A GIRL who left school at 16, is now running a successful business, which has turned over more than a quarter of a million.

Sophie Marriott, 29, from Grays, set up ‘Sophie’s Boutique Bows’ in 2016 after the sad loss of her grandparents.

She originally left school at just 16, before then doing a three-year business apprenticeship in Basildon which included job experience too, down in Southend, where she ended up for around seven years in total.

This year alone Sophie and her team have decorated more than 350 weddings.

Mrs Marriot couldn’t believe how much it has taken off: “It has really taken off, I can’t believe it and I now technically have two businesses, I not only hire décor out, I also import and sell wedding décor as a second business, so I am now also a supplier too.”

“We are also now contracted at Stock Brook Manor, and so we cover all of their weddings too.

“We have even had some cast members from TOWIE approach us as we did Chloe’s 40th birthday party about a month ago and now we are doing her Christmas table too.

“It is crazy, we also did the Bridgerton theme set too.”

In 2016, Sophie and her husband Lloyd, 32, welcomed their son Alfie and that made Sophie even more determined to start her business and make it successful.

She explained that even though she never expected to be where she is today, she has always wanted this.

“When I was 16, I could have never imagined where I am today.

“But I’ve always wanted to have my own business, as I am very creative, I am quite lucky that I can just visualise something and then re-create that. I’ve been quite gifted with that.

“So, I started off doing Christmas door bows, my friend, who I went to school with, then asked me to do bows at her wedding.

“Then sadly my grandparents passed away, not long after, and so I decided to use some of the inheritance money to start my business and it’s just taken off.”

To see more about Sophie’s Business, visit her Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/sophiesboutiquebows/