£75m businessman written off by his teachers now giving back to the Grenfell community

An award-winning businessman who was written off by teachers at school launched a fund on June 13 to inspire and support the young Grenfell community.

Jamie Fraser, 30, from Dominion Street, City of London, has built up a recruitment company valued at £75million and is giving £100,000 into his Entrepreneur Fund to give young people from deprived communities a chance at creating a successful business.

Mr Fraser said: “I am a big believer in people’s hard work and determination. 

“I am always willing to give every single individual with young talent or someone who wants to be an entrepreneur a chance to make something out of their life.”

Mr Fraser left school with four GCSEs and started his company, InterEx, in a tiny office with one phone. 

Now he wants to create platforms and pathways to make it easier for young people to forge careers.

He said: “I wasn’t academic so school offered me very little and there are thousands of children like me who just fall by the wayside because they don’t fit in and that is a tragic waste.”

Tutors at Morley College London in Warrington Road, North Kensington, invited Mr Fraser to speak with students on June 13, the day before the Grenfell anniversary.

The college, which is near Grenfell, has a student base that struggles with mainstream education and was revitalised by grants given after the tragic fire in 2017.

Morley College London has since joined forces with the nearby Portobello Business Centre to help families rebuild their lives.

Mr Fraser, from Essex, had a rocky childhood and school years but was given a chance by a recruitment firm boss who gave him a job despite his lack of qualifications and experience. 

He said: “Someone recognised something in me and took a chance on me, they had faith in me and that was crucial.

“That is the sort of intervention I want to make in other people’s lives – to show them that they can achieve and give them direction to make it, providing they are prepared to work hard.”

Whilst speaking with pupils, Mr Fraser revealed they will be able to apply to the fund to be mentored and also receive financial support for their ventures from July 1.

He has put up £100,000 for his Entrepreneur Fund and will interview applicants for the Fund, which will launch next month on the Portobello Business Centre website.

Pictured top: From left, Vice Principle of Morley college Craig Hanlon-Smith, Jamie Fraser and Chief Executive of Portobello Business Centre, Simon Shimmens (Picture: Cara Day-Lunn)