Day in the Life of a Driving Instructor!!!

The Day in the Life of a Driving Instructor with Lendrums Driving School – Southampton!!!

Have you ever considered changing your career ?  bored of what you do ?  fed up working for others and being told what to do ? well this maybe the option for you.

In 2008 John Lendrum of Lendrums Driving School was exactly all of the above, even though he had a successful career with prospects and great salary, but this was not enough, this didn’t scratch the itch that he had, and he felt a new challenge was needed. Money and status is not everything and certainly does not bring happiness.

In 1997 John Lendrum  considered the path of becoming a driving instructor ,but decided to work overseas. John used to sit in the back of another driving instructors car and watch how it was done, and thought to himself “Wow that’s easy, all you do is drive around all day long and tell people what to do and get paid for it “ it’s that easy Right ? Not a chance. It is easy when you have people knowing what they are doing, they make it look like the easiest thing in the world.

In 2008 a National brand jumped on the back of the recession when many were being made redundant, and adverts were out there “Become a Driving Instructor and earn up to £30k, be your own boss, work your own hours” this led to the market being saturated by people training to be instructors, however this was short lived as many did not have the ability and sadly did not qualify and were left jobless. Lendrums are selective and only take on the people whom they know will pass the tests, not just take the money.

Below I will explain the role of a Driving Instructor and list the pros and cons before considering, but I would not change becoming a driving instructor and 8 years on am still loving it and the freedom it has given to me.

A typical day as a driving instructor can involve some early starts, evenings and weekends, however if your sensible with your diary you can work your week to make sure you get enjoyment to do the things you love, ie going out, going to the gym, spending time with the kids, time with family just to name a few.

The people you meet on the journey are varied and make the job interesting. Im asked frequently whether I get bored driving around the same places all day long, the simple answer is, it is not about the area’s it’s the people who are different on every lesson, and each have their own personality and needs, and everyone learns differently. Life would be so boring if we were all the same. Think of the excitement of being able to teach someone a skill that will change their life, and in some cases open up wider prospects and possibilities, just try to remember when you passed your test.

Your diary is key to a good day, as nothing worse than starting your day miles from home, and then the next lesson having to come back near home, we try to make sure that our working wee is logical and the less time travelling between lessons is the best, as you get time for the all important loo stop and coffee break.

The day sometimes starts about 0830 and sometimes finishes at 7pm and sometimes starts later or finishes earlier. I schedule into my day things I want to do, walk the dog, go for a run, watch the Tennis etc. I have spent many a year working flat out and wearing myself out, however you learn pretty quickly.

Lendrums Driving School believe in quality instruction to clients, and that should be paramount in any business right ? not always im afraid, some business are more interested in profits than they are customer satisfaction or happy instructors. The clients at Lendrums are looked after by a dedicated team of professionals of varying ages and experiences. Lendrums believe the instructor is an important asset and should be treated like it, they charge a low weekly franchise, they supply the graphics, pupils, roofbox, support and make the working life of an instructor stress free and enjoyable, with a key on the instructor making money, instead of the business being rich and instructor being poor, which is all to often in some of the big franchises. No limit on students and if you don’t want one, or don’t want a particular area, you just say and your not penalised or made to feel you’re a pain. Remember you work for a franchise but your self-employed it’s your business within a business.

A lot of franchises tie you into lengthly one sided contracts that don’t benefit the instructor, and also they charge a serious amount. The national brand John Lendrum worked for charged £339 per week meaning he paid just over £15k franchise in the year, meaning he had to work 20 hours a week before he made any money, that’s not good. At Lendrums it works out at just over 1.5 hrs a week for your franchise, why would you want to go anywhere else, and there is no contract. It is felt at Lendrums your treated like someone important and as a friend, and there are the get togethers which help all instructors bounce idea’s around and have a sense of well being.

The day is varied and can be very tiring, however rewarding as you have the best job in the world watching how you help novices develop into drivers, and the feeling when someone passes the test is the best, as you helped that happen, and they wont forget you as they recommend you for years.

There is a lack of driving instructors in the UK at present, in 2012 there were just over 46000 and now there is just over 40000 a massive drop. The market is booming and it is possible to make some good  money. Last year some of the Instructors made £45000, yes there were expenses but still a take home of just over £35k and based on a 35 hour week, got your attention now ?

Lendrums Driving School is expanding across the UK and by 2023 aims to have over 100 driving instructors in 10 cities nationwide, you want to be part of that don’t you ? of course you do.

Read the following link on how to become a driving instructor and contact Lendrums as your journey and career change could start right now, life is too short.

https://www.lendrums-driving-school.co.uk/index.php/driving-instructor-training-southampton.html

DON’T PUT OFF CHANGING YOUR LIFE – CONTACT US AND START THE JOURNEY TO A NEW CAREER