AA Driving Instructor Franchise

SMF1

Hi All,

Yes another one of these threads! I have researched long and hard about this however all information I come across was at least two years old.

I'm putting serious thought into becoming a driving instructor. A little bit about me first off, I'm a HGV Class 1 Articulated Driver, I hold every license category achievable on my license, I hold a Pass Plus Certificate and I have passed an Advanced Driver Course. I also have my blue light ticket. Reason I state all of this is because I know many are quick to inform of how low the percentage is of people to actually go on to become ADIs. Please note, I'm not boasting, just hopefully standing in good stead if I do go ahead with it.

Basically, I'm looking at becoming an ADI, and taking an AA Franchise. The main thing that was putting me off was the pupil introduction scheme. I'm aware that this is voluntarily however I think it would be good to have AA introduce pupils to me, especially as a would be newly qualified ADI. Now, I pay AA £40 per pupil they introduce, but what if the pupil only has one lesson and then leaves.. that means I'm about £20 out of pocket right?

I raised this concern with the helpful gentleman on the phone who is taking care of my inquiry and he told me that the policy has changed on this. If a pupil they introduce to you books 5 or more hours and pays up front for these, you will pay £40. If they book up to 5 hours and pay up front, you will pay them £20 pounds. If they book a certain amount of hours, and leave before hand; you will owe the AA £0 for the introduction.

My biggest question to you guys is, is anyone here a current Franchisee and is this true?

If anyone is a franchisee, how many lessons can I expect to do on my first week as an Instructor? This is an important question also because I will need to work out whether I will have enough to cover the franchise fee.

Thanks for listening and I hope to hear from you all soon.

Happychappy

Just curious, what's a blue light ticket ?

Justicia

Happychappy wrote: »

Just curious, what's a blue light ticket ?

Emergency response vehicle driving...??

Topcat1982

There is another option which is start your own business, call it SMF1 driving instructor, set up a website.

DCFC79

Topcat1982 wrote: »

There is another option which is start your own business, call it SMF1 driving instructor, set up a website.

SMF1 driving school

1886

Would you do ADI for cars or HGV's?

With your experience you would be well placed for HGV's. I've had ADI's test me before and I thought what a good job it would be. I was driving a 3.5T at the time

SMF1

HGV Instruction doesn't require a DSA Qualification to do it officially as a business believe it or not. Never considered HGV instruction to be fair, you need a fair bit of money behind you to go into business with that.

A weeks fuel is about £500, a clean reliable HGV that doesn't look tackety would set you back in the region of £10,000. If you don't have your own yard there's also the fee of parking it which is usually about £25 per night. So you can see how this would mount up quickly. That being said, a single client would bring you in £800-1200 over the week. (HGV instruction only lasts a week in the UK)

I guess we have no ADIs here then so shed some advice on my original question? :P

Babbawah

Since the introduction of the Dcpc it has become economically viable for many large transport firms to employ their own trainer/assesor.

As you may be aware, it is possible to gain the Dcpc by doing the same course x4.

Many Co's are now building their drivers hours up with an annual or bi-annual assesment drive. It makes more sense as the truck is still working !

I reckon you wouldn't need to find too many local transport Co's to pitch this idea to and jump into a ready made business !

Happychappy

Justicia wrote: »

Emergency response vehicle driving...??

That's what I was asking, who trains the "Blue light ticket" never heard of it outside Police, Fire, Ambulance, only made up courses dreamed up by individuals, such as ADI's

Happychappy

A lot of newly qualified ADI's follow the franchise route then realise they need to work ridiculously long hours, every evening and weekend to get by.

They often then set up their own schools and along come the Groupon type advert for 6 lessons for £30, mainly on controls and little driving, eventually you build your own client base and get recommendations, purely based on how quickly someone got through their test.

Just depends on how good you are at teaching learners the necessary techniques to pass a test, its nothing to do with your own driving ability, your not driving, it's a cut throat business.

I have interviewed and assessed countless ADI's for employment purposes, and the range of abilities amongst them is staggering.