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A teenager is occupying his free time at home during the school closures by launching his own business.

Creative James Ship learnt leather craft 18 months ago as a hobby. When it became clear schools were going to close due to the Coronavirus pandemic, he invested in leather to ensure he could keep busy at home.

Now, his handmade rustic leather wallets – made in a workshop in his bedroom - are for sale on online craft website Etsy.

The Year 9 student at Forest Hall School said: “I saw leather craft online and thought it looked like a satisfying craft. So, I spent my birthday money on getting some cheap tools. I really enjoyed it, so invested in better tools with my Christmas money.

“I started to make small things, such as wallets and wash kits, as gifts for family members and made myself a small satchel bag for school.

“When the lockdown came along, I thought about selling my products. I set up my Etsy shop and sold two wallets within a week.

“I do not like the prospect of working in an office, so in the future I will most likely go into design or something else creative. I studied engineering at school this year and that has helped me a lot with designing my wallets and marketing them. I have got some really inspirational teachers.”

Money raised from the business, named Chester and Thompson after his nan’s beloved cats, will be reinvested into tools and materials, as well as being donated to the NHS.

Proud mum Ruth, a deputy headteacher at a school near Colchester, said: “James is an only child and his dad and I are key workers, so he is home on his home while we go to work. He wanted to have something to get stuck into when he had completed his schoolwork.

“I was not aware James planned on starting a company. I came home from work and he had done the marketing photos and set up his Etsy shop. I am pleased he is keeping himself busy and is not looking at a screen all day long.

“We are really lucky the school has encouraged children to be creative during this time and to find things they like to do.

“This all started with his engineering teacher asking to see what children had been making at home during the shutdown.”

Hannah Jones, head of school at Forest Hall, said: “I’m really impressed with the exceptional enterprise and engineering skills James has shown. I know his engineering teacher Mr Moran is thrilled to see all the skills learnt at school being put into action. I look forward to seeing more exceptional designs and creations from James in the future.”

His Etsy shop is here.