Proof it’s possible to be a success if exams aren’t your thing

A-Level students across the UK received their long-waited exam results today. It’s a daunting moment for anxious teenagers who believe this is the moment that’ll determine the course of their careers. It’s a case mirrored across the globe all year round, too. But the truth is, whether you or your offspring’s grades are good or bad, there’s plenty of life to be lived beyond exam results. 

We’re taught from an early age that doing well in school will translate into better job prospects, but there are multiple pathways to a successful career. Take it from Soho House’s very own Nick Jones or sporting entrepreneurs Max Noble and Peter Liggins, all of whom failed their most ‘important’ academic exams yet have excelled in their respective industries.  

Nick Jones

Nick Jones is the Founder and CEO of Soho House & Co. He opened Cafe Boheme on Old Compton Street in 1992 in London’s Soho, and went on to open the first House, 40 Greek Street, in the space above in 1995. Jones has since overseen the growth of Soho House every step of the way. In 2017, he was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s annual New Year’s Honours List.

(The below interview first appeared on Steven Bartlett’s Diary Of A CEO podcast).

What were the challenges you faced early in life?
‘I wasn’t great at school and I was really bad at exams. I found out at the age of 12 that I was dyslexic. Back then, there was a lot of stigma around dyslexia – you were just branded as thick. When I finished school there wasn’t much choice for me. I ruled out university as I didn’t have the grades.

‘I began my career in catering as a graduate trainee at Trusthouse Forte, a British hotel and restaurant company. Later down the line, I became a marketing manager at the Grosvenor House Hotel in Park Lane. After holding down a few other managerial positions at more casual restaurants, I opened my first restaurant, Over the Top, in 1988. It was terrible, though, as the food wasn’t great. I eventually opened Cafe Boheme in 1992, which was a culmination of the learnings I took from the mistakes I made with Over the Top. When the property above Cafe Boheme became available, I then opened Soho House 40 Greek Street.’
 
And where are you now? 
‘I’m now the CEO of Soho House & Co. Since the opening of Soho House 40 Greek Street, we’ve opened 38 (and counting) other Houses around the world. Globally, we now have 142,000 members. It’s been quite a journey.’ 

What advice would you give to those receiving their exam results today?
‘Listen to criticism. You can only really get better when people give honest feedback.’ 

Max Noble

Max Noble is the founder of Certified Sports, a sportswear brand set up to expose and challenge the injustices young and vulnerable athletes face. The inspiration for the brand came from his experiences as a teenager when he was an academy footballer who played for both the Premier League (Fulham FC) and internationally for Wales. His career ended early due to an injury that forced him to have double knee surgery. 

What were the challenges you faced early in life?
‘I had no academic qualifications or help from the football club that let me go, so I went to my local job centre where I was eventually able to secure an internship at Burberry. After that I was offered a permanent position in the design and development team. This is where my love for garments began and when I started dreaming of starting my own brand.’

What are you doing now?
‘I’m running my own company, Certified Sports. I started it as a means to champion those who are overlooked and give a voice to the underrated. We donate a percentage from each sale to help psychologically support young former athletes prepare for life after sport, while also challenging organisations to do more for the people they represent.

‘Each season, we create 20 to 25 all black products, which are made entirely from plastic bottles and fishing nets that have been collected from the ocean.’ 

What advice would you give to those receiving their exam results today?
‘Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.’ 

Peter Liggins 

Peter Liggins is a sports coach and the owner of Box Clever Sports, a boxing gym that provides high-intensity, non-contact group boxing classes and personal training.

What were the challenges you faced early in life?
‘I left school with one GSCE, but I was determined to turn things around for myself, so I enrolled onto a foundation sports course at a local college, and then later attended City of Westminster College. I studied my A-levels there, finishing with a distinction, and was able to get a place at Oxford Brookes University.’

What are you doing now?
‘I currently own and coach at Box Clever Sports. Our short-term goal is to establish the Box Clever Foundation, which will be a charitable arm of the organisation. I also volunteer at another boxing club in Ladbroke Grove, where I coach young people and teach them the values (self-confidence and discipline) I learnt from when I first started to box.’

What advice would you give to those receiving their exam results today?
‘My advice to anyone starting out is to never stop learning. Speak to people, pick their brains, be humble, grateful on a daily basis, and always help others whenever you can.’