THE exceptional young VentureJam entrepreneurs I wrote about a few weeks ago have yet to translate their award-winning business ideas into reality but others are already relishing the opportunities – and challenges – of entrepreneurship.

One is Kieran Coyle, a former professional footballer who started his first business while at university. Premiership Experience has thrived, winning awards and accolades for the young businessman.

But at the start, the challenge of combining all three, pretty hefty responsibilities was tough and being only 19 meant that youth sometimes got in the way.

“I think it’s only natural older people look at you as being inexperienced with the obvious age difference,”said Coyle. “However, if you have confidence in your own ability and can back that up in person, as well as having a quality product, then that quickly disappears.

“The demands of juggling university, playing football with Clyde and then Airdrie as well as running the business was extremely difficult. Unfortunately, I had to let the football slide and managed a few years within the Juniors before stopping.”

Veteran entrepreneurs sharing their pearls of experiential wisdom will often advise their fledgling counterparts to do what they love, tell them that turning a passion into a business can be the key to success, but a teenage Coyle knew this intuitively. His uncle, Owen Coyle, was managing in the English Premier League with Burnley and then Bolton Wanderers and it was from there the initial concept sparked.

Coyle said: “Due to global appeal of the Premier League and the superior quality –unfortunately – in comparison to Scottish football, I realised there was a market to give children the opportunity to attend some of these leading fixtures.

“After establishing partnership agreements with a number of leading clubs, we officially launched in late 2010 and the business has evolved enormously from then to where we are now.”

Starting young hasn’t put Coyle off the entrepreneurship idea. He is constantly looking for opportunities but says ultimately, it comes down to time.

“You need to ‘enjoy the journey’, but there will definitely be other things happening in future,” he said. “Now my focus is on developing a global presence and seeing where that takes us.”

His youthful enthusiasm spills into his advice to younger counterparts. “Being young is the best time to start – the exposure is relatively small if it doesn’t work out,” Coyle said. “However, you must do your research and speak to as many people as you can about your idea, before going out on your own.”

“A lot of people in today’s world think they have the next big thing and while many might have, there is a huge difference between believing an idea in your head and actually putting it into practice. Ultimately, if you have a strong work ethic, a clever idea and a passion for what you are doing, you will have every chance of success.”

Michelle Rodger is a communications consultant