Move up a gear to make that change
WHEN bank manager Ella Burnett became pregnant with her second child, she knew she would want to spend as much time as possible with her daughters, now aged five and one
So the 33-year-old from Dawlish, Devon, decided to make a complete career change
Her high-powered job with Santander meant she left the house at 7.30am and didn’t return until 7.30pm.
But after spending ten years in a job she enjoyed, Ella realised her working day was incompatible with taking care of two young children.
Deciding she needed a job where she could take charge of her own schedule and set her own hours, Ella embarked on a driving instructor course with RED Driving School.
She took the theory elements of the test when she was heavily pregnant, and moved on to the practical element after her second daughter was born.
She says: ‘I really enjoyed my job in the bank, but I knew that if I wanted to spend as much time as possible with my daughters, I had to make a change.
‘I was initially worried about investing money in something that wasn’t certain, as passing the instructor exam was down to me, but RED Driving School were so supportive and reassuring, the training was pretty stress-free.
‘My eldest started school in September, and I can organise lessons around the school run.
‘In school holidays, I can block out my diary and work when it suits me. I have total flexibility and control and can put the girls first — which is the most important thing to me.’
Ella fully qualified as an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) last October.
‘I really enjoy being an instructor — it’s so rewarding to teach people a new skill and see them leave a lesson with a smile on their face,’ she says.
‘It’s a lot more creative than my old job, and continually meeting new people is a lot of fun.
‘RED have kept me very busy, and the RED brand helps to attract pupils. Because I am a mum, parents feel very comfortable about their children learning with me, so I’ve not been short of work. I’d advise any parent looking for more flexibility to consider becoming a driving instructor as a career.’
To FiNd out more on how to become a REd driving School instructor, visit www. reddrivingschool.com/