SuperJam founder to share his great adventure

Mr Doherty will talk about how a motivational and entrepreneurial approach can drive a business to success.

He set up SuperJam a decade ago when he was only 14, using his grandmother’s jam recipes.

Now at 24, Mr Doherty supplies jam to more than 2,000 supermarkets across seven different countries.

Mr Doherty said: “I guess that what my story shows is that something that can begin for anyone as a simple idea in a kitchen or a bedroom, with a bit of love and hard work, can grow into something amazing – something that changes your life, gives you a career and hopefully a chance to give back to your community.”

Mr Doherty became the youngest ever supplier to a major supermarket chain when Waitrose launched the range in 2007.

The SuperJam brand is also exhibited in the National Museum of Scotland, as an iconic Scottish brand.

Paul Houghton, principal lecturer in Leeds Beckett’s Faculty of Business and Law, said: “He is living proof that great success can be achieved if you have a business idea and a goal that you are truly passionate about and are prepared to work for.”

The event which is a part of the annual Leeds Business School lecture series is free and open to the public. It will run from 5:30pm-7pm on December 9. Places must be booked at http://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/