Testing time for driving instructor forced off road by lockdown
A DRIVING instructor has voiced his frustration at only being able to work three months of this year.
Rob Hutchins, of Birstall, only became an instructor in February.
The 40-year-old said he had not enjoyed his previous employment so had sought a new career path.
However, after only six weeks of fulltime, self-employed work with Acclaim Driving, the first lockdown hit.
“If I had thought there was a lockdown coming, I perhaps would have looked at something else,” he said.
“It all happened so quickly. So I had to stop doing what I was doing and wait for the DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency).
“I had to cancel all my lessons and tests were obviously put on hold.”
While he was not working he still had bills to pay, such as Acclaim Driving’s franchise fee. He said the fee was lowered to help driving instructors cope with the lack of work, but insurance and other bills were still having to be paid while nothing was coming in.
He said he tried to claim Universal Credit but he had only been selfemployed for six weeks and not the 18 months that was required. And while money is available from the government for some self-employed traders, eligibility is based in part on the length of time a person has been registered as self-employed, with applicants having to submit past tax returns.
Rob was able to start working again on July 20, after around four months of no work. Apart from one fortnight in October where he had to isolate, he said, his diary was fully booked.
But now the country has moved into a second lockdown, and Rob is yet again faced with no work, until at least December 2. “My diary was full all through November,” he said. “I had six people with a test in November and they’ve obviously had to be cancelled, which has all been a nightmare.
“It’s frustrating,” he added, but said he had no plans to give up his new career path just yet, even with a wedding to plan and pay for.
“This can’t go on forever surely? We’ll come out of this, I don’t think until next year now, and then surely we’ll be alright,” he said.
“It’s annoying, but I’ve got a little bit of money in the bank. But it is frustrating because I was looking forward to what I could be earning in the first year of being self-employed.”
Like the many learner drivers who have had their tests and lessons cancelled in November, Rob said he did not know how the DVSA would restructure the system.
“It’s been a frustrating year not being able to get into the full swing of my new career and not being able to claim any benefits having been in lockdown for over five months by December,” said Rob. “I’ve enjoyed being a driving instructor and once this ends I can’t wait to get back on the road and getting more people through their driving tests.”