Young entrepreneurs: Ollie Forsyth, Ollie’s Shop

Name: Ollie Forsyth
Company: Ollie’s Shop and The Budding Entrepreneur Magazine
Age: 18
Website: www.ollieshop.co.uk, www.thebuddingentrepreneurmagazine.com

Having suffered at the hands of bullies, leaving school at 16 with severe dyslexia, no qualifications and being branded a “failure”, Ollie Forsyth was determined to prove everyone wrong – and we think it’s safe to say he’s doing just that.

The now 18-year-old has already launched two successful businesses and has another “really exciting project coming to market in June” – but his first was started when he was just 13. Forsyth noticed his teacher’s “very expensive” friendship bracelet and spotted an opportunity to sell them for a lot cheaper.

From humble beginnings flogging his wares for £10 each from a plastic box at summer events, cricket and tennis matches, Ollie’s Shop has grown into an online jewellery store for teenagers turning over thousands of pounds a year.

After his early success, Forsyth wanted to find a way to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs. He launched The Budding Entrepreneur Magazine: an online magazine offering advice, tips, stories and resources to support aspiring entrepreneurs and to help give back.

Forsyth isn’t modest in his ambitions – and nor should he be: the teen entrepreneur plans to be a millionaire by the age of 20 and IPO his mysterious third business in 10 years. He has strong views on university too: “We need to stop thinking about all these university degrees”, he says, “Qualifications are not everything […] anything is possible without them, you just have to work pretty hard”.

And the young entrepreneur is certainly evidence of that. Driven by a steadfast determination, Forsyth has certainly proved the naysayers wrong and one day hopes to hire those who bullied them… As cleaners. This is one entrepreneur to keep a close eye on.