Leicester born entrepreneur Sukhjeet Singh is continuing to broaden his business portfolio, taking his advertising agency from the East Midlands to London and most recently to Toronto, all before turning 20.
Now 19, Singh first launched the company at just 14, laying the groundwork for a career that has already achieved national attention and international reach.
Singh grew up in Leicester, attending local schools and spending much of his childhood reading in his village library. He says this early exposure to books sparked an interest in business and personal development. But it was the Covid pandemic in 2020 that prompted him to turn that interest into action.
When a close family member was made redundant, Singh says it forced him to reconsider what financial security meant and whether he needed to take responsibility for his future sooner rather than later.
With guidance from a mentor, he decided to start an advertising and marketing agency while still in secondary school. Balancing lessons with a growing business was challenging, and Singh often found himself completing client work late at night before returning to school the next morning.
He says one of his earliest struggles was simply being taken seriously. Walking into meetings at 15 or 16, he often feared that potential clients would see him as too young or inexperienced. That insecurity, he admits, led to moments of imposter syndrome.
As a practising Sikh, Singh also spent time reflecting on whether running a business conflicted with his religious values. Over time, he found consistency between the principles he was raised with, such as honest work, serving others, and being fair, and the way he wanted to build his company.
Despite the obstacles, the agency grew quickly, securing clients across the Midlands before expanding into London. His achievements were soon recognised nationally. After winning the Young Business Person of the Year award twice, Singh was invited back as a judge this year, making him the youngest member of the panel.
His most recent expansion followed a family trip to Toronto last year. Initially, the visit had no business purpose, but Singh was encouraged by his mentor to use the opportunity to explore the Canadian market.
While there, he researched local demand, met potential collaborators, and identified opportunities for advertising support between the UK and Canada. Within weeks, he had set the foundations for a Toronto branch of the company, marking his first international move.
Singh rejects the idea that expanding abroad at such a young age was unusually risky. For him, the greater risk was standing still. He believes many young people in the UK face difficult job prospects, and that building his own business allowed him to create stability rather than wait for it.
His message to other young people is to understand their own identity and purpose before choosing a career. He says that once he understood who he was and what motivated him, the direction of his business became far clearer.
Despite now working across three cities, Singh says Leicester will always remain home and the foundation of his entrepreneurial journey.
