Become a Driving Instructor

the Smart Way – Not the Minimum Way

Start your new career with confidence, a recognised qualification, and just £99 per week.

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What You’ll Get When You Train With Driving Skills Academy

Structured training that goes beyond DVSA minimums
Coaching + communication skills, not just box-ticking
Business know-how to fill your diary with learners
Ongoing mentoring from award-winning trainers

Why This Could Be the Best Career Change You Ever Make

Be your own boss, with support when you need it

Earn £40–£50 per hour locally

Flexible hours that fit around your family

A respected qualification (IDEA Award)

Job satisfaction – helping others achieve independence

A career with long-term stability and demand

Why Most New Instructors Feel Underprepared

If you train with some big brands like RED, AA or Drive they may deliver only the DVSA minimum recommended training hours, you may qualify — but many new instructors still feel nervous, under-skilled, and unsure how to attract new learners. They do this to keep their costs down and maximise profit resulting in:

Minimum legal training, not comprehensive coaching

No recognised qualification at the end

Business and diary-filling skills often left out entirely

Cheap upfront training which may be recouped by tying you into a long contract through which you'll pay thousands more in the long term!

INTRODUCING

The IDEA Advantage:

Be Prepared, Be Confident with our Course Designed by Experts & Led by a Proven Trainer

Introduction to Driving Education Award (IDEA)

Here's what you get:

The Introduction to Driving Education Award (IDEA Award) – 13 modules combining in-car and academic training, leading to an internationally recognised qualification.
The 40 logged training hours required for your DVSA Trainee Licence, built directly into the IDEA Award.
The FAA Level 1 Award in Awareness of Safeguarding.
A subscription to The Honest Truth, giving you practical road safety campaigns and resources to use with your pupils.
Access to online theory test resources to help you prepare for ADI Part 1.
Structured training and support for ADI Parts 1–3.
Mentoring, CPD, monthly team meetings and ongoing reviews to keep you on track.

Delivered by experienced trainers:

Chris Barker

Chris Barker is a proven mentor, respected trainer, and founder of Driving Skills Academy Ltd, one of Northamptonshire’s leading driving schools. With a background in emergency response driving and years of experience coaching learners and trainee instructors, Chris now dedicates his focus to helping others build meaningful, flexible careers as driving instructors.

Why Train With Chris?

After a successful career in the corporate world, Chris made a life-changing decision to follow his passion for teaching and road safety. His past experience driving under pressure in the ambulance service gave him a deep understanding of hazard perception, vehicle control, and calm decision-making—skills he now passes on to others.

Chris comes to this as:

A fully qualified ADI

An Instructor Trainer,

Hold the Diploma for Teaching the Introduction to Driving

Experienced In-car training and mentoring,

A Top 100 UK Driving Instructor,

Founder of Driving Skills Academy Ltd

Kev Field

Grade A instructor, ORDIT registered trainer

NLP practitioner

Institute of Master Tutors of Driving.

In recent years I have trained outside the industry to increase my knowledge and understanding of coaching, NLP, nerves, stress and anxiety. With these new skills i have become a personal development and business coach, an NLP Practitioner and DISC profiler. With these new skills, understanding and knowledge, I am able to pin point how best to help my students and clients. I have achieved a grade A with the DVSA and I am also ORDIT registered to train people to become driving instructors and begin their new career journey in the driver training industry. While in my early career working with the Post Office, I passed my HGV and gained a fork lift licence. With all these skills I am able to help others to become a confident driver. I now also work with my wife, Tracey, with Confident Drivers and we have both been accepted into the Institute of Master Tutors of Driving.

Neil Wightman

ORDIT registered trainer

Safeguarding instructor

Workplace mentor

and published author

Neil Wightman empowering individuals and transforming lives. Neil is a multi talented professional who has dedicated his career to empowering others.

ORDIT registered trainer, safeguarding instructor, accredited senior work place mentor, with the International Authority of Professional Coaching and Mentoring (IAPC&M) and being a published author.
Drawing on his background from the fire service, Neil brings a calm, compassionate approach to his work.
His primary goal is to install a lifelong commitment to responsible and considerate driving.
I am passionate advocate of continuous professional development firmly believing in growth and refinement offering unwavering support to others on their learning journeys driven by his desire to help individuals become the best version of themselves. You can expect a tailored, transformative experience coupled with his knowledge makes him a valuable resource on your path to success.

The Route to Success as a Driving Instructor

Comprehensive curriculum

The Introduction to Driving Education Award is made up of 13 units, starts by looking at your driving and ends with you having the knowledge to build a successful business as a driving teacher. Each unit will include assignments which will need to be completed as part of the qualification.

In-car Sessions

Your In-Car Sessions will be delivered by Chris Barker who has completed the Diploma for Teaching the Introduction to Driving Education Award, so you know your trainer will have all the skills to be able to help you achieve your goals

Nationally recognised qualification

Complete the 13 units and assignments within two years, and on top of being in a strong position to qualify as a Driving Instructor you'll also be one of the most highly qualified in the industry with the Nationally recognised "Introduction to Driving Education Award."

Essential marketing & diary management

You'll be guided through the process to have a choice. Go out on your own or join Driving Skills Academy's franchise. Either way you will have a solid foundation to hit the ground running with essential skills to run your business

Be the best you can

Go beyond the minimum required training hours that is all many of the big driving schools will give you.

Instead complete a comprehensive course that fully prepares you and gives you confidence on the road

Your options once the IDEA Award is completed:

Join the Driving Skills Academy franchise – continue at the same weekly cost with pupils, branded car, marketing, and admin support provided.
Go independent with wrap-around support – continue with reduced weekly costs while still accessing mentoring, CPD, and business support.
Walk away – if it’s not for you, you can leave with just 4 weeks’ notice. No long-term commitment.

STILL NOT SURE?

Frequently Asked Questions

Have questions about our services? You're in the right place!

Question 1: Is the Introduction to Driving Education Award a recognised qualification?

Yes. The qualification completed the quality assurance process with the Scottish Qualifications Authority in April 2025.

The qualification is an SQCF level 5 qualification which is the equivalent difficulty level of a high grade GCSE.

Question 2: How long will it take to study and complete the award?

There are 13 units in total for the Introduction to Driving Education Award and we suggest that all 13 are completed within a two year period to gain the full qualification.

The average student will be able to complete the Award in approximately 250 hours (includes attending modules, research, study and assignments)

Question 3: How do we complete assignments?

The qualification has been designed using a variety of assessment methods:

In-Car Units will include practical tasks, observations and question and answer sessions.

There are several online quizzes which are automatically marked.

Some assignments ask you to complete a practical task and reflect on your experience.

Assignments that ask a question require you to submit your answer using your preferred method - this could be in writing, audio, video.

Assignments are not a judgement of your writing or academic skills and we do not want them to be an obstacle for your development! The aim is that assignments give you an opportunity to apply what you have learnt, consolidate your knowledge and understanding and allow you to practice your delivery skills in a safe environment.

Question 4: Who do I book the in-car units through?

PDIs (and ADIs) can book online units and the qualification element of in-car training units through the IDEA website. Trainer's fees for delivering the in-car units should be agreed and paid directly to your trainer.

We are suggesting that the Introduction to Driving Education Award is sold on a unit pay as you go basis to help you spread the cost and ensure that you don’t pay for an expensive qualification upfront and then life changes or you change your mind.

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TESTIMONIALS

What others are saying

— Dan Baines

I recently qualified as an Approved Driving Instructor with Chris Barker and couldn’t be happier with the standard of training I have received.

I’ve wanted to be a driving instructor since my teens and it was my desire to be the best client-centred driving instructor I could be. When looking for a trainer, my priority was to look for someone who was exactly the kind of instructor I wanted to be and after reading some reviews and meeting him for a coffee, it was clear to me that Chris would be the ideal role model to follow and signed up to train with him. Chris was always available to provide advice, further training and sometimes even emotional support when things became particularly challenging. Chris’s expert advice and support allowed me to build on my skills and not only enabled me to pass all three ADI tests and become a qualified driving instructor, but has set me in good stead to becoming the driving instructor I’ve always dreamed of becoming. It’s a true honour to be a member of the team and cannot recommend Driving Skills Academy enough for driver and instructor training

— Gary Desborough

I met Chris Barker from Driving Skills Academy and I knew after our first meeting I wanted learn and train with him.

I looked into training with a couple of the big franchises and wasn't convinced it was a good idea to go with them.

I'd previously worked in the building manufacture industry for 26 years and I needed a change.

Chris made me feel so welcome to Driving Skills Academy and the support you get is fantastic through every step of my journey. He was always honest with my progress and everything we done, I'm so happy I made that great choice last year. I passed my part 2 on my first attempt and just passed my part 3 on my first attempt and now I'm a full qualified ADI, I can't thank Chris enough for what he's helped me achieve in the last 12-13 months. I'm staying on the franchise because of the support I'm still getting is incredible. If you wanted a change of career as a driving instructor, Driving Skills Academy 100% any day of the week 😊

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