Valuable Information & Help

We try to offer many flexible ways to pay for your training, and bear in mind, help may be available with grants or low interest loans from government schemes.

Also please note that Mint Training is now registered with the governments Careers development council as a training establishment that they consider professional and trust worthy. The Careers development council will grant loans to you to pay for your training with us.

Please ask for more details.

As we have already acknowledged, choosing the right trainers can be a complicated and mind boggling process. Mint Training has put together a few areas you need to be aware of to help guide you in the right direction:

• Don’t be conned into fast track courses over a few weeks there is just too much to learn. Forget intensive training.
• 2:1 training means you will only be receiving half of the time required to cover your Green Badge. This will mean either being unsuccessful or paying out twice to get the hours in.
• Companies who advertise a guaranteed job offer may offer you a job however you may be tied into certain companies or franchises. As you are only just starting up, this can mean you may end up paying out more than you earn. However, at Mint Training we will give advice and opportunities that will help you in your first few vital months.
• Mint training knows that you are paying for a service. Avoid companies that make you feel as though you are at an interview. After all, you are our customer and our customers make our company successful.
• Avoid companies with glossy brochures and expensive offices, these have to be paid for at the expense of your training.
• Any company who advertisers a free car will always have underlying hidden costs.
• Mint Training and Mint Driving School have worked hard to establish a reliable customer base. We know that customers are not guaranteed therefore avoid any company that suggests guaranteed customers.
• Do not be conned by the offer of as much training as you need. For a large training company this means as little as we can get away with.
• Be aware that there isn’t a shortage of driving instructors- there is not, just a shortage of good ones. Mint Training will make sure that you are one of the good ones.
• Always remember: If the training is cheap or free there is a reason why.
• Finally, do not be conned into thinking you need to part with £3,000 to £4,000 up front - you do not. Remember, you pay per hour. Mint Training understands that everyone is an individual and will have very different needs.

Whether you choose Mint Training or another company, please be aware that you should always find out the following:

• Can you tell me your extra qualifications to be my trainer?
  If there is not a big list, walk away. Look for/ Cardington/ Diamond Special/ Rospa/fleet reg/ORDIT reg, etc. As we have stated, instructors at Mint Training have an array of extra qualifications, some of which being the hardest in the country to pass.
• Is all your training 1:1 if not can I have it half price? If not, walk away. Mint Training values the importance of one-to-one training.
• Is your training vehicle modern, roomy, clean and available for tests without a hire charge? If not, walk away.
• Will I be trained to train qualified drivers in addition to learners? If the answer is no, walk away. Mint Training understands that once you have become an instructor you may wish to progress further. We have the resources available to help you achieve this.
• Can you guarantee exactly how many training hours I will receive for the price? If they cannot, walk away. Mint Training will always tell you how many hours you have for the money you have paid.
• Is all the training carried out locally? If not, walk away. The last thing you want is the hassle of travelling to your training on top of the hard work you will be putting in.
• Can you offer me a guaranteed amount of pupil’s? If the answer is yes, walk away - there is always a catch.
• Can I pay by the hour or per part? If the answer is no, walk away.
• Will I receive a total of at least 60 part three training hours with one to one training as I need at least that amount? If they answer do not worry as half that amount is ok for most people. Walk away.
• Can you list your training Syllabus? If the answer’s no or it is not comprehensive, walk away. Mint Training understands that training is about teaching. No accredited course doesn’t have a syllabus therefore we work on the same principle.
• Do you offer further development training beyond my Green Badge? If the answer is no, walk away. The more your instructor can offer you, the better qualified they are.
• Do you offer check test training and advice? If the answer is no, walk away. Our job is to guide you through your Green Badge. This means that we have to offer advice!

Our Success: A large percentage of Mint Training’s clients are people who have already paid another company for their training. They realised they had been conned and had to start again. Make sure that doesn’t happen to you.

What you need to remember is that when you obtain your Green Badge your services are in demand! Make sure you get a good deal. We deal with many local companies, including Mint Driving School, who will take you on upon qualification. Advice is freely offered upon qualification,
all part of the service.

Do not be taken in by large training companies offering a guaranteed job/working within 8 weeks etc. They just want your money up-front.

Driving instructors are self –employed.
No company offers guaranteed pupil is that is the important bit.

If you are good, you will be very busy, train with Mint Training and you will be good

• www.mintdriving.co.uk - Sister company to Mint training, Mint driving School, offers excellent advice and training for learner drivers and advanced driving tuition. This should be your first point of call should you wish to join a franchise. Your Mint trainer will be able to advise you about this school and others in your area.
• www.lsc.gov.uk - Information on career development loans. Mint Training is registered and recognised by the Learning and Skill Council
• www.dsa.gov.co.uk - Enter ‘Ordit’ in ‘Search the website’ for information on the ordit register or fleet for information on the fleet register.
• www.dia.org – See website for information on extra qualifications with the Driving instructors association
• www.dvla.gov.uk - See website for information on driver licensing
• Mint Affiliated - Other Mint Training affiliated sites.