When Paul Foster swapped his hospital scrubs for a steering wheel greater than three many years in the past, he couldn’t have imagined that sooner or later his daughter can be following in his footsteps – fairly actually down the identical highway.
At simply 21 years previous, Hanna Foster from Inverness has develop into one of many youngest driving instructors with the AA Driving College, proudly following the tyre tracks of her father, who celebrates 31 years within the career this July.
Beginning out as a nurse earlier than coaching to develop into an teacher, Paul’s profession has taken him from city centres like London and Luton to the agricultural roads of Grantown-on-Spey, Morayshire, the place he’s now based mostly. He began coaching aged 24 with BSM earlier than becoming a member of the AA Driving College on a car-only ‘Solo’ franchise. His daughter Hanna expressed an early curiosity in driving instruction, and after passing her driving check, she started her coaching with the AA Driving College.
Now totally certified, Hanna is constructing a shopper base of learners in Thurso in Caithness, within the Highlands of Scotland. She presently balances her instruction work with a part-time job at a neighborhood surgical procedure, with plans to transition to full-time instruction later this 12 months. Her age and approachability have made her well-liked amongst youthful learners, who typically describe her classes as relaxed and pleasant.
The Foster household’s story highlights the intergenerational attraction of driving instruction as a profession. With flexibility, job safety, and the chance to make a significant affect on learners’ lives, each Paul and Hanna see the career as a rewarding long-term path.
Paul mentioned: “I used to be in search of a extra rewarding and impartial profession. A pal inspired me to coach as an teacher, and as soon as I began, I knew I’d discovered the best path.”
On Hanna’s determination to hold on the household commerce, he mentioned: “We’re immensely pleased with her. Each time she will get a go, it’s like reliving that pleasure yet again. She’s doing brilliantly, and it’s pretty to have the ability to assist her – even when I warn her my recommendation could be a bit old style!”
“It’s superb to see her carry it ahead. It’s not one thing you see typically today – children following their dad and mom right into a commerce – but it surely’s a legacy I’m proud to share.”
Hanna mentioned: “I feel I used to be about 10 once I first mentioned I needed to be a driving teacher. I’ve all the time cherished automobiles and driving. As soon as I handed my check, I knew this was what I needed to do.
“That is my long-term plan. It’s a profession that offers me flexibility and safety. Folks will all the time have to study to drive.
“It’s not one thing individuals my age take into consideration sufficient. I’ve secured a future profession with flexibility and independence. It’s not only a job – it’s a way of life.”
Each Hanna and Paul encourage others to think about driving instruction as a profession. They emphasise that it gives independence, flexibility, and the possibility to make an actual distinction in individuals’s lives.
Hanna highlights the accessibility of the career for younger individuals and the satisfaction of serving to others achieve confidence behind the wheel. “Being nearer in age to my pupils helps. They really feel relaxed, like they’re driving with a pal. Certainly one of my college students mentioned she’d by no means felt so relaxed behind the wheel.”
