Alfie’s driving force to make a change . . .
AFTEr living in rome and Paris because of his wife’s job, Alfie Zufolo wanted a career change when they returned to London.
Alfie, 43, of Battersea, South London, had trained as a broker consultant in the City and went on to be a Barclays financial adviser.
overseas postings with his wife, who works for the Foreign office, followed and, in 2005, they welcomed the addition of daughter Tatiana to their family.
They returned to Britain in 2011. Because Alfie wanted a job that allowed him to look after his young daughter, he began training part-time to be a driving instructor with RED Driving School.
In 2014, he qualified as a RED approved driving instructor (ADI), following six months on a trainee licence.
Alfie says: ‘when I started my training, I was having to do the craziest daily commute.
‘My daughter’s school was in Ealing, west London, so I had to drive there and back twice a day — and that meant it was physically impossible to continue working in financial services. I needed a job I would enjoy, but that also allowed me to manage the school-run.
‘It took me a couple of years to finish training, because our house was undergoing major renovations, but I did enjoy being able to take it at my own pace. I’ve been with RED ever since, and they have been very helpful.
‘If, at any time, I’ve had a problem, RED has always been on hand.’
Alfie enjoys meeting new people through his job and remains in contact with other people he trained alongside.
He says: ‘when you’re working on your own all day, it is really nice to have a good chat with someone in the same position as you.
‘I’ve found keeping in touch with the people I did my training with is the best thing I’ve done, and the fact we’ve all stayed on with RED says a lot.’
Alfie, who has now been an instructor for more than three years, would encourage anyone looking for a flexible career to consider joining the RED team.
He adds: ‘Definitely make the change if you are seeking flexibility in your career and would like to be your own manager.
‘Try to find other people in the same situation as you who are looking for a change. If you can buddy up during the process, that will be very beneficial.
‘Becoming a driving instructor can, at first, be quite lonely, so it’s great to have someone to make the change with, and you can support each other along the way.’
For more information, visit reddrivingschool.com/join-red/