1. FEBRUARY 2015 | ISSUE 12 ISSUE 12 | FEBRUARY 20158 9
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Kingshurst close to Chemsley
Wood. I spent most of my childhood
and parts of my adult life in the area.
What was your first job?
Wow, my first ever job was helping the
milkman collect money for the milk he
delivered at the age of 14. I was paid £12
for two evenings a week, I felt rich!
My first job in the social sector
was when I was 17, winning
a Housing Scholarship with a
company called Midland Area,
now merged as Midland Heart.
I originally went to train with them
to complete my Business Admin NVQ
Level 2 and ended up spending eight
golden years with them. I learnt a lot
about how business operates in a social
environment, how to communicate
with people on all levels and the social
barriers around certain communities.
This really helped me to find myself in
the professional world and it gave me a
chance to understand what I enjoyed.
Once I’d completed the scholarship, I
was offered a Trainee Surveyors role.
What drives you to make
a difference?
Even though I loved my childhood, the
people and my surroundings, I still grew
up with lots of disadvantages. I came
from a single parent household but was
lucky in the fact that I had a rough idea
of where I wanted to go, the drive to get
there, and a touch of being in the right
place at the right time. Not everyone is
as lucky. I believe I was blessed with a lot
to give and a drive and passion to show
young people that you truly can become
whatever you want to be in life by having
the right vision, attitude and gratitude.
What is the most valuable
lesson you have learnt so far?
I think I’d have to go with ‘Not to
follow the crowd’. There is a lot of
Wesley Thomas
Aspired Education CIC
DJ and social entrepreneur Wesley
Thomas gives us an insight to the events
and people who have shaped his life
and inspired him to help others.
INSPIRATION
A moment with...
Aspired Education CIC specialise
in creative arts as an engagement
tool to build confidence,
enhance creative skills and
employability for young people.
Services include:
Djing / Dance (all styles) /
Stencil Art / School works /
1 on 1 sessions / Summer
camps / Youth club sessions
iwww.aspirededucation.co.uk
Twitter: @Djaygravity
Instagram: Aspirededucation
INSPIRATION
peer pressure in today’s world, but it’s
important to be you, believe in yourself
and don’t let anyone hold you back
even if you have to do it by yourself.
What’s been your biggest
achievement?
Tricky question as I feel I’ve done a lot
in my short life, but I guess helping
to create a National DJ Competition
alongside Access To Music has to be
right up there. The competition ran all
over the UK and I project managed the
Birmingham heats. The final was held
in London at the Ministry Of Sound.
Starting the Aspired brand in 2010 from a
university grant comes pretty close too.
What are your goals for
the year ahead?
This year I really want to be as innovative
as I can, the biggest aim is to create
unique projects but still trying to make a
real social impact. We’ve recently joined
Aspired Education CIC
forces with a few smaller organisations
working towards the same goals as us. I
want to create employment opportunities
in the Solihull area and look at ways in
which I can keep the business sustainable
by exploring new revenue streams.
Who do you admire most?
I really look up to my grandad, he came
over from Jamaica at the age of 21,
set up shop in a struggle so his next
generation didn’t have to. He’s been
around in the hard times and always
showed me how to be a gent so I
respect him massively. While growing
up I had a influence outside of my family
circle too in the shape of Managing
Director Olu who hired me for my
Housing Scholarship. He was a good
role model and always made me think
about my decisions and my future.
What is your motto in life?
Not to live life in my comfort zone.
I’m always trying to put myself in
environments I’ve never been before
so I can learn and grow from them.
With work and everything else I
can become a workaholic so I try
to do different things when I get
the opportunity. Last year I flew
a plane for the first time! Nothing
ever grows in the comfort zone.
How would you describe
yourself in 5 words?
I’d probably go with laid back, witty,
ambitious, headstrong, and occasionally
Mr-Know-it-All as my girlfriend would say.
“You truly can become whatever
you want to be in life by having the
right vision, attitude and gratitude.”