Instructor Support Update – 22nd January

I’m delighted to state Bill Plant Driving School has been shortlisted in the Intelligent Instructor Awards to retain our National Driving School of the Year award.

Public recognition such as this is fantastic to allow all involved with Bill Plant Driving School across the UK to join in to celebrate our collective success.

This year, in a new format, the winner will be decided by achieving the highest combined ranking from two voting methods: an independent judging panel and the voting public.

We encourage you to vote online and share this with others to vote for Bill Plant Driving School, so we’ve created this page on our website – Vote for Bill Plant Driving School

The page demonstrates highlights from 2020, during naturally the most difficult of trading conditions due to COVID-19. Please use this to share with your pupils, friends, families and on your various social media platforms

We’ll provide further updates prior but voting closes midnight 21st February with the awards announced on 7th March via a virtual ceremony.

Campaigning and lobbying Government to support Driving Instructors
After reading that the Scottish Government is offering targeted financial support for taxi and private hire drivers, this week we have written a letter to Rt Hon Grant Shapps, Secretary of State for Transport of the United Kingdom, calling for his help to support Driving Instructors struggling financially during these unprecedented times.

Please find the letter attached.

Further to this and supported by our PR agency we are setting up an official petition to The Government, to provide adequate financial support. We will provide a further update once the petition is live.

Additional Restrictions Grant
After the latest national lockdown (January) the UK Government has provided local councils with discretionary funding that can be accessed following an application process.

In the letter to Grant Shapps, we have raised the question of eligibility for the Additional Restrictions Support Grants, which is determined by local authorities. We are aware some councils are welcoming applications by driving instructors and those newly self-employed (who do not qualify for the SEISS), so we urge you to contact your local council and discuss this with them directly.

We’ve discussed this with various authorities and to stand the best chance to receive a support grant we recommend you provide a thorough application including your:
– Unique Tax Reference Code
– Relevant evidence of previous driving lessons income (ideally business bank statements)
– Your PDI / ADI badge
– Confirmation of your start date with Bill Plant Driving School
– Email from the DVSA in January 2021 prohibiting driving lessons during the national lockdowns – attached is a screengrab

When you apply, please can you inform us via [email protected] so we can approach the various councils ourselves to further your claim.

Instructor Roundtables
Throughout 2021 we will roll out small virtual “roundtable” meetings with our Instructors to propose and discuss matters to continuously improve Bill Plant Driving School, for all involved. If you have an interest to participate or a specific idea, please email the Team via [email protected].

Instructor Support
Should you need further guidance in addition to our communications to date, please contact the Instructor Support Team on 01765 643374 or via [email protected]. Please bear with us, we will get back to every enquiry. 

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to be a challenging time for everyone, we will continue to do all we can to support our instructors, staff and trainees.

From everyone at Bill Plant Driving School, stay safe.

Kind regards

Tom Hixon
Head of Instructor Support