He may have to hold off calls until he's done his homework but schoolboy entrepreneur Dan Taylor is banking on being the next Sir Richard Branson.

Dan, 15, already supplements his pocket money by running his own mobile phone supplies company while studying for his GCSEs.

All profits go towards flying lessons at Shoreham Airport and, like the multi-millionaire Virgin boss, he hopes to own his own airline one day.

Dan, from Shoreham, set up DT Mobile Communications last August, selling accessories for mobile phones and SIM cards.

He found suppliers in Portsmouth and distributes throughout the UK.

But he only takes orders after 3pm so business does not interfere with schoolwork.

Dan, who scours Branson's autobiography for tips on how to make his own fortunes soar, receives about 50 calls a week from clients and puts his weekly profits at £80.

He said: "It's good money for a 15-year-old - more than I could earn doing a part-time job.

"It helps my schoolwork. I'm studying leisure and tourism so I am putting into practice what I learn about things like marketing.

"My mum was worried at first about my schoolwork but I try to keep the business separate and I can't switch my phone on until my homework is done."

Dan is now aiming for a private pilot's licence and has completed seven of the required 45 hours' flying.

He said: "Ultimately I'd love to own my own airline, just like Richard Branson. He's my inspiration."

Dan's interest in business began when he was 13 and took a job helping at Megazone laser games centre in Kingsway, Hove.

He said: "I started researching and realised there had to be a lot of money in mobile phones. People are always wanting to update or upgrade."

He provides a service unlocking SIM cards so people can change networks after the practice was legalised last October.

He is also helping publicise the police campaign Immobilise, which aims to make stolen phones unusable.

For more information about his company, visit www.dtmobiles.8m.com