A TEENAGE entrepreneur who struggled to find a job has set up his own business making and selling handmade jewellery.

Despite desperately searching for a job, 15-year-old Reuben Oatley struggled to get hired in his hometown of Darlington because of his age.

Instead of admitting defeat, the year ten Carmel College student launched his own business making and selling handmade jewellery out of Lego.

He said: “I really wanted a job, but because it is really hard to get a job in Darlington now my mum said why don’t I just make myself a job.

“I took it literally and now I make and sell my own jewellery. I don’t study business at school but have picked up skills along the way and have learnt a lot from my mum as well.”

The teenager has been running his business since February and now sells his wares at Darlington Sunday People’s Market alongside his mother, Sarah, who runs her own craft business, named Drawn Threads.

Mrs Oatley, who has taught him the basics of running his own business, said: “It happened by coincidence. We had so much Lego in the house and I just said to him: “Will you just do something with the Lego?”

“It seemed to set something off and he spent the next two weeks sorting through it all, deciding what he could do with it.

“Now he is really keen on getting younger people interested in the market and involved in business. I am really proud of him.”

The pair will have a stall at this Sunday’s Darlington Sunday People’s Market. For more information visit drawnthreads.co.uk or follow @Pic_Brix on Twitter.