Business students from Solihull College & University Centre were delighted this week to welcome Ben Francis, founder and CEO of sportswear brand Gymshark.
Ben, 31, who founded the brand from his garage in his teens, spoke about how he set up the company, the challenges involved, what he has learnt from the process, and his hopes for the future.
Ben spoke openly about being a student at the same time as he was trying to set up a business. He commented: “I think I was the only student with six failed businesses under my belt. Gymshark was the 7th website I built. My advice to these students is start now. Don’t wait. Dedicate three hours a week to a business idea and get started, alongside your studies.”
Ben recalled leaving his university course and his Pizza Hut job on the same day as they clashed with an event he needed to attend for Gymshark. He also spoke about the company’s HQ in Solihull which employs 600 people, and his need to continue learning from other business leaders.
FE Co-ordinator and Business lecturer, Leyah Zafeer, organised the event. She comments: “Our students will have learned a lot from Ben who was very honest about the process of setting up a business. Many of our students aspire to great things and asked many good questions. To see a local boy do so well in business is inspiring, and we thank him for taking time out to encourage the next generation of entrepreneurs.”
