It’s A-level results day and there will be lots of anxious students waiting to find out how they performed in their exams.

While exam results are important, some people who don’t do well in their exams can still have a success story.

This includes Jayson Churn, 22, who is an ambassador for Generation Logistics and raises awareness of the career paths within the logistics sector.

He left school with no qualifications and has since gone on to achieve huge success within the UK’s hidden sector – logistics.

“I left school with no qualifications and now I run my own company”

Jayson Churn has since been diagnosed with dyslexiaJayson Churn has since been diagnosed with dyslexia (Image: CWD Logistics/Generation Logistics)

“I left school with nothing and failed all my exams, despite trying really hard”, reflects Jayson, as he looks back at his results day.

“I found school abysmal, it really wasn’t for me.”

After opening his results, Jayson was told that he was “done for” and that he “should have tried harder”.

He recalls watching his friends move on with their lives, heading to college and university while he felt left behind.

Now, Jayson is the proud owner of his own company CWD Logistics as well as an ambassador for Generation Logistics.

CWD Logistics will celebrate its first anniversary later this year and he is also a member of the Road Haulage Association.

Jayson always dreamt of becoming a truck mechanic and so the day after he finished school he posted his CV to all of the transport companies within the area.

Soon after, he was taken on as a Yard Hand at just £3.30 an hour where he had to cycle three miles there and three miles back.

He said: “If you can work outside in the freezing cold washing lorries, that’s when you know you love it!”

Jayson Churn is encouraging students to work hardJayson Churn is encouraging students to work hard (Image: CWD Logistics/Generation Logistics)

From there, Jayson was determined to build a career within logistics but it was only when he took on his apprenticeship with DAF that he realised he had been working with undiagnosed dyslexia his whole life.

After failing the initial test, Jayson was given a second chance to take the test verbally.

He explained: “They allowed me to take the test verbally as my previous employee knew my potential, and when I did, I received one of the highest scores they had ever seen”.

This breakthrough led to his dyslexia diagnosis.

Once his dyslexia was recognised, he was able to work with it rather than against it and has since gone on to achieve sector-relevant qualifications including his apprenticeship, Level 2 qualification as a HGV Technician, Class 1 License and Transport CPC.

Advice for young people unsure of what to do next

When asked about what advice he would offer to young people who may be struggling with school or unsure of where to turn, Jayson said: “It’s not about where you start, it’s about where you’re heading and how hard you’re willing to work when you get there.

“Find your passion and run with it. From my experience, I’ve found that if you are passionate, people will want to help you.

“Hard work beats talent, so apply yourself 100% and you won’t go wrong.”

University clearing guide

To those facing results day this year, Jayson adds: “Get yourself stuck in, meet people and talk to those in your boat and make connections.

“In the logistics sector, opportunities are vast, and passion, integrity and pride in your work will always propel you forward. If you’ve got a dream, stick to it, and if you work hard for it, you’ll get there.”

Find a career that suits you

If you’re looking for a career in logistics or are unsure what you’d like to do, you can use the Find Your Future tool which is a five-minute quiz which matches you to a potential career based on your interests and personality type.

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Bethany Windsor, Programme Director of Generation Logistics, added: “Jayson’s journey is a powerful testament to resilience and hard work, and a fabulous example of the type of people that we employ within logistics.

“As Results Day approaches for many students, Jayson’s story offers hope and inspiration, proving that success isn’t linear, and is absolutely possible no matter your skill sets or academic qualifications.

“Jayson’s journey is a powerful testament to resilience and hard work, and a fabulous example of the type of hard-working and passionate people that we employ within logistics.

“Within the logistics sector, there is such a huge range of opportunities, such as customer services, inventory management, engineering, digital technology - the list goes on! Each role requires a diverse set of responsibilities and caters to all types of academic paths. This diversity makes logistics an ideal option for those seeking a fulfilling and evolving career.”