end, there is life after your GCSEs.”
After filming his friends rapping, Mr Edwards founded SB.TV using a £200 camera he was given at Christmas and uploading videos to YouTube. The network has attracted more than
100 million views and launched Ed Sheeran’s career.
He said he was successful because he had self-belief, he found a niche and kept on trying. He added: “My advice is to try out loads of things. The only failure you have is not trying.”
The Prince’s Trust Summer Sessions, supported by HSBC, will include a live-streamed Youth Forum on August 16, featuring trust ambassadors Jameela Jamil, Naughty Boy and Wretch 32.
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