WITH the looming pressures of GCSE exams and coursework, most final year school pupils have got more than enough to occupy their minds.

But at sweet 16, one Holbeck student is running her own part-time business while still at school.

Carly Griffiths, of Oakwood Drive, hires out her Victorian Candy Cart at weddings and other functions.

She came up with the idea after she could not find a suitable part-time job to fit around her school work.

Early last year, the Furness Academy pupil set about finding a suitable business and settled on the idea of the Candy Cart.

After approaching her dad Paul Griffiths, Carly explained the concept and showed him details of similar ventures across the country.

She was especially keen on the idea because, when she leaves school, she wants to train in wedding photography and felt the venture would give her a good insight into the wedding industry.

Carly then set about finding suppliers and approached her dad once more, who helped by funding the purchases.

She also knew she would need a website and researched how to create one without having to use a web designer and has managed to create a site, which she edits herself – www.carlyscandycart.co.uk.

To help promote her business, the 16-year-old got involved with a number of Christmas fairs, managing to stock and sell a popular range of sweets, while at the same time generating interest in her cart for potential wedding functions.

A proud Mr Griffiths said: “The nice thing about the business is that all the family are involved in some way, with mum doing all the sewing of the cart decorations, I transport the cart and help with the admin, and her sister Kelly helps out from time to time at various functions.”