It may seem disheartening getting A Level results during a global pandemic with a recession looming around the corner, but one entrepreneur from Bolton fully understands what that feels like.

Lee Chambers had just started his graduate job with Co-op in 2007 when the financial crash hit, leaving him redundant only six months into his training scheme.

Instead of giving up he built up his own business, PhenomGames, from his parents house in Bromley Cross.

Lee has just sold the business for a six figure sum, freeing up time for his latest project Essentialise, which provides wellbeing coaching to companies.

He said: "At first I wanted to be a financial advisor, but 2007 was not a good time to take up that career option.

"So I decided I wanted a job where I was in control, not something which could be blown around by the economic winds.

"I set up PhenomGames in my parents' home and it just grew and grew, I ended up trading with countries all across Europe.

"There was lots of hard work involved and the games industry moves very quickly, but it's an experience I'm incredibly grateful for."

While running PhenomGames, Lee also began working for Bolton Council, where he realised that he enjoyed helping people.

After meeting his wife and moving to Blackburn, in 2014 disaster struck. . Lee lost the ability to walk after he suffered from autoimmune arthritis which seized up both of his knees, his shoulder and his wrist, damaging his joints.

He said:"It was really challenging, I couldn't feed myself, I couldn't wash myself, I wasn't able to move.

"My son was 18-months-old at the time and he would look at me with big eyes wondering why I didn't play with him.

"I had intense physio and rehabilitation, I was determined to get back on my feet.

"Luckily I had PhenomGames, which helped me to support my family during that time and keep paying off my mortgage."

Once he had recovered Lee decided to go down a different route. He combined his own experiences of struggling with health with his desire to help people and last year he set up his business Essentialise.

He works with businesses to help promote health and wellbeing in the workplace through coaching programmes.

Throughout the pandemic he has even helped NHS staff by providing coaching to them for free.

Lee said: "I realised everything I had been through all came together, both my journey in mental health and physical health.

"I've had to adapt throughout my career, and I think that's important.

"It is a difficult time right now and I know how it feels, but don't worry, try something you want to do and do your bit to change the world.

"Put the hard work in now and you'll get to where you want to be in the future."