Solihull teenager is the Midlands’ answer to Willy Wonka

Most teenagers head to college every day, spend their evenings playing video games and are much more interested in spending money than making it.

Not for Joseph Vaughan though, who set up his own business in September 2015 at the ripe old age of 16 years old.

Joseph set up 1683 Chocolate Place in Knowle, near Solihull just weeks after turning 16 and deciding that A-Levels just weren’t for him.

He said: “I decided that the only reason to do A-Levels and head to university was to get a job and what would be the point in that if you already had your own business. So soon after we set this place up.”

Joseph, who is now 17 and the youngest chocolatier in the West Midlands, fell in love with creating chocolate after his mum brought him a chocolate experience day for his 14th birthday.

He went on to study at the Chocolate Academy in Banbury, as well as taking several other courses to become an expert in the art of making chocolate.

The hard work is paying off for the young man too, with the business turning over an impressive £70,000 in its first year.

However, despite being one of the UK’s youngest businessmen, he still catches up with school friends.

He said: “All my mates are doing their A-Levels at the moment, but they regularly come in and have been really supportive of me having my own business.

“It has been a mad but great year, it has flown around so fast that we haven’t even had time to really celebrate what the company has achieved yet.”

1683 Chocolate PlaceIn fact, Joseph recently took on his first intern who is actually a year older than him. Joseph is also thankful for the support from his mum Jayne too, who owns Knowle’s designer boutique Belle Diva – just a couple of doors away from the chocolate shop.

1683 Chocolate Place offers a wide range of chocolates in store and also hosts regular chocolate and wine tasting evenings, chocolate making workshops and other events including children’s parties and hen dos.

Joseph has high hopes for the future of his business.

“At the moment, we are really trying to push the corporate and wedding side of the business, so from wedding favours, to corporate chocolates, hampers and more,” he said.

“I am also hoping to be able to open one or two more stores in the area in the next few years.”

So, with National Chocolate Week currently taking place, what should we be enjoying?

Joseph’s recommendation is one of his most popular chocolates; salted caramel.

He said: “People who come into the store love them the most, but strawberry and raspberry are also very popular.”

 

 

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