Government Skills
17 July 2009
After three years deputising as a senior driving test examiner, 44 year-old Danny decided it was time to get a qualification to help him pass the hurdle of permanent promotion.
Normally based at the Hendon test centre at the Driving Standards Agency, Danny is managing the Wood Green centre temporarily, which employs seven examiners seeing over 170 candidates taking driving tests each week.
“I enjoy the variety of the job – managing the team and arranging the administration for the centre is quite involved but I also have driving examinations to carry out myself each day. I am hoping the course will open up my eyes to how I can improve my management and leadership. It will give me an opportunity to see and hear things I don't get exposed to in my day to day work.
“I left school early with CSEs and didn't really get the qualifications I knew I was capable of. Last year, I did my GCSE in maths off my own back, so I know I can make the time to study and am capable of getting the qualification, which I hope will be a first step to getting promotion.”
Danny's Level 3 apprenticeship in management will take around 12 to 18 months to complete. He will have a formal training session every two weeks and will attend workshops at Westminster Kingsway College.
“I am a bit apprehensive about standing up in front of people and making presentations and I hope the course will give me the confidence to do this in future.”
Danny has worked for the Driving Standards Agency for six years and before becoming a civil servant he was a self-employed driving instructor.
