It is Tough being a Driving School Instructor in 2011

It is really tough being a driving school instructor in the current economic climate of 2011.

January saw the rise in VAT to 20% which meant an automatic increase in driving school operating cost, that was followed by a steady rise in petrol fuel prices at the pump due to various reasons (middle east crisis/libya, government taxation).

Government public spending cuts has meant a lot of job cuts, people now fear they will lose or have a reduction in disposable income, and even the private sector can not totally replace all the job shortages, so the number of people taking driving lessons is falling. Even those willing to take tuition with qualified instructors are looking for cheaper deals, but one of the most important reasons why it is now tougher to be a driving school owner at this time is the excess number of instructors on the market!

Now you might be thinking competition is good, as it gives the learner drivers choice, but the truth is that due to the false information that a lot of the instructor training organisations have used to con people into taking courses, many newly qualified ADIs are now deperate to get work not only to pay off training debts, but pay franchise fees as well s try to earn a living and are offering ludicurously cheap offers like 10 lessons for £100 which is equivalent to commiting commercial suicide as you can't make a profit on them (you will get many people who will only do the 10 lessons, take their test and move on if they either pass or fail), nor will you get value for your money, because they will have to resort to many cost cutting measures like long roadside lectures, getting stuck in traffic, spending complete lessons repeating maneuvers.

So if you are one of those that thinks becoming a driving instructor is a suitable career to choose in the face of redundancy just because you know someone currently paying £23 per hour on lessons, you need to reconsider your options. I've been established over 10 years, constantly get recommendations from past clients, have a good online marketing campaign, possess a good reputation as well as track record of success, and still need to work hard at filling my diary every week with 30-38 hours of paying learner drivers who will pay a decent fee to cover my running costs as well as earn a living. What chance does a newly qualified instructor have? Joining a franchise is an option, but none of them guarantee you a set amount of pupils, and you still need to pay a weekly fee. It is only when you are in the job, you realise how hard it is to find 20 people each week who will pay you £20 per hour to take lessons to meet your budget!

Life is tough in the UK in 2011, but being a driving school instructor is even tougher, car maintenence, petrol, marketing and advertising, household bills, mortgages. Don't be one of the many who fail to make it, LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP!