Being a driving instructor can be a very lonely way to make a living. Beyond speaking with our pupils on driving lessons, we can go hours without expressing any thoughts and feelings.

It is known that when people feel lonely, it can have adverse effects on mental and physical health. The general outlook on life can start to decline and we begin to lose confidence, our self-esteem and before we know it, we don’t feel so inclined to get up for work in the morning.

Driving instructors are sole traders, the clue is in the name. Interactions with pupils, examiners, mechanics, parents, and employers can easily become challenging if there is any hostility expressed. Stress levels are increased, and before you know it, nerves start to feature when turning up to work with a particular pupil or perhaps at a particular driving test centre. The root cause of the problem is quite literally not having someone to talk through these issues.

At BIG TOM we have recognised this issue as existing for many years now. This is why we introduced our professional and paid for ADI forum, to give instructors a safe place away from criticism and ridicule. This is also why we introduced our mentorship programme for franchisees – having someone constantly there who you know has your back, and is unconditionally supporting you. It is also why we created our direct helpline that franchisees can use at any time, to have that voice to speak to if they feel lonely.

And despite all of this, how often do any of us hear about this issue? I don’t recall there being any suggestion of this issue in the last ADI Survey conducted by the DVSA (September 2024). Would an instructor who feels lonely participate in a survey of this kind? Would they want to admit to how they feel and the effects of it?

It doesn’t have to take much to trigger this feeling of loneliness. A few unsuccessful driving test results can be all it takes. An impending Standards Check. Perhaps an unhelpful remark that was lacking in thought. Maybe a decline in pupil bookings. Not everybody has the mental resilience to withstand an emotional cloud that we can find ourselves under. It is important to recognise that you won’t be alone in how this feels. There are 40,000 instructors on the DVSA register at the moment, and many of them will feel lonely.

The BIG TOM franchise refers a great deal to mental wellbeing because we know that there are many challenges out there in the marketplace and the blunt fact is that all of us do not just run on autopilot, no matter what happens. There can be plenty of negative social media and at times it can get extremely personal. The franchise offers practical support and guidance on how to deal with these unwanted experiences.