WHILE most 18-year-olds might be looking for their first job or worrying about university, this Newport teenager already owns his own business and works another job on the side.

Kiefer Shea-Godden, from Maesglas, started running his own business last week when he was still only 17.

If running a business wasn’t enough for a man his age, Mr Shea-Godden also has another job, meaning he works seven days a week, something he intends to keep up for at least the next six months.

The teenager, who lives in Maesglas Crescent, turned 18 yesterday but did not celebrate with a wild night out as he had to be back in his shop at 6am today to get ready for the day’s trading.

Mr Shea-Godden, who has two brothers, Ainsley, 11, and Grant, 21, opens A J S Sandwich Bar in Queen’s Hill, Newport, at 7am every weekday and it stays open until 3pm.

On Thursdays and Fridays between 5pm and 8pm, he goes to his other job, working as a sales assistant at Screw Fix on the Maesglas Industrial Estate.

He also works for the DIY store between 9.45am and 6.15pm on Saturdays and 9.45am and 4.15pm on Sundays.

Mr Shea-Godden signed a temporary six-month contract at the store before starting his own business and is going to honour it, saying it provides a “safety net”.

The former Duffryn High School pupil, who stayed on for an extra year after his GCSEs to earn a certificate in finance, was helped in his set up costs by the man he has worked for since he was a 13-year-old paperboy.

Gulam Mutaza, who runs the Lifestyle Express store on Cardiff Road, gave his former shopworker a loan of £3,000 which Mr Shea- Godden combined with his £2,500 savings to fund the set-up costs of the business.

He opened his shop last Monday after seeing the ‘For Let’ sign outside, and Mr Mutaza inquired with the letting agent as Mr Shea-Godden was still 17.

Mr Shea-Godden said his mum and nan help out when he needs it, and the teenager said he’s always wanted to run his own business, adding: “I never thought I’d be running a business by the time I was 17, I thought I’d go for it and take the risk now.”