Are you looking for the chance to learn new skills or gain more experience? Or have you recently been made redundant and looking to start a different career? And do you know how to drive? Then you should think about becoming a driving instructor.
Becoming a driving instructor comes with many benefits, from independence and flexibility in your role, to earning a significant income. There is also a huge demand for driving instructors at the moment, so if you’re looking for a career change or new opportunity, here’s why you should consider becoming a driving instructor.
Driving instructors are needed in the UK
Training to become a driving instructor is available to all who are over 21 years old and have held a driving licence for more than three years. The instructor training consists of three tests that range from a theory examination, to an observation of a taught driving lesson. Once you’ve passed all three stages of the test, you can register for your Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) Badge and start your journey as a fully qualified driving instructor.
And now, more so than ever, there is a huge demand for driving instructors in the UK, due to several developing factors. Insurance experts from Marmalade expect there to be a boom of young people turning seventeen over the coming years, based on the national birth rates of 2003, rising from 718,996 people of that age in 2021 to nearly 725,000 in 2025. Based on these figures, they predict an increased demand in potential learners, as this is the prime age to learn how to drive. The insurance company reported that, on average, there will be a rise in the number of pupils per instructor, from 16.84 young learners in 2019 to 20.84 by 2025. And so, it’s clear to see that now is the time to pursue driving instructing as a profession, to get ahead for when this high demand occurs.
Have the opportunity to be your own boss
There is a lot flexibility, yet control, when being a driving instructor. You get to choose the days and hours you work to suit your lifestyle, whether that consists of taking the kids to school, meeting with friends and family, or attending important life events. With driving instructing, you have control of your own diary.
After just eight steps laid out by the government’s guide on becoming a car driving instructor, you can begin the journey towards a positive career future, with multiple possibilities and that you are fully in control of.
You could see an increase in earnings
One of the benefits of training to be an ADI, is the chance to earn more for your hours, than you would say in an office job. When you become a driving instructor with Bill Plant Driving School, for example, you can earn between £35,000 – £40,000 per annum. But the earning potential is what you make of it, as the more hours taught, and the more lessons booked, the higher you would be on that pay spectrum.
Plus, you can also take advantage of becoming part of the franchise, where you can benefit from the marketing, advertising, and lead referrals from the driving school, without paying commission or fees.
You could feel satisfaction in your job
Working as a driving instructor isn’t just a job, it’s a life vocation, that offers you extraordinary job satisfaction. Many qualified instructors say that they get an overwhelming sense of pride from seeing their pupils achieve an important life skill, gain confidence in their driving, and eventually go on to pass their test.
This profession gives you the chance to meet different people every week, and see how they learn in different ways, knowing that what you teach them will make a huge difference to their lives. So, if you’re thinking about making the switch to a driving instructor, then do so now and benefit from the many advantages of the job!
