Karen Collier
Youth Entrepreneurship: A Talent Pool Worth Hiring From!
15/07/2025At a time when businesses are searching for adaptable, innovative, and forward-thinking hires, we often overlook a rich pipeline of future talent: young entrepreneurs. One such shining example is 15-year-old Harrison Nott from Maldon, Essex. While most teenagers are balancing studies and social lives, Harrison is balancing GCSEs with running a limited company, and he’s on track to hit £100,000 turnover this year through his business, CoolTowel.
CoolTowel, launched in 2023, has already fulfilled 15,000+ orders thanks to Harrison’s savvy use of platforms like TikTok Shop and Shopify. This isn't just about impressive sales, it's about mindset. From early failures selling on eBay at age 8 to now planning investment pitches for Dragon’s Den, Harrison displays the entrepreneurial qualities employers crave: resilience, creativity, adaptability, and the ability to learn quickly.
Even more inspiring, Harrison gives back by donating to charities, sponsoring his school’s sports day, and speaking to students about starting their own business. He manages fulfilment, marketing, and content creation, all while revising for exams.
Why This Matters to Employers:
Youth entrepreneurship isn’t just a “nice story”; it’s a powerful signal of future leadership potential. These self-starters come with:
- A natural flair for problem-solving
- Digital fluency and platform-native skills
- Proven drive, discipline, and self-motivation
- A mindset built around growth and resilience
At Karen Collier Careers, we believe stories like Harrison’s challenge outdated views about Gen Z’s work ethic. Employers should be open to fresh energy, ideas, and unconventional routes into business, because talent like this is shaping the future of work.
Let’s support the Harrisons of this world and, more importantly, start hiring them.
Website: CoolTowel
Read the full story here: Essex teen, 15, starts business from his bedroom and is set to make £100k this year - Essex Live