Finlay Gallagher, from Maidstone, qualifies as UK’s youngest digger driver at the Flynn Plant Training Centre in Rochford, Essex

By Lucia Saputo

A teenager from Kent has officially become the UK’s youngest qualified digger driver.

Finlay Gallagher, who lives in Maidstone, spent his school holidays learning how to operate a JCB backhoe loader.

The 13-year-old says he has always loved diggers after spending time with his grandad Dave, who owned a bulldozer himself.

He said: “My grandad used to drive me around in the dozer, while he did the pedals and I sat on his lap.

“Then my grandad Pat got me interested in excavators and backhoe loaders, which started my love of JCBs.

“The first time I used a JCB backhoe loader, I couldn’t stop smiling. I loved using the controls and seeing how much I could do with it.

“JCB backhoe loaders are my favourite and they can do so many different things – digging, lifting, loading.

“It’s like having lots of machines in one so I can see why they call it the Swiss Army Knife of construction.

“One of my idols is Georgina Williams from JCB. I love watching her on the backhoe loader.

“I definitely see my future in the construction industry. My grandad Pat started the Gallagher Group 50 years ago, and it would mean a lot to me to play a part in helping the business continue to grow.”

The company, which started with a single JCB digger, has now grown into one of Kent’s largest family businesses.

The schoolboy’s dad, Stephen Gallagher, hopes that his son will carry on the tradition and join the firm - a goal Finlay also shares.

To get his qualifications, he trained and passed his exams at the Flynne Plant training centre in Rochford, Essex.

Trainer Derek Mansfield said: “Finlay was one of the most enthusiastic and capable young candidates we’ve had. His control of the machine and understanding of how it operates was far beyond what you’d expect at his age.”

To celebrate Finlay’s qualification, he was invited to one of the JCB groundworker days, where chairman of the firm, Lord Bamford, presented him with a special model gift to congratulate him on his achievement.

He was then invited to debut with the JCB demonstration team, where he drove the JCB hydrogen-powered backhoe loader as part of the opening routine.

The young digger driver has set up his own Instagram page, @digger_finngallagher to share his future endeavours as he hopes to inspire other young people to consider a career in construction.