Kirsty’s the driving force for family and business
KIrSTY Minshall was in engineering for 25 years until she made a career move.
The 45-year-old, from Manchester, had relocated to Australia with her family and became a full-time mum for two years.
however, on her return to the UK she decided not to go back to engineering and retrained as a driving instructor instead.
This enabled her to choose flexible hours and spend more time with her children, Jake, now 12, and Theo, aged ten.
Kirsty began training for her driving instructor qualifications with reD Driving School in May 2017.
She took on her first students this January when she became a trainee driving instructor, holding a temporary license.
She says: ‘I’d hated the thought of going back to engineering.
‘No company would hire me on flexible hours. A full-time job would have made juggling my family impossible.
‘I had toyed with the idea of training to be a driving instructor before I left for Australia. At the time I didn’t take it up because it seemed too big a step into the unknown. ‘But when we came back, it was the ideal opportunity.’
Kirsty hasn’t looked back and loves her career change due to her increased flexibility.
‘I can take the kids to school, get things organised at home, take a few lessons during the day, and be there to pick them up,’ she said.
‘I spend a lot of time with them, but importantly I also earn money.’ Kirsty’s husband, Dave, 43, who works in engineering, has an unpredictable schedule, which she can work around.
‘When he’s at home, I can do lessons while he spends time with the children,’ she said.
‘If I didn’t have that flexibility I wouldn’t be able to make the most of my own time and take as many lessons. It lets both of us make the most of work and family.
‘It also lets me get to know new people every day. It’s quite satisfying getting them out on the road and driving properly as opposed to stopping and starting.’
Kirsty had gained her first job in engineering when she was aged just 16. She encourages those considering a career change to follow her steps.
‘My trainer has been absolutely great,’ she says.
‘even now I feel comfortable dropping him a text if I need help. I’m now waiting to sit my final Part III teaching qualification and I’m feeling very confident.’
For more information about reD Driving School, log on to reddrivingschool.com