Police to driving instructor
Discussion
20 years service in the police this year has left me pretty broken. I’m exhausted. I’m burnt out. I’m currently a detective in child protection/rasso (rape and serious sexual offences) and I’m pretty sure I’ve had enough. I don’t want to go do anything else in policing and I don’t want to aim for promotion. The atmosphere in policing is toxic and it’s broken. I want out.
But it’s not as idealistic as that is it? I need to fund a lifestyle pay bills. Bring up my kids. And I have no qualifications or trade to fall back on. So I idly look at other options. I’ve been recently thinking about driving instructor.
The basic skill set:
Communication, ability to give instruction, calmness, take command, punctuality, reliability, flexibility ..: these all seem to be good fits.
However, I’m concerned that due to my rural location there won’t be the customer base. People don’t seem to want to/aren’t interested in driving in the same way we were when young. It doesn’t seem to be a right of passage or an essential skill now.
I’ve seen the franchise type things … red driving school? … but how much is your earning potential capped by them?
Will the expected working hours be too much?
Does anyone have any experience of driving instruction that can offer some insight?
But it’s not as idealistic as that is it? I need to fund a lifestyle pay bills. Bring up my kids. And I have no qualifications or trade to fall back on. So I idly look at other options. I’ve been recently thinking about driving instructor.
The basic skill set:
Communication, ability to give instruction, calmness, take command, punctuality, reliability, flexibility ..: these all seem to be good fits.
However, I’m concerned that due to my rural location there won’t be the customer base. People don’t seem to want to/aren’t interested in driving in the same way we were when young. It doesn’t seem to be a right of passage or an essential skill now.
I’ve seen the franchise type things … red driving school? … but how much is your earning potential capped by them?
Will the expected working hours be too much?
Does anyone have any experience of driving instruction that can offer some insight?
How much do you need to earn? A colleague was RMP and is now our head of security. Before that a security controller (think getting managing clearances, security audits, electronic sweeping room etc) . Police or military background highly regarded.
Google indeed site security controller. Mid 30s-60s
Email me if you want more input.
Google indeed site security controller. Mid 30s-60s
Email me if you want more input.
I went through a driving school when i learnt to drive called XCOPS. funnily enough all the instructors were ex coppers. very good school. see if you can give them a message and ask about experiences/possible job opportunitites. http://www.xcops.co.uk/
I saw a documentary years ago about a London copper and his doctor wife who switched forces and moved to North Yorkshire to get away form the real filthy scum of London and lead a more rewarding life of helping local peasants in the Moors around Whitby.
Serioulsy though, plenty of transferable skills there and generic "management" is always in demand - esp if its someone who can stare someone down. Good luck
Serioulsy though, plenty of transferable skills there and generic "management" is always in demand - esp if its someone who can stare someone down. Good luck
You'd probably be surprised by how in demand you'd be in private security, and how much money you can make doing it.
That's not necessarily dodgy work; I know there are banks that have their own security departments whose staff are effectively a mini police force minus the warrant card.
That's not necessarily dodgy work; I know there are banks that have their own security departments whose staff are effectively a mini police force minus the warrant card.
Not OP but do these two job instructors work for franchises or independently run their own driving school?
I had a (now deceased) friend that undercut everyone, wouldn't touch a franchise as claimed he made more discounting on his own and was mostly booked up. He did live in a student city though so could be why.
I had a (now deceased) friend that undercut everyone, wouldn't touch a franchise as claimed he made more discounting on his own and was mostly booked up. He did live in a student city though so could be why.
My daughter has just passed her test. I’m sure things will vary around the country but I’d estimate that 95% of her peers are learning/have learned to drive so I don’t think the need for instructors is dying out. It was a bit of a game finding an available instructor (most were booked up for months) but this may have been a bit of a post covid/lockdown effect catching up with a backlog.
Flip side is that the going rate seems to be £30 per hourly lesson (Midlands), bringing in maybe £25 per hour once you allow for time to get between students, with a chunk of this to cover running costs/insurance you’d need to do a lot of hours to get to £40k p.a.
Almost by definition, most learners are 17 year old kids and they all speak to each other. We spoke to a bunch of other parents/my daughter spoke to her mates - Still a word-of-mouth kind of business and it might take a while to build a reputation.
Flip side is that the going rate seems to be £30 per hourly lesson (Midlands), bringing in maybe £25 per hour once you allow for time to get between students, with a chunk of this to cover running costs/insurance you’d need to do a lot of hours to get to £40k p.a.
Almost by definition, most learners are 17 year old kids and they all speak to each other. We spoke to a bunch of other parents/my daughter spoke to her mates - Still a word-of-mouth kind of business and it might take a while to build a reputation.
OP - others have said similar but don't discount security/anti-crime arenas outside policing. There's a massive demand and you'll be very credible. Banks are big employers, but also some of the large retail chains. You might also research some of the other public body organisations; the various civil service options might offer something that appeals.
I'm sure driver training might offer some job satisfaction but it's not especially well paid and I suspect the interest would fade over time.
I'm sure driver training might offer some job satisfaction but it's not especially well paid and I suspect the interest would fade over time.
FishOutOfWater said:
20 years service in the police this year has left me pretty broken. I’m exhausted. I’m burnt out. I’m currently a detective in child protection/rasso (rape and serious sexual offences) and I’m pretty sure I’ve had enough. I don’t want to go do anything else in policing and I don’t want to aim for promotion. The atmosphere in policing is toxic and it’s broken. I want out.
But it’s not as idealistic as that is it? I need to fund a lifestyle pay bills. Bring up my kids. And I have no qualifications or trade to fall back on. So I idly look at other options. I’ve been recently thinking about driving instructor.
The basic skill set:
Communication, ability to give instruction, calmness, take command, punctuality, reliability, flexibility ..: these all seem to be good fits.
However, I’m concerned that due to my rural location there won’t be the customer base. People don’t seem to want to/aren’t interested in driving in the same way we were when young. It doesn’t seem to be a right of passage or an essential skill now.
I’ve seen the franchise type things … red driving school? … but how much is your earning potential capped by them?
Will the expected working hours be too much?
Does anyone have any experience of driving instruction that can offer some insight?
Funny enough I've been thinking of the same move. I'm lucky that I'm only four years in so the pay isn't too bad if I leave...But it’s not as idealistic as that is it? I need to fund a lifestyle pay bills. Bring up my kids. And I have no qualifications or trade to fall back on. So I idly look at other options. I’ve been recently thinking about driving instructor.
The basic skill set:
Communication, ability to give instruction, calmness, take command, punctuality, reliability, flexibility ..: these all seem to be good fits.
However, I’m concerned that due to my rural location there won’t be the customer base. People don’t seem to want to/aren’t interested in driving in the same way we were when young. It doesn’t seem to be a right of passage or an essential skill now.
I’ve seen the franchise type things … red driving school? … but how much is your earning potential capped by them?
Will the expected working hours be too much?
Does anyone have any experience of driving instruction that can offer some insight?
Are you on Facebook? If so have a look at the following group.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/779879409124988/?r...
I asked the same question on there. And they said there shouldn't be a problem in earning what I wanted (for me it's £2,500 a month take home).
I'm still undecided if I want to make the jump or not. I love my role most the time but get fed up with the red tape.
Not ex-Police but I’m currently retraining to be an ADI.
However, I’m fully aware that there’s not a massive income to be made, I’m primarily doing it so that I can work as many or as few hours as suits me at the time. Not part-time but nearer that than full-time, least that’s the plan.
I’m in rural North Devon and there’s definitely a market for more ADI’s here as my daughter has to travel 15 miles to meet her current instructor for a lesson, which is a bit of a joke TBH. He won’t even drop her off at the end of her lesson, she either buses it home or I have to go and pick her up.
However, I’m fully aware that there’s not a massive income to be made, I’m primarily doing it so that I can work as many or as few hours as suits me at the time. Not part-time but nearer that than full-time, least that’s the plan.
I’m in rural North Devon and there’s definitely a market for more ADI’s here as my daughter has to travel 15 miles to meet her current instructor for a lesson, which is a bit of a joke TBH. He won’t even drop her off at the end of her lesson, she either buses it home or I have to go and pick her up.
Not aure about how you would go about training and qualifying but I guy I work.with in Leeds was.telling me just a few days ago his son has been looking for driving lessons and struggled to find a teacher with any availability.
He has now found one and the rate is £35 per hour and he has paid for 10 lessons up front.
He has now found one and the rate is £35 per hour and he has paid for 10 lessons up front.
HRL said:
Not ex-Police but I’m currently retraining to be an ADI.
However, I’m fully aware that there’s not a massive income to be made, I’m primarily doing it so that I can work as many or as few hours as suits me at the time. Not part-time but nearer that than full-time, least that’s the plan.
I’m in rural North Devon and there’s definitely a market for more ADI’s here as my daughter has to travel 15 miles to meet her current instructor for a lesson, which is a bit of a joke TBH. He won’t even drop her off at the end of her lesson, she either buses it home or I have to go and pick her up.
Most near me won't travel out of area at all, one that does charges Taxi Rates so something for OP to consider if Rural and might take business others would refuse, if has an EV it could pay well, not sure how inflated insurance for teaching in an EV is though.However, I’m fully aware that there’s not a massive income to be made, I’m primarily doing it so that I can work as many or as few hours as suits me at the time. Not part-time but nearer that than full-time, least that’s the plan.
I’m in rural North Devon and there’s definitely a market for more ADI’s here as my daughter has to travel 15 miles to meet her current instructor for a lesson, which is a bit of a joke TBH. He won’t even drop her off at the end of her lesson, she either buses it home or I have to go and pick her up.
I know a chap who is ex traffic police and is now a driving instructor. His personal life has been a challenge prior to this career change, but this has really reset him. Seems very happy with his lot.
When I trained as a solicitor (20 years ago) one of the the guys I trained with was an ex-police officer. He’s had a very successful career.
When I trained as a solicitor (20 years ago) one of the the guys I trained with was an ex-police officer. He’s had a very successful career.
FishOutOfWater said:
20 years service in the police this year has left me pretty broken. I’m exhausted. I’m burnt out. I’m currently a detective in child protection/rasso (rape and serious sexual offences) and I’m pretty sure I’ve had enough. I don’t want to go do anything else in policing and I don’t want to aim for promotion. The atmosphere in policing is toxic and it’s broken. I want out.
But it’s not as idealistic as that is it? I need to fund a lifestyle pay bills. Bring up my kids. And I have no qualifications or trade to fall back on. So I idly look at other options. I’ve been recently thinking about driving instructor.
The basic skill set:
Communication, ability to give instruction, calmness, take command, punctuality, reliability, flexibility ..: these all seem to be good fits.
However, I’m concerned that due to my rural location there won’t be the customer base. People don’t seem to want to/aren’t interested in driving in the same way we were when young. It doesn’t seem to be a right of passage or an essential skill now.
I’ve seen the franchise type things … red driving school? … but how much is your earning potential capped by them?
Will the expected working hours be too much?
Does anyone have any experience of driving instruction that can offer some insight?
Were you in the 1987 pension scheme for your first 19yrs of your service? If so, depending on your age can you bear it out 5 more years so you can claim the 25yr pension, assuming you will then be aged 50 or older? Granted to won't be a lot, but it's something to boost any wage you then get elsewhere.But it’s not as idealistic as that is it? I need to fund a lifestyle pay bills. Bring up my kids. And I have no qualifications or trade to fall back on. So I idly look at other options. I’ve been recently thinking about driving instructor.
The basic skill set:
Communication, ability to give instruction, calmness, take command, punctuality, reliability, flexibility ..: these all seem to be good fits.
However, I’m concerned that due to my rural location there won’t be the customer base. People don’t seem to want to/aren’t interested in driving in the same way we were when young. It doesn’t seem to be a right of passage or an essential skill now.
I’ve seen the franchise type things … red driving school? … but how much is your earning potential capped by them?
Will the expected working hours be too much?
Does anyone have any experience of driving instruction that can offer some insight?
A mate of mine is on a 5yr career break from the police and has become a driving instructor part time. No idea of his earnings, but he has been with a franchise that guarantees him X number of hours of lessons a month.
Edited by The Gauge on Tuesday 31st October 20:05
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