ORDIT
ORDIT was set
up by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to protect the public from substandard driving instructor
training and unscrupulous business practices. ORDIT is managed by the DVSA and members failing to maintain the
required standard may be removed (or feel compelled to resign) from ORDIT.
To have your organisation approved by the DVSA and the various trade associations you must submit your organisation
to regular inspections and abide by the ORDIT code of practice covering advertising, selling and customer care.
Ideally only ORDIT qualified trainers should be used by the organisation although at the moment the rules do allow
up to 50% of trainers to be unqualified. This is not the case with LDC all of our trainers are fully ORDIT
qualified. The DVSA only approve training from ORDIT organisations. The DVSA do not recognise NVQ or any other
qualification as adequate to train people to become driving instructors.
Not all ORDIT companies operate nationally
Unfortunately, some driving instructor training providers on ORDIT try to present themselves as being able to
provide driving instructor training nationally, when in fact they only have a limited number of ORDIT qualified
driving instructor trainers. This can result in driving instructor training students having to wait weeks and
sometimes months for their practical training. Any training that is given is provided in an intensive block, which
is far from ideal, with trainers who do not know the area or the test routes or the specific preferences of the
local examiner. Alternatively, these organisations use trainers who are simply not ORDIT qualified.
LDC currently have 50 DVSA ORDIT qualified trainers. These trainers are based all around the UK to enable us to
normally train you within the location that you will be examined.
Why would companies not be on ORDIT?
At the moment ORDIT is a voluntary scheme and to join it does require a driving instructor training organisation to
pay a membership fee of £117.50 plus a fee for each of its premises and trainer inspected by the DVSA every
two years of between £86.36 and £227.65 per trainer and £227.65 per premises. These are the only
costs involved in being a member of ORDIT. Some non-ORDIT driving instructor training organisations use these costs
as a reason for not being part of the scheme or they make various false claims that ORDIT is about to be scrapped or
some other misleading claim. You really shouldn't be giving any money to an organisation that cannot afford
these nominal DVSA inspection and membership fees!
If an organisation is not on ORDIT it is probably because they do not wish to be bound by the ORDIT code of practice
or employ the services of properly DVSA ORDIT qualified driving instructor trainers throughout their driving
instructor training programme. Alternatively, it is simply because they couldn't reach the required minimum
training standard.
Steve
When I decided to train as a driving instructor, I wanted the support of a friendly company which offered flexibility and who would be understanding of my needs. I didn't want to train with either of the two largest companies as I felt I would just be another faceless number. There was another company advertising in the press and on the television at that time. I discounted them as they came across as desperate to recruit trainees. After research, I was aware that their main business was that of recruiting trainees.
I saw an LDC car in my locality and thought I would carry out research on them as I had never heard of the organisation before. I began to see more LDC cars in the area that I lived. I was impressed with the website and decided to book an appointment to find out more. After a session with their representative, I decided that this was the company for me.
I was impressed with the way training was organised and the study material (both printed manuals and DVDs) provided. I found that support was always available from the friendly team at head office. The training department was with me the whole way and the training and support given by them and my allocated tutor was fantastic. I was able to train at my own pace and fit it around my existing commitments. With all this help I was successful in obtaining my green badge. The franchise is quite flexible too as I am able to recruit my own pupils and also obtain pupils from head office. I have recommended (and will carry on recommending) prospective driving instructors to "my" company.
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Theo
Trying to find the most suitable driving instructor training company quickly developed into a minefield of people asking me to sign contracts and sign cheques. I'm glad that I chose LDC because I had excellent training through out my course. The exams were not easy but with encouragement, good training and course material, I was successful and passed all three parts on my first attempts.
LDC is a very professional company who I found very genuine in their quest in helping me qualify. I couldn't have done it without them.
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Shawn
I have been qualified as an ADI for over 6 years now and thoroughly enjoy teaching learner drivers! I started training to be an ADI in March 2003 with the Red instructor college in Leeds. It took me 18 months to scrape through my final exam! My only regret is that I did not choose LDC as my training provider; I chose the Red instructor college purely because it was right on my doorstep!
I then spent 18 months paying £350 per week with the BSM franchise followed by 2 years with the AA paying over £200 per week. Fortunately for me I have now held a franchise with LDC for about a year which I can strongly recommend to any PDI or ADI! It offers excellent value for money at approximately £40 per week, which is a far cry from the money I used to pay. What's more, the office staff are much more helpful, understanding, friendly and efficient.
The training materials are much more user friendly. The IT team designed me a website which gets me lots of work on its own. When I had been to induction courses with other organisations I had walked away feeling apprehensive and confused as to what was expected of me and how to promote my business efficiently. I had a 3 day induction course with LDC and walked away feeling confident in my ability to sell driving lessons using the LD system which I believe is second to none! To summarise, my LDC experience has been fantastic, one which I would urge others to embark upon!
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