DRIVE

DRIVE: driving instructor training in the UK

DRIVE is a British company dedicated to training future driving instructors (ADI, Approved Driving Instructor). It is part of the WLD group, presented in its own material as one of the largest and most experienced driving instructor training providers in the UK, with a track record of more than forty years in driver and trainer training.

The company structures its activity around preparation for the ADI certificate, with courses, teaching materials and ongoing support for students. Its offering is aimed both at those who want to train as instructors and at those already working who are seeking professional development.

Two training routes: Train & Teach and Independent Training

DRIVE offers two course options for becoming an instructor. The first, called Train & Teach with DRIVE, costs £1,699 and requires a commitment to the company: the student must complete the trainee licence and work with DRIVE for the twelve months following qualification. From the start of that licence, a weekly franchise fee of £109 applies, with a minimum term of twelve months once qualified, so the franchise fee begins when the instructor starts earning.

The second option, Independent Training, is priced at £2,999 and does not involve a commitment to join the school. The £1,300 difference between the two reflects, according to the company, its interest in bringing instructors onto its team. The material states that full details on franchise fees and contractual commitments are set out in the brochure and in the terms and conditions, which should be read before enrolling.

Guarantees and payment methods

The company offers three of its own guarantees designed to give reassurance to those training as instructors, including a money-back guarantee. It also has interest-free payment plans that allow the cost to be spread monthly, and a free information pack for interested parties. The site includes a one-minute introductory video and a contact phone number for questions.

Training compatible with employment and fast-track route

Among the features highlighted in the material are the possibility of training alongside a job and an accelerated training option. The course for the ADI certificate is described as progressive, with manageable objectives and deadlines that allow study to be organised, and with support available by email and phone. A testimonial on the site, signed by Jizza, praises the materials, the delivery, the online and face-to-face support and the professionalism of the staff.

Background of the WLD group and its head of training

The WLD group brings together several well-established companies that provide continuing professional development (CPD) and advanced training for the driver training industry. Its head of training and one of the founders is John Farlam, described in the material as an expert in driver training and a trainer of trainers. Farlam has delivered masterclasses for the industry for decades and has worked with major driving schools and ADI trainers in the UK, as well as producing training material used by companies such as The Instructor College, LDC and LetsDrive.

According to the information published, more than 1,400 British driving schools regularly use its training and coaching techniques and products, and more than 1,500 pay each year for its training and continuing professional development. The team has recovered students who had been abandoned by other training providers.

Industry involvement and digital products

Members of the team appear as expert speakers on coaching and driver training at industry bodies and committees, such as UKDIC and ADI NJC, and write columns in the specialist publications ADINews and Intelligent Instructor. They also take part in coaching projects with industry leaders.

In the digital field, the company notes that its DriverActive and WLD products and the free theory app are used by more than one in ten learner drivers. The theory app for learners was launched in 2014.

Milestones the company claims

The material lists a series of firsts attributed to its head of training and the group:

• 1980s: co-design of the first structured and documented train-the-trainer programme, when its head was director of training and development at Learner Driving Centres (LDC).
• 1994: introduction of methods such as neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) and coaching into driver training.
• 1995: creation of the first British website dedicated to driving instructor training and skills development with modern NLP and coaching practices.
• 1999: widespread recognition of its ADI MasterClass as a leading continuing professional development course.
• 2001: application of success-based coaching styles to instructor training.
• 2005: invitation to its head of training and its training director to the first pioneering coaching course at the University of East London (UEL), together with the chief instructor of the Metropolitan Police, the head of training at RoSPA and the head of instructors of the Army.
• 2007: its head of training became a regular expert speaker at UKDIC and ADI NJC.
• 2010: launch of its online training course and of DriverActive, a web tool for lesson preparation.
• 2014: launch of the first completely free theory app for learner drivers.
• 2015: introduction of three guarantees for those who want to train as an instructor.

Demand for instructors and commercial activity

The company states that demand for driving instructors continues across the UK and that its call centre was unable to handle more than 600 enquiries per week during 2026, a figure it uses to justify its need for instructors. In addition to training, DRIVE offers qualified instructors the chance to join its school, with a trainee licence and franchise programme.