Trying to find a job after starting a family can be very difficult. There is a distinct lack of flexible, part-time roles out there that allow working mums to really get their teeth back into their careers without sacrificing their family life. It seems to be a neverending compromise.
Becoming a driving instructor could well be the perfect answer to someone looking to pay the bills as well as handle those family commitments.
It Can Provide You With The Flexibility You Need
There are two ways to go when setting up as a driving instructor. You can be an independent driving school, or join a more established franchise. Whichever you choose, you have a great deal of flexibility in setting your own days and hours that you wish to work.
You can choose to provide lessons during school hours, or evening and weekends. Whatever works for you and your family.
You’ll need to undergo a driver instructor training course before you can get started. Most of the major driving schools provide these and can give you help and support on running your own franchise.
Some People Would Prefer A Female Instructor
Though the majority of instructors are still male, there has never been a greater demand for female driving instructors. In 2017, only 15% of instructors were women.
The world has (mostly) moved on from all of the traditional stereotypes of women being bad drivers and those who do believe that will be driving with a male instructor anyway.
Some people would prefer to learn to drive with a woman, just as some would prefer to learn with a male instructor. It is not necessarily that women want to learn to drive with women and men with men. Some people just prefer the dynamic or can have deeper issues around learning with a man.
It’s worth noting that the personality traits that used to be thrown around as an excuse for women not doing well in more male-dominated industries (patience, empathy, kindness) are perfect for teaching nervous students to drive.
The Gender Pay Gap Doesn’t Really Exist In The Industry
The average driving lesson in the UK costs £24 per hour. That’s a lot of money, especially as the average person will need approximately 44 hours of lessons before they pass their test.
If you are working through a driving school, you will charge a standard rate that is in line with all other instructors in a geographic area. As with most services, you’ll pay more in London or a major city. You’ll then pay franchise fees to the school. You’ll be making just as much per hour as male instructors.
Some news articles have suggested that because the number of female instructors is too low to meet the demand, then women can actually charge more for their services. This is likely to level out based on more women entering the profession and is a negligible amount when taken annually. However, it’s great to know that you’re not starting at a disadvantage as women going into a lot of industries.
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