Ronnie’s cleaning up the image of teens

If you think all teenagers are moody layabouts … Ronnie Small is happy to put you right. The 15-year-old is quickly making a name for himself as a budding entrepreneur after turning a car washing hobby into a successful business.

And his efforts are all the more remarkable after he received a devastating health set back at just 13 years old which meant he could no longer play rugby.

As he tells us today, he used the diagnosis to spur him on to something new and he hasn’t looked back.

He said: “I started washing cars when I was younger, I enjoyed it and after my medical set back I wanted to focus on a new hobby.

"After my operation, I wanted to regain my independence and do something I enjoyed.”

Ronnie now runs his mobile car valeting business, R.L Car Care, for SR and DH4 postcodes while balancing his school work as he prepares to sit his GCSEs. He has earned praise for his fantastic work ethic from his school and his family is rightly proud.

As dad Mick said: “It’s a very proud dad moment, the whole family is immensely proud – he’s so passionate, I knew it would be successful from the start and it’s gone from strength to strength.”

And Ronnie is determined to change people’s views on teenagers.

He told us: “I just want to prove I can be trusted as there’s a lot of stigma around teenagers, that we’re not old enough or mature enough but I’m going to prove that I’m different.”

Well done Ronnie, you’re cleaning up the image of teenagers already.