'I’m the UK’s youngest businessman - I pay my own £4,000-a-term school fees’
- Marketing Apprentice
- Jan 13
- 2 min read
Meet Malaki Conteh.
Still in his early teens, Malaki has been described in the media as the UK’s youngest business owner - not because of a title, but because of what he has built.
Based in South London, Malaki runs a Caribbean food business that contributes towards paying his boarding school fees, reported to be around £4,000 per term.
His entrepreneurial journey began at just six years old, when he sold plants outside his dad’s office to fund singing lessons. That first small hustle grew into selling baked goods and as demand increased, evolved into preparing full Caribbean meals.
Today, Malaki’s Food & Drinks operates from a shop in Crystal Palace as well as from home. The business sells jerk chicken, patties and cakes, partners with Uber Eats, Deliveroo and Just Eat and regularly sells out. While Malaki is in school, his parents manage the day-to-day operations - employed by him -allowing the business to continue running alongside his education.
The income supports not only his schooling and music tuition, but also charitable causes. Malaki has also developed additional income streams, including renting out parking space and designing his own meal deals.
Recently, the brand gained significant attention on TikTok, with ambitions to expand across London and eventually, nationwide.
“Everything goes through me. If I don’t like something, I say no. I enjoy being my own boss,” he has said.
Stories like Malaki’s challenge assumptions about who entrepreneurship is for and when it can begin. Student entrepreneurship isn’t impossible and it isn’t out of reach. While not every young person’s journey will look the same, this story shows what can happen when early curiosity is supported and young people are encouraged to take that first step.
Not every young person’s journey will look the same. But this story shows what can happen when early curiosity is supported, ideas are taken seriously and young people are encouraged to take that first step.
At Portobello Business Centre, through our Student Entrepreneurship Programme, we support 15–19 year olds to explore business ideas, build confidence and gain real-world insight. As part of the programme, participants also have the opportunity to compete for a share of £5,000 in seed funding because belief alone isn’t enough and young people deserve real backing to take their ideas forward.
If you’re a young person with an idea, or you know someone who could benefit from this opportunity, share this with them. It could be the first step in a story of their own.
Find out more about the Student programme on our website:
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