Posted on 12 January 2012
Tim Connor (second from left), tutor Keith Allen and business students
A young local entrepreneur returned to his roots at Guildford College this week to talk to current students about how his studies had led him to set up his own very successful businesses with a turnover in excess of £3 million.
Tim Connor, now 23, studied for the Business National Diploma at the College, taking the Academy of Finance option, which is run by only a few colleges in the country and provides a 6 week paid internship. Tim completed his with Swiss Re, a global reinsurer company, who were so impressed they offered him a permanent job and he became their youngest ever employee in the world. Now much in demand, he was head-hunted by other major global companies.
Though happy in his work, Tim who “always wanted to make money and retire by the time I’m 30”, decided to branch out on his own. His businesses presently include a ticket and hospitality company with a growth of over 200% last year; Broken Entertainment which runs Showcase:LIVE, bringing unsigned and rising artists from around the UK to the attention of the music industry with features in everything from the Mirror to Music Week; as well as a family wine business. He also does consultancy work with some of the largest international corporate businesses including the second largest in silicon valley!
Tim firmly believes in the value of a practical education such as the College provides and is impressed by its practical skills courses and apprenticeships which he thinks are “an amazing route into business and trades”. Asked by a current student if he had any regrets, Tim replied “I wish I’d listened more to my teachers at the College. Now I pay people to give me advice that back then I was basically getting for free!” He credits some of his success to the College who “helped and believed in me and kept on at me to get some qualifications”. His visit, organised by Business tutor Keith Allen, was also to discuss mentoring and internship opportunities, as Tim now wants to give something back and inspire others. He provided plenty of tips and advice to students, such as starting up small online companies and selling products and believes that despite the recession, opportunities are there to be taken advantage of if you want them. The students were so pleased with Tim’s obvious enthusiasm and passion that they took it upon themselves to invite him back soon, saying they were “inspired by his commitment and hard work”. Tim has also been working with the BBC, recording a series on employment opportunities for under 25s.