National Vocational Driving Instructor Register UPDATE

NEW AND WANNABE DRIVERS (INTERACTIVE)
81

Peter you quote a minimuim of £425 to join the register in a previous post so to me this is a commercial gain unless you have waived this cost now?

The final cost, now it’s all been sorted, is £250 +VAT. Given the time that goes into providing the 3 tests I struggle to see a commercial gain.

I agree with DD more than I want to admit.

It may well be that members of the register will be able to do very much as DD has intimated. But I would never want to be associated with a group of trainers who have yet to prove themselves via a straightforward testing regime. All I’m encouraging is for trainers who have gone through the testing and centre audit process to come together to battle the inherent poor training that is out there. And this, as DD, has said, can be done by web presence for starters. And I agree that brokers are not a necessity, though, if they exist and operate correctly, I can live with that.

Those that choose not to get involved may look back in a couple of years with some regret. On the other hand, those that chose to get involved might also look back in a couple of years and consider that it was a waste of time and effort. But one thing is for sure, if you don’t try it, you’ll never know. And it’s in my nature to try and move forward rather than let the world pass me by. I’m not making any bold claims though and it will be what it will be.

Happy New Year All, Pete :laughing: :laughing:

82

dieseldave:
You guys have got the brokers beaten on price and quality, because they can’t exist without their mark-up

At first glance it might seem that the brokers are cheaper because they state a certain amount for a ‘course’ without being specific as to how long that course is

The problem is that a newbie is unlikely to question the course length - they just want the price for doing a LGV course including test

The brokers make their money by doing a course one day less than the genuine schools in many cases

Until the law makes all providers list how many hours for so much then this is always going to be a legal loophole

If potential newbies contacted a genuine school for a price then often that school might mention why others seem cheaper so point out the pitfalls

83

Peter Smythe:

Peter you quote a minimuim of £425 to join the register in a previous post so to me this is a commercial gain unless you have waived this cost now?

The final cost, now it’s all been sorted, is £250 +VAT. Given the time that goes into providing the 3 tests I struggle to see a commercial gain.

Ilol:

This could be invested to fund in a CATS type consortium as mentioned by DD??

Any thoughts fellow trainers?

Paul

84

ROG:

dieseldave:
You guys have got the brokers beaten on price and quality, because they can’t exist without their mark-up

At first glance it might seem that the brokers are cheaper because they state a certain amount for a ‘course’ without being specific as to how long that course is

The problem is that a newbie is unlikely to question the course length - they just want the price for doing a LGV course including test

The brokers make their money by doing a course one day less than the genuine schools in many cases

Until the law makes all providers list how many hours for so much then this is always going to be a legal loophole

If potential newbies contacted a genuine school for a price then often that school might mention why others seem cheaper so point out the pitfalls

I see what you’re saying ROG, but I think it has to be MUCH slicker than that these days.

The gullible potential candidate will only spend X amount of time looking at stuff on the internet (don’t forget, it’s the Google age) and unless something eye catching comes right at the top of the search returns, they’ll go for the flashy ‘sponsored’ broker site because most of them don’t even scroll. They are easy prey for the brokers, often with disastrous results as already pointed out by knowledgeable and experienced ‘proper’ trainers above.

IMHO, the brokers can spend potfuls of money on advertising and pay for ‘featured’ status on search engines because they lack any other real outgoings, eg: trucks, premises, insurances, fuel, and instructors etc.
I think they’ve got good at playing a percentage game with the attitude of ‘win a few, lose a few.’

If the ‘proper’ providers club together, they would have the ADVERTISING POWER to starve the brokers out of existence, simply because the brokers have nothing other than smoke and mirrors to offer.

My little rant about brokers isn’t necessarily linked to the idea of a ‘register’ although the two ideas would seem to be mutually compatible.

:bulb: Now if we could just get all the cats into the same room for a live chat and Q&A in real time, it would be much more efficient than writing about it on a forum. Some things are better done f2f and IMHO this discussion is one of them.

85

Now if we could just get all the cats into the same room for a live chat and Q&A in real time, it would be much more efficient than writing about it on a forum. Some things are better done f2f and IMHO this discussion is one of them.

I’m up for it, Chevron and Elmet have said they are too. Anybody else? Rikki has offered to chair if that is something we’d like.

We can spend a day travelling and talking to achieve, at worse, nothing. Or the same discussion could lead to something worthwhile and for the benefit of everyone. By “everyone” I include good quality trainers and potential candidates who would be protected from some of the idiots out there running round with L plates on.

I’ve offered the use of my Nottinghamshire training centre as a venue previously. The offer still stands as does my willingness to travel anywhere else.

Pete :laughing: :laughing:

86

Peter I’m under the impression that you have no interest in trying to see the demise of the brokers but only to promote the register.

My objectives is to form a consortium that has a branded trademark symbol which is common knowledge to look for when a newbie searches for training

DD has mentioned a suggestion that I have been talking about on this forum in previous posts.

Unfortunately I can’t see the register getting any support from trainers but I can see a branded trademark symbol working.similar to “FENSA” type one

Can any other trainers post their initial thoughts that could make a meeting worthwhile and not a waste of time.

Paul

87

So what do you have to do to get the badge?

Pete :laughing: :laughing:

88

Peter Smythe:
So what do you have to do to get the badge?

Pete :laughing: :laughing:

Have your own trucks and on the DVSA trainer booking facility for starters?

Paul

89

The initial aim is to guide candidates direct to a training provider and starve the broker.

It has to be done gradually and hopefully use that as a benchmark to build on.

Paul

90

Have your own trucks and on the DVSA trainer booking facility for starters

No quality benchmark there. Any Tom ■■■■ or Harry can do that.

The initial aim is to guide candidates direct to a training provider and starve the broker.

No harm in that. But how?

Pete :laughing: :laughing:

91

Peter Smythe:

Have your own trucks and on the DVSA trainer booking facility for starters

No quality benchmark there. Any Tom ■■■■ or Harry can do that.

The initial aim is to guide candidates direct to a training provider and starve the broker.

No harm in that. But how?

Pete :laughing: :laughing:

It was a couple of suggestions to build on but it’s quite evident that your not interested in making any constructive comments.

I even got support from the admin team on here but you seem blinkered to any other suggestions

It’s obvious we will never see eye to eye so forget it all as I’m done with your negativity and arrogance!!

Paul

92

Hahaha!

After your comments I think that’s brilliant!

Pete :laughing: :laughing:

93

Peter Smythe:
Hahaha!

After your comments I think that’s brilliant!

Pete :laughing: :laughing:

so you don’t want to plaster my trucks in your colours like you did last year? Lol

Paul :smiley:

94

Any register, consortium, group arrangement etc can only possibly survive and grow if it is geared towards customer benefits. Brokers give many reasons why using them will benefit the customers.
Virtually every potential candidate would assume that every trainer is qualified, experienced etc so saying so to them comes as no WOW factor to them.
This is 2017 candidates expect superb service and value.
If being registered means you can help people become better drivers and get them their licence then tell them WHY.
Candidates care about 1 thing. Passing the test. They don’t care about 1:1 training, manual/auto, how close the reversing is etc.
Every benefit of using registered trainers must benefit the candidate or there is no benefit.
The brokers say why using them works. Most trainers just state how good THEY are.

95

I do not know about anyone else reading this but to me it seems it has started going from a good discussion amongst very respected trainers who simply have a difference of opinion into , how shall I put it politely … off key :question: :unamused:

96

ROG:
I do not know about anyone else reading this but to me it seems it has started going from a good discussion amongst very respected trainers who simply have a difference of opinion into , how shall I put it politely … off key :question: :unamused:

Totally agree and it’s not very professional me included.

Paul