Finlay Gallagher has been crowned the UK’s youngest qualified digger driver – at the tender age of 13.
Finlay spent his school holidays learning how to put a JCB digger through its paces, and he then passed his Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS) exam with flying colours.
He took the industry proficiency test on a JCB backhoe, doing so at the Flynne Plant Training Centre in Rochford, Essex. This included safely controlling and operating the machine, digging and loading with precision, lifting and moving loads using the correct techniques and confidently handling attachments and forks.
Digger driving is also in Finlay’s blood, as grandad Pat Gallagher founded the family-owned aggregates, groundworks, civil engineering and property development company, Gallagher Group, over 50 years ago with a JCB 3C MK2 backhoe - the company now has a fleet of more than 300 machines and employs over 500 people. Finlay’s dad Stephen is a Director and hopes Finlay will follow in the family footsteps and join the business when he leaves school.
“I’ve loved diggers since I was really little – probably around three or four. My grandad Dave used to drive me around in his 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," he said.
“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."
While Gallagher Group Chairman Pat Gallagher added: “I am exceptionally proud of Finlay and everything he has achieved. He has also showed an incredible passion and interest for machinery from an early age, and this course has given him a chance to deepen his knowledge and ability. I was blown away by how naturally he took to it. This really does give me great encouragement for the future. Hopefully, this inspires many other young people to give it a go and see the construction industry as a fantastic career opportunity.”
To celebrate Finlay’s qualification, he was invited to one of the JCB Groundworker Days where he was presented with a model gift from Lord Bamford to congratulate him on his achievement. He was then invited to debut with the JCB demonstration team, where he drove JCB's hydrogen-powered backhoe loader as part of the opening routine.
https://www.jcb.com/en-gb
