Hi there.
I am a self-employed Approved Driving Instructor (car) and am currently training to gain my C licence (looking at C+E in the future). I’m intending to move to Germany in 2-3 years with a view to driving lorries (preferably articulated) full-time out there. Ideally wanting to pick up just 1 shift per week of lorry driving in the UK between when I qualify and when I move, in order to gain experience (and yes I know its slim pickings out there for newbies, so not holding out too much hope for gaining this experience) whilst still running my driving school business.
I can forsee recording my other work as a minefield, as being a self-employed driving instructor is not simply a case of shift started 0900, shift finished 1700. A typical working day would start at 9am and finish at 9pm, but with only 8 hours of tuition, the rest being breaks and travelling between clients. Is the travelling between clients classed as part of my work? What about “commuting” from home to the first pupil of the day, and from the last customer to home? I don’t work that many hours every day, I’m only part-time as I usually take 3 days a week off to look after my son, to save money on nursery fees (but sometimes I go out working in the evenings on my days off, when my wife gets home from her job). I record all my lessons in my diary which I carry with me pretty much everywhere. If I gave a free lesson to a pupil as a promotional bonus (I give pupils a free 1 hour lesson for referring a new pupil), would this be classed as work, even though not for payment? Similarly, what about teaching a family member or close friend from start to finish free of charge? Would replying to telephone and email enquiries relating to my work as a driving instructor be classed as working time? If so, this would be impossible to work with, as I get numerous enquiries at all times. Don’t want to (and can’t afford to) break any rules.
Any advice on how to record my other work would be greatly appreciated please. Thanking you in anticipation.
Paul