LEAVING school with a single O-level in social studies has proved no barrier to success for Jason Bannister.

He is now one of the UK’s most successful retail moguls whose empire includes a store at the Middlebrook retail park.

The Oak Furniture Land boss, who grew up in Burnley, employs 1,200 people and his firm enjoys yearly sales of around £300 million.

Along the way, Jason had his teenage dreams of being a golf professional dashed and had a ‘brilliant and character building’ three-year stint stacking shelves and serving on the till at B&Q.

As his business expands into the US market, Jason has spoken of his journey from terraced streets to being recognised for his ‘outstanding achievement in business’ at the Sunday Times Fast Track 100 awards.

The 45-year-old said: “I wasn’t academic at school at all.

“I have good memories of growing up in Burnley and my experience at school was generally good, but I think every school report I ever got said ‘must do better’.

“I left aged 15 and my only plan was to become the next Nick Faldo. I was obsessed with golf and dreamed of being a professional.”

Jason found a youth training scheme placement at Accrington Golf Club, in 1987 earning £27.50 per week.

“I learned to repair golf clubs and sell equipment but a lot of the time I was selling Mars Bars and golf towels.

“It was my first experience of retail but the hours were so long it actually stopped me from playing as much golf.”

After two years he found a similar job at Clitheroe Golf Club before realising he would never make it to the professional ranks.

A three-year spell at working a B&Q in Nelson followed.

“Working there was amazing for me, the father-of-three said.

“It was a lot of hard work but the team there made you really feel involved and important to the business.”

In his 20s Jason then started working for Walmsley’s Furniture in Preston, which had stores throughout the North West and his natural talent for sales became apparent.

He said: “Sales and marketing was something that in all honesty I found I excelled at and while working there I became regional manager of the chain.”

Jason’s launch into the retail stratosphere came in 2006 when he invested £7,000 in some furniture imported from Mexico.

“I knew it was a bargain but I didn’t know how I would sell them.

“The furniture was stored in chicken sheds in my garden for six months.

“I’d never used eBay, an online auction site, but I bought a car from the site and decided to sell the furniture on there.”

Jason made £28,000 and used the money for a trip to India to directly source more high quality hardwood items and in the next few years he became the biggest eBay retailer in the UK.

In 2009, he diversified from online and opened a real life showroom on a site close to an airfield in Wiltshire, the place he now calls home.

The business has since opened 75 showrooms, including the store at Middlebrook, one in Burnley and another in Preston, and takes up to 400,000 orders per year online and in store.

And as of 2016, the firm launched online in the USA with the first six months of trading seeing encouraging growth.

The success of the business has allowed Jason to invest in his overriding passion, Burnley FC.

During the title winning 2015/16 season Oak Furniture Land became the principal sponsor and home shirt sponsor and the firm now sponsors The Bob Lord Stand.

Jason said: “Becoming involved with the club on the inside has been a joy.

“They really are a great team of people who run the club and deserve their current success.

“The Clarets have always been my fiercest passion ever since I was a little lad.

“As I’ve lived in the south for around 20 years now I can’t make all the home games but it’s allowed me to get to a lot more away games.

“I’ve seen the Clarets at around 70 grounds in all four divisions now.

“By mum, Rita, still lives not far from Turf Moor and the club look after her brilliantly as she too is a passionate fan.”

Jason’s older sister, Tracy, also lives in the town.

Finally what would be Jason’s advice for young people wishing to set up their own business? “I’d say do something you know about and you are passionate about.

“I would also say to people starting out to stick to your guns and believe in your own judgement. There’s a lot of opinions that people give to you when you start out but your own decisions are the ones that count.”