Changing Gears: Driving Instructor to Coach

A Natural Shift Towards Coaching

I have always engaged in lots of continuing professional development (CPD), as my previous profession in the driving trainer industry very much encourages this. In 2001 I qualified as an ADI (Government Approved Driving Instructor), teaching and mentoring learner drivers. I had my own driving school, 'Intensive Driving Solutions' and I loved it, however, after 15 years of on-road training, I did feel it was time to try something new, different and challenging.   I was headhunted by a membership organisation for driver trainers, and I quickly got involved in post-test and advanced driver training, as well as writing and delivering CPD courses for industry professionals.   

Driver training took on some major government changes in April 2014, and this included the monitoring by the government registrar of training by driving instructors. Government checks or 'standards checks' as they are known, verify if an instructor is fit to maintain their registration to teach and coach. Coaching formed a massive part of these changes as it was no longer acceptable to 'tell a student how they best learn' and it was at this point I felt I needed to get ahead of the game and look at gaining some practical coaching skills and a professional qualification in coaching.

Empowering Others Through Coaching

I enrolled on the Business Coaching Diploma approximately a year after coaching skills were introduced into the teaching criteria for driver trainers. It was clear that trainers were really struggling to 'coach effectively' on driving lessons and they were failing their regular government assessments 'standards checks' and ultimately losing their livelihoods, as they were not able to achieve the grade needed to remain on the register.   I started my coaching journey during the two years coaching qualification process, mentoring sole traders, mainly small driving schools, who were looking to be more goal orientated, with the possibility of expanding their businesses. 

When considering The Coaching Academy, which was incidentally recommended to me by a successful friend of mine who is a professional business coach, I wanted something that would give me the professional skills to work in 'business', hence I choose business coaching for SMEs. I loved the training and the course in general; I also met some amazing people along the way. The group workshops and training sessions were much smaller than the other coaching course options, and I found the people on my course very liked mined and motivated to help SMEs to grow and develop their businesses, as well as helping themselves and their own businesses to grow effectively. I still enjoy helping SMEs, however, I have found that delivering courses and workshops to teachers, trainers and those who need coaching as part of their work has by far been the most rewarding aspect of my coaching skills.   

Coaching in Action

I have been qualified now for more than 5 years and I used my coaching qualification from day one. I use my coaching skills to continue to help a small group of sole traders and SMEs to grow and help establish their businesses. I do not really advertise this service much these days, as my main work now at the moment is training groups of people at CPD workshops for businesses and training environments, to help employees and coaches to improve and develop their coaching skills.   My work takes me nationwide and it is incredibly rewarding meeting new people looking to use coaching skills in their chosen professions and careers.   Last year I qualified as a mindfulness practitioner, and I hope to add these skills to my services as people and business continue to want and need more ways of coping and growing in what is our very busy world. With all this in mind I hope therefore to focus on courses for well-being in the workplace and I will most certainly continue to use my invaluable coaching skills along side my mindfulness qualification, watch this space!

I still work with sole traders on a one-to-one basis and to some degree this has taken on a mixture of mentoring and coaching, particularly, if I am working with a teacher or driver trainer and it is industry related to my hands on experience. I have had huge amounts of positive feedback from people, they say things like "I now get what coaching is" or "I now understand what it is to have a goal and to work towards it".  I could go on and the list of feedback I have received over the years from professionals and individuals is very rewarding and positive and it spurs me on to continue to learn and grow myself.

Inspired by People, Driven by Purpose

The original lady who recommended I do a coaching course has become a dear friend, we have been on a few holidays together now and we smile when our 'coaching' questions and curiosity pop out occasionally in conversation. My friend has been an inspiration in many ways, as I have seen her business flourish and grow, she continues to enjoy her work and like me it is very rewarding to know someone has benefited either on a personal or business level to seek insight and growth to help them achieve their goals. I continue to be inspired by other coaches and businesses who use coaching to create a happy work environment and workforce, for them or others. I hear about and from too many company employees and managers who cannot keep staff, staff are not motivated, staff are miserable, do not feel valued or trapped, and this is a great shame. As coaches we truly can make a difference working with people and individuals to help them feel in a better place, achieving their goals and being happier at home and at work. Any coach who is out there doing this kind of work is an inspiration!

Coaching has brought many positive changes, to me both at work and in my own personal life. Coaching has helped me to be more focused on a personal level, I can now see the benefits of having a plan or goal in life, something to work towards or to reset the clock during difficult times. Coaching at work as been incredibly beneficial, my own teaching and learning strategies have been greatly improved and enhanced and I continue to love CPD and all the benefits that learning something new brings to the table. Coaching has made me think how I listen to people, how I react to and respond to people and how to ask a question, all such wonderful life skills that rewards you with genuine and heartfelt responses if delivered in the correct way. 

Looking Ahead: Supporting an Ageing Workforce

I took the plunge in January 2025 to go it alone again, having had the security of a full time employed job for just over 10 years, I now feel it is time to look at having my own business again. Before my employed role, I had run several of my own businesses, a small recruitment agency in London and I was a sole trader for over 10 years with a small driving school, so I am aware of the elements of setting up a new business and what goes into making it successful. All that said I feel ready to use my teaching, coaching and mindfulness qualifications and skills to grow a new business. I will continue to deliver CPD and skills workshops, and I also want to look at the areas of growth in companies i.e. staff retention and recruitment, with particular emphasis on helping people who continue to work into their sixties. I am 60 myself in December and although I have worked full time my whole life and kept up to date with new technology and working with a younger team, I have seen many of my friends who are approaching 60, struggling to adapt and feel valued in a continuing fast paced workplace. This spiral of potentially being demotivated and feeling undervalued and supported is troubling for both employer and employee, with many individuals and managers not knowing where and who to turn to for help. I would like to work with people with these types of concerns, who could benefit from either coaching or mindfulness to help them cope with change, growth and working into their sixties in a happy place! I am looking to do some research in this area of demographics and would welcome any input or stories from people should they wish to assist me in my research.   

Thank you Karen for sharing your inspirational coaching journey with us!