A TEENAGER who traded boxing gloves for a suit a tie has worked his way up the career ladder from apprentice to directorship level after being inspired by his boss to never give up.

Calum Costello left Ridgeway School and started working for a financial services company when they wanted to downsize, leaving him at a crossroads. However Jackie Kerr, who runs Jackie Kerr Recruitment based in Highworth, stepped in and decided to take him on as an apprentice.

Four years later, Calum, now aged 21, has not looked back and is responsible for management of the recruitment team and training apprentices. But it was a career path he never thought he would take or be able to achieve.

“As far as I was concerned I was going to be world champion boxer,” said Calum, who lives in Old Town. “There was a lot of promise, so really that was all that was on my mind.

“I trained with Paddy Fitzpatrick and it gave me good grounding, discipline and work ethic. I was training six days a week for four hours, it was my life but there came a point where I wasn’t enjoying it and I fell out of love slightly, but I do still box for fun. And it gave me everything, I owe a lot to Paddy.”

The boxing ring is a far cry from Calum’s usual day in the office, which involves making sure clients’ needs are met and the relationships Jackie established with current and longstanding clients 20 years ago continue to be nurtured.

Calum also feels a huge sense of achievement that he has proved people wrong and made a success of himself, but says he would never have got to this point without the motivation and guidance from Jackie.

“The experience Jackie has given me is an experience money cannot buy and I will be forever grateful to her and hope I live up to her expectations,” he added.

“People have never treated me any different because of my age. It is how you carry yourself, there are plenty of young successful people out there. But I am still constantly learning.

“Jackie has done an incredible job with the company. My priorities are now growing the team and fulfilling clients’ needs. Each day is different.”

Jackie said she saw a lot of similarities in Calum as herself when she was growing up and gave him one-to-one motivation to prove good things do happen with hard work. The satisfaction of seeing Calum develop his skills is priceless, she says.

“I was told at school, like Calum, that I wasn’t going to get a job,” she added. “With a lot of successful people it just needs one person to tell you that you’re not going to succeed and you’re driven to prove them wrong.

“I’ve come from a one-parent family and been through that hardship and struggle and that’s what pushed me. I want to motivate people to achieve what is possible, that’s our attitude and ethos as an agency.”