The Instructor College
Discussion
My friend is looking at options if he gets made redundant in the near future.
He's looking a becoming a driving instructor with "The Instructor College". Does anyone have any dealings with them, or Red and know what it entails if its any good etc.
ta
He's looking a becoming a driving instructor with "The Instructor College". Does anyone have any dealings with them, or Red and know what it entails if its any good etc.
ta
Edited by cazzer on Monday 1st December 18:16
These guys are one up from the nigerian 419 scammers. Atleast they don't have the cheek to advertise on TV.
Edit - These guys make their money from selling you the training. No one ever gets through the tests the first time and the chances of you earning anywhere near 30k are slim. Same with RED and most of the franchise driving places. The armys recruiting if your mates really stuck for cash. 16k a year apparently
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Edit - These guys make their money from selling you the training. No one ever gets through the tests the first time and the chances of you earning anywhere near 30k are slim. Same with RED and most of the franchise driving places. The armys recruiting if your mates really stuck for cash. 16k a year apparently
. Edited by richyb on Monday 1st December 18:49
t is both cases you'll be well in. 
Training course is where they make their money. These things pop up whenever times are hard.
IIRC the pass rate for part 3 of your instructor training is something like 15%, certainly very low, so not many people become fully qualified instructors and able to operate alone of for more than 3 years.
2 mates of mine set up as independent instructors in 2006, 1 is currently doing well and has 2 people working for him but is still putting in c.50 hours on a normal week to get his earnings to a good wage (Not the £30k advertised though). The other is struggling by on 10 or so hours a week and is currently looking for another career.
IIRC the pass rate for part 3 of your instructor training is something like 15%, certainly very low, so not many people become fully qualified instructors and able to operate alone of for more than 3 years.
2 mates of mine set up as independent instructors in 2006, 1 is currently doing well and has 2 people working for him but is still putting in c.50 hours on a normal week to get his earnings to a good wage (Not the £30k advertised though). The other is struggling by on 10 or so hours a week and is currently looking for another career.
cazzer said:
My friend is looking at options if he gets made redundant in the near future.
He's looking a becoming a driving instructor with "The Instructor College". Does anyone have any dealings with them, or Red and know what it entails if its any good etc.
ta
Almost all ADIs are self employed so the first thing your friend should do is carry out some market research for his area just as you would before entering any new business venture. Then look at options for how to get the best & most cost effective training in order to pass the 3 part exams. Personally at this stage I would look for a local ORDIT (official register of driving instructors) registered trainer. The DSA can supply a list of these and most independents will offer training on a pay as you learn basis. He's looking a becoming a driving instructor with "The Instructor College". Does anyone have any dealings with them, or Red and know what it entails if its any good etc.
ta
I always fancied being a driving instructor so when i was 25 i gave it a go. I learnt with BSM and then tooke their car, pupils etc. It was a sort of franchise where they took a bit of money from me income for the car, office support, pupils etc....
I/BSM used to charge £17.50 per hour and I worked 17 hours for nothing each week. That's 17 hours of instruction - not total hours. Assuming you book 2 hour lessons and only have half an hour between them that's a couple of days nearly. Then you have 1,000 miles a week of fuel to buy - and that's before you put a penny in your own pocket.
I did it for a year (this was about 12 years ago) and realised that I was gradually starving to death and had no life outside of work. I guess the independents earn more but what about when you have a bump - do you have a spare car?
I loved the job but would only recommend anyone do it if it's something they really want to do and even then it'll only be for beer money unless you are prepared to work 24/7.
All IMO of course.
I/BSM used to charge £17.50 per hour and I worked 17 hours for nothing each week. That's 17 hours of instruction - not total hours. Assuming you book 2 hour lessons and only have half an hour between them that's a couple of days nearly. Then you have 1,000 miles a week of fuel to buy - and that's before you put a penny in your own pocket.
I did it for a year (this was about 12 years ago) and realised that I was gradually starving to death and had no life outside of work. I guess the independents earn more but what about when you have a bump - do you have a spare car?
I loved the job but would only recommend anyone do it if it's something they really want to do and even then it'll only be for beer money unless you are prepared to work 24/7.
All IMO of course.
Always seems odd to me that these places are always advertising for instructors, yet you never see their cars on the road or any adverts for pupils - seems like their main business is selling instructor training.
I'd advise your mate to speak to the AA and BSM, compare the training costs and franchise fees offered by all the schools. I had a mate who did it for a couple of years though and he jacked it in in the end - to earn the headline £30k salary you are looking at 80+ hours a week including all the traveling between lessons time.
I'd advise your mate to speak to the AA and BSM, compare the training costs and franchise fees offered by all the schools. I had a mate who did it for a couple of years though and he jacked it in in the end - to earn the headline £30k salary you are looking at 80+ hours a week including all the traveling between lessons time.
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