Richard Simmonds went through school not understanding why his writing was so bad.

It was not until he was about to take up a place at the London School of Economics that a test confirmed he was dyslexic.

Now, at the age of 24, he is the boss of his own company in Malvern with a turnover of more than £1.5 million and a rapidly expanding workforce.

"I flunked spelling tests at school. I'd come home with 0-10 but I was good at maths," said Richard, who attended Powick Primary School, Hanley Castle High School and Worcester College of Technology.

"It put me off the school system but it also made me a lot tougher because I was able to get through it anyway."

At university, Richard's dyslexia meant he was able to use a computer in exams, helping him overcome the disadvantages.

While reading and writing had been a struggle, he learned to adapt, refusing to let the condition hold him back. After quitting a job as economist with the NFU, he set up Leonard Simmonds Associates in the bedroom of his London home. In 18 months, turnover topped £1.5 million.

The company is a market maker for traded endowment policies, helping people claim compensation or sell on endowment mortgages missold to them during the 1980s and 90s.

Early this year, Richard moved both the business and his new Columbian-born wife Ingeborg back home to Malvern.

Since then he has taken on his mother as office manager, his 20-year-old brother William as company secretary and technology manager and best man Richard Cook as chief operating officer. Also on board is broker Dan Collins.

After moving into new offices at Grosvenor House, Church Street, next week, the company will be looking to recruit between five and 10 more people.

"I walked away from a £30,000-a-year job to nothing to start this and went into debt to do it," said Richard. "I have a big, big investor who has bought 30 per cent of the company."