Expansion driving forward

A DUNDEE t ech firm whose platform connects learner drivers with instructors is aiming to raise £390,000 to expand into more cities.

GoRoadie was established by Michael Carr and Barry White three years ago after a friend who was a driving instructor approached t hem wanting to attract more students.

This l ed to the pair developing the app, which allows people to scroll through i nstructors i n their area.

Since launching in Dundee, GoRoadie has expanded to Glasgow, Aberdeen, Nottingham and Leeds.

“We realised that finding a driving instructor, if you don’t know where to look, is not easy and we thought there was an opportunity there,” said Michael.

“The app has taken off quickly in the cities we have launched in.

“Since l aunching i n Leeds this year we’ve already signed up 30 instructors.

“The number of bookings and i nstructors i s now continuously increasing month on month.

“Last month more than 200 students booked their driving lesson through our platform which is up more than 100% from the previous month.”

The fundraising will be used to hire five staff in Dundee, as the company plans expansion to more cities.

Michael and Barry are not only setting their sights on the UK, believing that the app would also be a success in the US and Canada. DUNDEE United Community Trust has been given a Scottish FA Grassroots Football Award.

The organisation has been awarded the “Scottish Football Association East Region Best Football for All Project” which recognises the trust’s successful year in creating opportunities for people from under-represented backgrounds and disadvantaged areas.

Jamie Kirk, head of operations for the trust said: “It’s always nice to receive recognition for our work and this award is testament to the dedication of my fantastic team. I’m really proud of SCHOOL chiefs in Dundee a re spend i ng mi l l ions of pou nd s on s upply teachers each year, with critics cla i mi ng a lack of per ma nent sta ff is squeezi ng t h e c i t y ’s education system.

Dundee City Council spent £1,274,481 on temporary staff in the 2018/19 school year.

Across the last three years, a total of £4.1m has been spent on cover staff, according to figures obtained through freedom of information requests.

The cost last year worked out at an average of £69 per head – but in neighbouring Angus Council the amount spent was a fraction of that amount, at £18 per head.

Supply teachers are hired when schools cannot fill a teaching post either due to staff absence, illness, or, in some cases, vacancies.

Earlier this month, the Tele revealed 10 teaching posts were left vacant in Dundee at the end of the school year, including two supply positions to provide cover.

Official figures show the number