A Belfast teenager says young people wanting to get started in business don't necessarily need to leave school to do so.
John Devine started his business, Ember Social Media Marketing Agency, during the lockdowns in 2021.
He said his business has continued to thrive since then, despite him still studying at school, and that he has started leasing an office space in Belfast.
Read more: Belfast teen on pursuing dream and launching own business during lockdown
"There seems to be quite a big idea that you're good at school or you're good at business or that school oppresses creativity, that's not true," he said.
"My experience with Rathmore School here in Belfast was that the staff were great, really supportive and have given me some great opportunities over the years.
"I remember seeing a lot of stuff especially over lockdown about how if you're serious about business, you should leave school and it just gave me a negative view of education.
"For me though, it couldn't be further from the truth - I think that school teaches you so many lessons, not only educationally, but just in terms of discipline, social skills, everything."
He said that managing to strike the right balance between schoolwork and the agency had been tough, but that it was something that could be done.
"I did an A Level exam on Thursday and I have one on Monday, so I've been working alongside it," he said.
"It's very tough, but it's definitely not impossible.
"You have people who are playing sports who are training four nights a week, so I hope people don't get discouraged by the thought of having to balance the two, because it is possible.
"People often forget how long 24 hours is, there's a lot of hours there you can use, say those few hours in the morning on your phone, they could be spent instead on the business."
John has plans to continue his education but in the immediate short-term, he wants top devote more time to seeing how he can grow his business.
He said the business had been doing "incredibly well" working with lots of local companies in Belfast but also with international clients from across three continents.
"My plan is to finish my A-Levels and I do want to got to university but I'm going to take a year and focus on the business," he said.
"I know business can be volatile so that's why I'm making sure I have my education as well.
"It's been going so well and that's with having to balance it with school.
"The last three years I've never really known how well it could do though because I've never had the time.
"If it's going so well now with only weekends and around school to focus on it, then how well could it do if I'm able to focus on it full time?".
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