Farmer sets out to sell meat weeks after GCSEs

Oscar Mardell, 16, is spending his summer developing a business plan to supply local restaurants and pubs with meat from his family's farm

Oscar has just finished his GCSEs, but unlike most other teenagers completing their exams, his summer consists of early starts and developing a business plan.

The 16-year-old, whose family farms near Fillongley in Warwickshire, dreams of providing his community with their meat and milk.

The budding entrepreneur has already set to work and starts milking his own flock of sheep at 05:00 BST each morning, but is keen to expand.

"I want to get my own cattle, rear them and supply some local restaurants with local beef and lamb," the teenager said of his plans to grow his own business.

He added that he had found it difficult to get through exam season as he wanted to concentrate on farming.

"All I wanted to do was work here [on the farm] but I knew I had to focus too."

His father Paul, a first generation farmer, bought the land 12 years ago and the family relocated to Warwickshire from Preston.

"This farm came up and its location and layout meant it was ideal for sheep milking which is what we wanted to do."

The 16-year-old said he had "come up with a couple of business plans" with the help of his friends and hoped to expand his own flock of sheep soon.

Paul added that he was very proud of how Oscar and his sister Elvie, who helped with the family's horses, had adapted to life on the farm.

"They both just get stuck in and get involved," he said.