Enterprising Hurst student builds a business

Hurst's commitment to Young Enterprise provided a springboard for Jacky's business.

Jacky Tang, just 17 and shortly to take his AS levels at Hurstpierpoint College, has more on his mind than just his exams. For Jacky is fast becoming recognised as a remarkably talented web site designer and his business, which embraces many aspects of marketing from copywriting to the creation of powerful brand and corporate identity programmes, is flourishing.

Jacky, who lives in Staplefield (although his family originally hails from Hong Kong) was quickly recognised as a potential star when he joined Hurst at the age of 13. “My strongest subjects were, and remain, Computing and Design & Technology but I greatly enjoy the challenges of Mathematics and Economics’ said Jacky ‘and they all fit together to give me real advantage in my business”.

“Hurst have encouraged me to work very hard throughout my time here” he continued “and I have also had some wonderful support”. In particular, he singles out Richard Hurley, Hurst’s Head of IT, as a major influence. “I’ve always looked upon him as more than a teacher. He has been both my mentor and consultant, guiding, challenging and inspiring me over the last three-and-a half-years. I am very grateful for all the time and professional expertise that he has put at my disposal. Without his help, I would not have been ready to make the most of the opportunities that have come my way in recent months”.

Many of those opportunities, as Jacky is the first to acknowledge, have come about because of Hurst’s success in Young Enterprise this year. The programme which gives young people the experience of running their own business has – alongside the Duke of Edinburgh scheme and the thriving Cadet Force – always been, been an important element in Hurst’s broader education. Each year, under the watchful eye of the College’s Young Enterprise Co-ordinator Jan Leeper, Hurst enters the Regional Competition for all the YE companies in Mid Sussex.

This year’s Young Enterprise company, ‘Zaken’ was outstandingly successful. Zaken was joint runner-up in two categories,but it won the remaining eight categories outright including the most prestigious ‘Best Company’ Shield. Within this, Jacky’s contribution was recognised with awards for Best Website and Young Achiever of the Year.

Later, in the Sussex County Competition, he was again awarded the accolade for the Best Website. In fact, Jacky’s distinguished work creating Zaken’s website had already been recognised by the county’s Young Enterprise team. They were so impressed by his ideas and abilities that they had already commissioned him to revitalise their own site. From this work – and because his talents were recognised by the many business leaders and young entrepreneurs whom he met whilst presenting his website at the competitions – Jacky now has many commissions on which he will be working in the coming months.

What does the future hold for this young man? “Well”, says Jacky, “I eventually want to go into business either for myself or work for a big City group but my next step after my time here at this great school is to take my first degree, hopefully at the LSE. Whilst I’m there, I’ll continue to develop my Creative Design and Consultancy business and then take a decision about the future once I graduate and see what the market place looks like.”