Recently released statistics reveal an interesting quirk in the UK’s ‘second city’ when it comes to Driving Instructors.
Birmingham has bucked the national trend in recent years with the number of Driving Instructors remaining largely the same. According to data recently released by the Department for Transport, the number of Driving Instructors in Birmingham was 1,534 – representing a slight decline in numbers since 2017 when there were 1,539 instructions registered in ‘B’ postcodes.
This is in contrast to the natural trend which saw a rise in numbers last year from 39,259 in 2017 to 39,408 in 2018. Birmingham is the second largest city in the United Kingdom with in excess of 2.8 million residents as of 2015, which would certainly suggest the region is potentially a fertile one for those contemplating becoming a Driving Instructor.
Anyone who wishes to charge money for driving lessons must either be on the register of approved driving instructors, or have a trainee driving instructor licence. The register is maintained by the ADI registrar on behalf of the DVLA. In order to qualify as an instructor all candidates must pass the ‘fit and proper person’ test which includes a criminal record check, driving offences and points, and a search of the sex offenders register (among other things). In addition all instructors must be at least 21 years of age and pass three separate attests; a theory test, a driving ability test and an ‘instructional ability test’.
The ‘instructional ability test’ involves a DVLA examiner overseeing the trainee instructor conducting an hour long lesson to a learner driver. This may sound daunting but once passed, the rewards are many when it comes to a career as a Driving Instructor.
If you are looking for job satisfaction, flexible working hours and the opportunity to be your own boss then a career as a Driving Instructor might just be for you. Are you up for a challenge? Do you want to to attain a qualification and be guaranteed work after you qualify? As a Driving Instructor you pick and choose how many lessons you give per day; you are in complete control of your own diary. No boss to answer to, no minimum hours, no daily 9-5 grind.
There are not many jobs that will allow you to make a good living whilst also providing you with the flexibility to work around family, childcare and other such commitments. Need some extra money for a summer holiday or the dreaded Christmas shop? No problem, put a few extra lessons in your diary! To find out more and take the first steps to making your career change a reality, head over to
myfourwheels.co.uk today and take your first steps on the road to becoming a driving instructor
