APPRENTICE
candidate Adam Corbally was an instant hit as he told pupils at Fearns Community Sports College about his struggles and successes.
He chatted to the pupils about his life, from leaving school with no qualifications and ending up homeless, to working in a factory and living in a council flat.
The Year 9 and 10 students warmed to the businessman and reality star’s down-toearth manner.
Working in the factory was branded ‘hell on earth’ and Adam went on to describe a horrific accident involving a friend, which proved to be a turning point in his life and career.
After numerous dead-end jobs, he saw a niche and opened a greengrocer stall on Glossop Market at the age of 19.
Turned down for a loan from the Prince’s Trust, the National Lottery and his bank, he turned to his family and with £50 from his uncle and the loan of his mother’s car he bought his first stock.
Adam said: “In six weeks I had earned what I was making at the factory in a year, but then came the winter and the market was deserted.”
Ever the entrepreneur, he quickly transformed despair into opportunity and invested his profits in a van and began wholesale selling to 65 businesses.
He said: “I realised that I may not have the qualifications like other people, but I had the experience from all the jobs that I had done.
“If you have got self-belief, then you can get somewhere.”
Adam first appeared on TV on Total Wipeout. Then came the big break trying to become Alan Sugar’s business partner in 2012.
His own letting agency now has 14 properties and has just bought land to build affordable homes.
He urged pupils to do as well as they can in their GCSEs to give themselves as many options as possible for the future.
Adam’s visit was part of a Careers Fair organised by careers co-ordinator Sara Ashworth.
The secondary school’s gym was packed with representatives from a range of different organisations.
Sara said: “The Careers Fair has been great fun and very informative and Adam’s inspirational talk was the icing on the cake.”