I qualified in 2000 having trained with Learner Driver Centres (LDC) and passed all parts of the qualifying exam first time attaining a 5-5 for part three. I worked for a large franchise for just over six years.In 2005 I took all five parts of the Diploma in Driving Instruction exam and passed first time. Shortly after this I was asked to become a representative for the Driving Instructors Association (DIA) then I became chairman for them. I trained as a corporate fleet trainer and was entered onto the DSA fleet register. I have worked for many fleet clients such as Royal Mail, British Gas and the Audit Committee to name but a few. In 2005 I was invited to join the Association of Road Safety Officers (AIRSO). Also in 2005 I started training as an instructor trainer and realised this is where my main interests lay.In 2006 I became a BRAKE road safety charity graduate and was trained to deliver hard hitting road safety presentations to schools and work forces. Within my franchise I was asked to become a coach for them involved with helping newly qualified instructors find their feet. Also in 2006 I completed my City and Guilds 7407 that qualified me as an adult classroom teacher. I am registered with the Institute of Learning as a registered teacher.My driving and driver teaching experiences range spans from taxi training to fleet training and everything in between.In order to pursue my career in instructor training I was successful in an application to work for Let’s Drive as a full-time instructor trainer in 2006. Let’s Drive was later bought by The Instructor College who later became known as Red Instructor Training. I also took and passed with a grade A my Cardington Special Test and qualified for ORDIT first time.In 2006 I was also asked by the DIA to become an exam invigilator for the Diploma in Driving Instruction and a little later became one of the question writers and examiners for the Diploma. I have attended far too many courses and seminars to write within this page given by the DSA, AIRSO the DIA to name a few and can often be found as a contributor at DIA seminars.Later I was employed as the Director of Training of a medium sized driving school. Here I developed training and courses and started to expand my course material. I ran induction courses, master classes and courses in how to be a better more profitable driving instructor.In 2012 I was awarded my Master’s degree from Middlesex University in ‘Driver Training Education’, and now all my CPD involves marketing, business and personal support. CPD never stops by its definition, continuing professional development.Knowing I could do better, I went back to setting up my own driving school. Partly because I saw how many instructors were not being looked after by their franchise or driving school. I today still run 1st 4 Driving, a driving school that covers the south of England.I have also spent many years delivering the NDORS courses. These are the speed awareness; driver rehabilitation and mobile phone violation courses you see. These were delivered on behalf of the police as an alternative to points and fines. I also started to expand DTE-Elite. This is the training arm of my business and trains driving instructors using the DVSA syllabus and 17 core competencies. Then came the expansion of the driving instructor materials that help driving instructors pass the part three test and get better standards test grades. Today, we produce many planners and guides, all written with the DVSA competencies.I want to make be able to help as many Driving Schools and trainers achieve their true potential and get the rewards for the fantastic job we do and allow instructors to see the benefits and rewards a successful CPD path can create. This profession has given me a lot and I am always willing to try and put something back, such as working on the GPC committee, where I am chairman, by giving my time and expertise.As someone else once wrote about me,As well as Dave’s expertise in driving, he also specialises in education, and holds a Master’s Degree from Middlesex University in Driver Training Education. His background in both driving and education means that Dave is perhaps the most qualified driving school owner in the country.Read more about this authorRead less about this author