A TEENAGER who failed to gain a place at Wrexham’s Yale college is instead making a success of a new bicycle business.

Back in July the Leader reported that Josh Hall, 16, of Minera, had been turned down to study motor vehicle engineering at Yale College because he incorrectly answered maths questions on an exam.

His dad Simon, 38, questioned the value of traditional academic subjects on such a vocational course as Josh already knew a great deal about motor vehicles.

But now, despite later being offered a place on the course due to a number of drop-outs, Josh and his dad have set up The Bike Shed on Pen-y-Bryn in the town, which is proving to be a huge success.

The shop sells and repairs bicycles and in the first six weeks of opening they have sold 70 bicycles.

Simon said: “We couldn’t have asked for a better start to the business. Life experience like this can’t be taught.

“College has got its place for people but my main concern is that they’re all aiming for A*. What do we do when we have a country full of A*s?”

Joshs’ brother Jack, 13, also helps out on a Saturday when Josh has a day off.
Simon even gave up his job as a recovery driver at HK Motors in Minera to go into business with Josh.

“There’s nothing like getting the experience of running a business like this,” he added.

At the time a spokeswoman for Yale College said: “We were disappointed we could not offer Josh a place. Similar to other institutions, minimum entry requirements are designed to ensure students are enrolled onto an appropriate course suitable to their level of study.”