From Apprentice to Entrepreneur: How a Cheshire Man Built a Six-Figure Agency at 19

Cheshire, UK – After being rejected for an £89 a week Apprenticeship, Cheshire-born Matt Pyke is now an award-winning entrepreneur, founding a successful digital marketing business at just 19 that sees him competing head-to-head with some of the UK’s top agencies, and grappling with six-figure contracts.

Matt Pyke was always interested in the world of digital marketing, and at 16 he applied for his very first job – a Digital Marketing Apprenticeship where he would earn a meager £89 a week. 

However, his hopes were quickly dashed when he was turned down for the opportunity. But this early rejection didn’t put Matt off, and while the rejection hit him hard, Matt didn’t let this quash his dreams.

“At the time it was the first job that I had ever applied for, so getting rejected did knock my confidence. However, rather than letting it put me off, this just spurred me on to learn more about digital marketing and eventually make it a solid career option by studying Marketing at uni.”

With his previous rejection playing on his mind, Matt was more determined than ever to succeed in the digital marketing world, and so his journey from failed apprentice to industry leader began.

At just 19 Matt founded digital marketing firm Fly High Media in his first year at Manchester Metropolitan University, the very same company he still fronts today.

“I started Fly High Media in my first year at uni so I could graduate with a digital marketing career and not have to face rejection again. After that early rejection, I knew instead of following a path I had to make my own.”

Now, 8 years later, Fly High Media is a fully-fledged digital marketing firm offering services in SEO, PPC, social media marketing, and more – something that has earned Matt industry recognition.

Matt’s leadership and the success of Fly High Media recently saw him awarded the FSB North West Young Entrepreneur Award, a part of the FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards which shine a spotlight on the UK’s most impressive small businesses.

Matt is also in the running for the National Young Entrepreneur Award at the FSB Finals in May – a remarkable feat after his initial rejection.

“It’s crazy to think that I went from rejection to an award-winning leader of a successful agency that competes directly against the marketing agency that rejected my application in the first place”.

To hear more about Fly High Media, please visit their website.