How long have you been a driving instructor for?

I’ve been training people to drive, both cars and minibusses, for over 14 years, although I have had a couple of sabaticals in between.

What were you doing before that?

Before becomming a driver trainer, I worked in the nuclear industry. I started, making fuel for nuclear power stations, which I did for a few years, before moving on to deliver smart working, and various other roles within the industry.
Previous to that I was in the army, serving in the Gloucestershire Regiment.

What do you enjoy most about driving instructing?

I enjoy the job immensely, but the thing I enjoy most is quite simple. I get great pleasure seeing someone that I have trained to drive passed their test. It is a feeling that never gets old!

Is there anything you dislike about the job?

There are 2 things that I dislike. The first one is unreliable pupils. It is irritating when you book lessons in for someone only for them to cancel at the last minute. Also, it may be my military training, but it does irritate me when people struggle with punctuality.
My other big dislike is the other motorists that we encounter on a daily basis, who are impatient with learner drivers. It also annoys me how many drivers on the road can’t be bothered to use indicators, and those that seem to think learner drivers are game for bullying tactics.

What are your interests/hobbies outside of driving instructing?

I have varied interests outside of driver training. Rugby is a big one (both codes), and I really enjoy nights out with my wife, Jane. We enjoy going to the cinema, or watching local bands. I also really enjoy gardening, and getting my teeth into some DIY projects.
If I wasn’t doing this, and I had the money, I would love to help the homeless, and veterens, to get back on their feet.

How long have you been a driving instructor for?

I qualified fully at the end of August 2016, so its been over 2 years now, however I did work as a trainee instructor for 6 months before getting that full qualification.

What were you doing before that?

I worked at Bae Systems from 2004 to 2015. I worked as an estimator for the commercial team, which basically, involved pricing up various different projects. Its fair to say it was a bit different to what I’m doing now!

What do you enjoy most about driving instructing?

I love the fact that the job is so varied, and no two days are ever the same! The most rewarding part of the job though, is when one of my pupils passes their driving test, even more so if I’ve taught a pupil from scratch, the feeling of taking on someone with absolutely no driving experience and getting them through their driving test is amazing.

Is there anything you dislike about the job?

I know a few other instructors have already said similar, but there is little more annoying than short notice cancellations. I’m not sure a lot of people appreciate how much of pain these cancellations can be. As I’m self employed they can cause big financial problems, and they make diary management a nightmare.

What are your interests/hobbies outside of driving instructing?

I don’t really have any hobbies, in the traditional sense. I work 6 days a week, so I just like to chill out on a Sunday. I enjoy spending time with my wife, and my 2 daughters. Generally though I just watch a movie, or sport on the TV, I enjoy F1, and I support Liverpool in the football, although I’ve only made it to Anfield twice. I also enjoy listening to music and I’m a massive Queen fan. I haven’t seen the new Bohemian Rhapsody film yet, but I’m looking forward to it, it looks great!

How long have you been a driving instructor for?

I’ve been a driving instructor for 14 years, I qualified in 2004.

What were you doing before that?

Before becoming a driving instructor I worked for 13 years at Blackpool Council. I was in the illuminations department where I was part of a large team responsible for the construction of the illuminations display. I was a GRP laminator, so all the big illuminations tableau on the cliffs, I was responsible for making those (not on my own of course!). Also, whilst at the council I drove a variety of vehicles including a forklift truck ,various sizes of van and cherry pickers, right up to articulated vehicles, HGV class one, as they were known then, and I also have a full motorbike license. The only thing I am not legally entitled to drive is a bus.

I left the illuminations department in 2000 to go to Holland and work in an engineering factory, I was there for three years also with my wife and three kids, it was a great experience to live in another country, we all became pretty fluent in the Dutch language which does come in handy quite often, although I’m a bit rusty now! In 2004 though we decided to come back home to England and that’s when I made the decision to retrain as an ADI.

What do you enjoy most about driving instructing?

There are lots of things that I enjoy about being a driving instructor, I really like the freedom of working for myself, but also being part of a team, with the support there if you need it. I couldn’t go back now to work in a normal 9-to-5 job. I enjoy being on the move all day and not being stuck in one place. The thing I enjoy most of all though, is taking a complete beginner, who barely knows what the steering wheel is on the car, and taking them through the whole process, right up to passing the driving test and becoming a full license holder. When they come back from their driving test with a big smile on their face, having passed, that is the most satisfying part of my job. It’s also great when you see them out on the road a few weeks later in their own car, or they see you somewhere and say hello, it’s a great feeling to know that you have played a big part in helping lots of people gain a full licence, which has made life so much easier for them.

Is there anything you dislike about the job?

The main thing I dislike about being a driving instructor is probably the same as most instructors. It’s the cancellations and also when you turn up to a pre-booked appointment and nobody is there (a no-show as we call it). We have made the effort to get up, to make the appointment, but somehow they don’t seem to bother and also it has a knock-on effect on the rest of your day, I always kind of think to myself “do you want to learn to drive or not?”

The other thing I find really frustrating is the attitude of other motorists when we are out on the road. Teaching the learner driver is the easy bit, the hardest part is dealing with the drivers behind, often tailgating, and terrifying the novice driver. A lot of them seem to forget that they have all been learner drivers at one point.

What are your interests/hobbies outside of driving instructing?

I’ve had lots of hobbies and pastimes over the years, including martial-arts and motorcycling. Whenever I get the time these days I try and get out on my bike, I really enjoy the freedom of being out cycling after being sat down in a car all day. My other main interest now is learning to play the guitar. It’s something I always wanted to do, I tried about 20 years ago but gave up because my fingers hurt! I’ve been at it about 18 months now and it is a slow frustrating process. I often use the comparisons between driving a car and playing the guitar in the learning process, as I know how learner drivers feel when they are not progressing as fast as they would like to. I don’t think I’ll ever be in a band, but you never know, one day?

How long have you been a driving instructor for?

I’ve been an instructor for over 11 years now, qualifying in 2007.

What were you doing before that?

My background is in accountancy. Before qualifying as in instructor I worked, for over 30 years, for a local private company here in Blackpool.

What do you enjoy most about driving instructing?

It’s a job which is can be very rewarding, and there are any aspects of it that I enjoy. For me though, my favourite thing is giving my pupils a life changing skill. It can sometimes be a challenge, and sometimes can be quite frustrating, but when I see a pupil “get it”, I know it’s a skill that will be with them for ever, and will change their lives in a really positive way.

Is there anything you dislike about the job?

As I said, although the job is massively rewarding, there are some aspects of the job which can be really frustrating. For me, the biggest thing that I dislike is last minute cancellations. I understand that people live busy lives, and things often get in the way, but, as a very organised person, my diary is planned, and when people cancel on the same day as their driving lesson, sometimes with virtually no notice at all, it leaves me with a huge gap in the day, and that’s without mentioning the financial effects it can have

What are your interests/hobbies outside of driving instructing?

My main hobbies are walking, swimming and amateur dramatics. I try to swim as often as I can, and I enjoy going on walking holidays when I can. My favourite places to walk are Dorset, Pembrokeshire, North Wales, Anglesey and Cumbria. There are some lovely walks in this country! In terms of amateur dramatics, I’m a member of the Harlequins Drama Group, which is based in Freckleton, and I’m currently in rehearsals for the mother Goose pantomime and a big murder mystery.