FORMER pupil Andrew Keeble spoke to 16 year seven students at Bedale High School about his time at school and success in business.

He left school with no GCSE’s aged 15 and lives locally with wife Debbie. Both came from farming families, and in their 30s in 1999, and on a joint income of only £250 a week, with four children to support, they started making their own sausages.

They farmed by day and made Debbie & Andrew's sausages at night, selling at farmers' markets around the country. In 2005 they sold the brand, and in 2012 they started all over again from scratch saying, launching Heck sausages in April 2013, they launched Heck sausages – now the biggest independent sausage brand in the UK with a £35m turnover.

Andrew explained the difficulties he had at school with dyslexia but soon realised, after a year working on a horse ranch in Montana after leaving school, that hard work was the key to success.

He told the pupil that "you won't be good at anything unless you enjoy it and a smile and good manners goes a long, long way".

He explained that one of the joys about owning the business is being able to help others and he went on to chat about the work Heck does with testicular and prostate cancer charities.

The firm's partnership with Bedale AFC has helped raise £187,770.96 via Team Garby Just Giving from sponsored cycle rides and the sale of the iconic sausage, hot dog, bangers and mash and carrot football kits.