driving.co.uk

Becoming an Approved Driving Instructor

BSM is the oldest and largest driver training organisation in Britain. Their name is synonymous with the successful teaching of learner drivers.

For almost thirty years their driving instructors have operated under a franchise with the British School of Motoring Ltd.

There are five franchise options, the main one being for an all inclusive franchise fee, which equates to approximately 16 hours work per week where the Company provides:

	unlimited use of a new car - fully serviced, insuranced and with dual controls
	a full business administration back up service
	a regular flow of new customers
	personal accident insurance (selected franchise options)
	sickness insurance after six months (selected franchise options)
	up to three free franchise free weeks during the year
	long service franchise reductions
	business development courses and other specialised CPD options

The BSM Instructor Training Programme (DITP) - DITP is a structured yet flexible Modular Programme. The advantage is that this allows you to progress at a pace suitable to your individual learning style.

Based on modern adult learning techniques, each Module is made up of a number of different Assignment-led events. These are'On-Road' (car based), 'In-House' (classroom based) and 'In-Centre' (BSM Centre).

The presentation and delivery is fully interactive to encourage your participation, expand your knowledge and understanding and, in particular, develop expert communication skills.

One of the principle characteristics of DITP is its fully integrated design. The Driving Standards Agency ADI examination syllabus and requirements are deliberately viewed as a whole rather than in the traditional three separate parts (Theory; Driving and Instructional Techniques). As an 'Investor in People' (IIP) accredited organisation we are committed to continuing the Programme into the areas of 'Continuing Professional Development' (CPD).

Based on the Company's many years of cumulative experience and expertise, the presentation and delivery of DITP prepares you for the real world of driving tuition. It will also provide you with an option of gaining the 'National Vocational Qualification' (NVQ) in Driving instruction.

While you will be responsible for your own learning and any private practice, a Regional Coach supports your preparation and will work with Centre Colleagues to oversee and guide you through the Assignments and Events. All the support and activity materials you need are provided in the form of various 'Resource Packs'.

The BSM 'Record of Progress and Achievement' is designed to track and monitor your success throughout the entire Programme. This also contains 'Objectives' for each Event and 'Action Plans' that will detail your areas of focus to achieve competence.

Becoming a Driving Instructor is more than just starting a new job and this new Programme is about more than qualifying. It specifically draws on your own previous driving and other relevant experiences to build the instructional and inter-personal skills necessary to teach learners safe driving as an attitude for life.

Job Opportunities
BSM do have vacancies for instructors. If you think that you're suited the sort of person to be an instructor you can visit their website or give their Recruitment line a ring on 0145 202861. You will at no point be under any obligation whatsoever to commit yourself. Becoming a driving instructor is a big step, so they will encourage you to spend plenty of time considering it before making your decision.

BSM welcomes trainee instructors of all ages and from all kinds of backgrounds. Incidentally they would welcome more interest from women who make up some 42% of the driving population yet only 15% of driving instructors.

Coaches
BSM is completely focused on the driver training industry. Their ADI Coaches each have a proven track record as a BSM driving instructor. Appointments are made on the strength of their interpersonal and communication skills; specialist knowledge and experience; as well as formal qualifications and approval.

New Programme
On Monday 10 June 2002, BSM's Instructor Training, Research and Development Department launched a revolutionary new Driving Instructor Training Programme - a training programme that encompasses all the Brand Values of the RAC. (Practical; Flexible; Willing; Individual; Honest; Responsible)

What BSM has done will have a fundamental impact on the future of training - it is the biggest over-haul of training that the Company has ever seen, indeed, the industry will have experienced - it has turned the old 'Part One', 'Part Two', 'Part Three' syllabus upside-down and produced an integrated training programme that, inevitably, others in the industry will follow.

So why did BSM do this? Quite simply, to stay the best. BSM believe that learning needs to be adult based, and that the training has to be individual with a more flexible approach.

What has been achieved is a programme with more evenly spread training, a more integrated approach, and an embodiment of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) that is ready for the, at some un-confirmed date, the abolition of the Trainee Licence.

Evaluations
BSM run 'evaluations' for applicants. This provides a measure of your ability that will determine the most suitable starting point and your anticipated rate of progress through the Training Course into your new career.