Career change at 50. Considering getting driving instructor qualification

[bigmike20vt]

Hi
after working on the same campus since 1998 my contract comes to an end in 12 months time and wont be renewed. It is such a specialised role that unless the planets align i am going to need to look at diversifying.

I absolutely plan to retire at 60 so looking at something to tide me over for 10 years........ a HGV licence crossed my mind however this is expensive to get and whilst drivers seem to be in short supply, lack of experience seems a major sticking point as well as an expectation to spend a lot of time away from home.

So i was thinking about a driving instructor. From what I have read as well as experience from friends with kids of a certain age their appears to be a shortage of them. Every mental evaluation I have had has always suggested I have a good temperament for teaching - but I do not particularly like kids (other than my own )

So perhaps driving instructor will be a good fit, AA offer a comprehensive teaching package for £2.5k apparently (I would likely ignore the basic one) and if it ended up with fairly secure work after I would happily invest that in myself.

I have 33 years driving experience, no points on my licence. I must admit I do not like driving in cities but am sure i could knock that out of me with practice and training. I have also already helped 2 people pass their test, albeit i was not the teacher, I just went out with them in an evening on top of their lessons

Has anyone here considered or done a similar thing? If so how have you found it, any regrets and would you recommend?

Thanks.

 

[jaybee]

I've never posted or spoke much of it, but this is in fact also something I had considered as an additional income stream. I think realistically it's not really compatible as a "side hustle" as such, and would probably likely have to be an all or nothing thing as a main job. I know someone who is an instructor and who recommended that I consider it. The main negative he told me of was his knee and back are bad from all the getting in and out of a car multiple times a day and sitting down a lot.
He said he brings home about 60K which is based on 6 hours roughly a day, 48 weeks a year at £37 per hour, 5 days a week plus a few hours on a Saturday. He said he knows some instructors that do 7am to 7pm a day and bring in nearly 90k.

I think it depends on whether you join as part of a school or independent as to the earning potential. I expect it could be a stressful job being on the brink of an accident a lot of the time though and having to stay very alert? I mean you can't really have a sort of "easy Friday" kind of day...like...ever really.

I don't know if the above numbers accounted for costs on the car and wear and tear on it, certifications etc. Not sure what's involved with all that.