Whizzkid is boss of own firm at age 16

Meet 16-year-old Sam Burke – believed to be the youngest company boss in the country.

The Wolverhampton teenage whizzkid launched Burke Bros Recovery when he was 15 after saving up enough money from weekend and holiday jobs to buy his first truck – even though he was too young to hold a driving licence.

He still cannot legally drive but after just eight months in business he is already planning to buy a service van and a second truck.

While his friends are living it up on a Saturday night, the former Smestow School pupil is up to his elbows in engine grease, rescuing motorists in distress.

"Weekends are my busiest time," he says. "I'd rather work than go clubbing."

As a 10-year-old, he helped his father at the family furniture removal business, Burke Bros Removals, after school and at weekends, religiously saving up his pay.

When dad Chris offered to let him use the office yard as a car park for Wolves fans on match days, Sam's capital funds rocketed with him raking in between £200-£500 a fortnight.

He also spent 10 months working for a local recovery company learning the ropes and gaining practical experience.

He was a week shy of his 16th birthday last June when he handed over £13,000 for a 7.5 tonne crew cab, tilt and slide truck and has since won customers at dozens of clubs and body shops.

Proud dad Chris Burke said: "It's not all been plain sailing. Just getting basic things like bank and trading accounts set up was a minefield because of his age.

"I've been totally behind Sam and given him encouragement but I made it clear from the start that we don't carry family passengers," he said. "He bought the truck himself with his own hard earned cash and cold-called people for business."

Sam, of Torvale Road, Wightwick, is covered under his father's operator licence but runs the firm as an independent firm, paying all his own bills.

As he cannot drive yet, Sam uses Burke Bros Removals drivers and his dad steps in when he gets an out-of-hours job.

"He's not too happy about being called out in the middle of the night but I always go out on every job and do everything bar the driving," said Sam.