Half an idea...

[LiquidLAN]

Hi guys and girls, I've been running my own IT consultancy business for 5 years now and I'm always on the look out for new ideas and way to diverge out of IT.

My wife is currently half way through doing her CBT, and I’m gobsmacked at the attitude of some of the instructors she has had.

A long time ago, I used to be the Chief Instructor for Star Rider (you might not have heard of them) for Stroud and Dursley. I used to really enjoy it at the time and I was always very successful with novice riders, in fact a lot of the local dealers used to insist I instructed their newbies.

I know things have changed a hell of a lot since I last instructed, but I was wondering what experience you guys have had and what you can tell me about instructing now-a-days.

The half an idea is, I’m wondering if it is worth looking at setting up a local CBT/DAS school, as there seem to be few options in the area.

Lol… that said it might have a lot to do with the fact that it’s too much hassle for the money… I know as a Chief Inst for Star Rider, I only really made enough to cover my petrol for the week but that wasn’t the point back then.

Any thoughts appreciated

 

[Mr Custard]

If you can get hold of Harvey who posts on this site as whiterabbit i'm sure he will be able to help you as he is an instructor in Bournmouth!

 

[Ogmios]

LiquidLAN,

Sir,
you have a p.m.
~~
Og

 

[LiquidLAN]

LiquidLAN,

Sir,
you have a p.m.
~~
Og

Oh, I guess I'll have to become a site sponser to read it then ;-)

unless you want to email me...

 

[Ogmios]

oops...

strange....
i sent you a p.m. it seemed to work.
i tried to send you a mail. it didnt!

anyhoo - the jist of the p.m was....

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/UKinstructors/?yguid=136551934

is a group of U.K based Instructors. they should be able to give you the lowdown on the ins and outs of CBTing.

hope its some help.
~~
Og.
a Star Rider Instructor too- slightly different doing it here though - and highly modified since we took on the scheme over 'ere

 

[LiquidLAN]

Cheers Ogmios, I'll have a look at the yahoo group and see what I can gleen from them.

Think the PM thing works, I've just got to be a site sponsor to read my own incoming messages hey I'm not complaining the site needs to be funded somehow.

 

[wessie]

Hi LiquidLAN

IMV you need to some extensive market research. There are plenty of training options in Glos. Search yellow pages: there are 5 companies in Gloucester city and a further 12 in Gloucestershire county. The search did not list those in S.GLos & Bristol which would offer competition too.

Read the press releases at http://www.mcia.co.uk/ - in 2004 they were reporting "vibrant" market conditions. The latest reports describe the market as "challenging".

Read the motorcycling press, particularly the views of Neil Murray in Bike. I know Neil fairly well and his advice to anyone thinking of starting a motorcycle related business is "don't".

My view, as someone who studies demographics, is that the market is maturing due to the rising mean age of the population. Those baby boomers, including me, who were in their 30s & 40s are finding other things to spend their money on as they edge towards 50 or 60. The lower birth rate in the 1990s mean that there are fewer teenagers wanting scooters & mopeds.

Sorry to be so negative towards your enthusiasm to diversify. I just don't want you to invest a load of time and cash into something that probably won't provide much of an income. Although, I can entirely sympathise with your desire to get out of IT. What you need to come up with is an idea to service the baby boomers as they enter thier dotage....a Saga for the beatnik generation.

 

[reespa]

My Wife did her CBT last year and I was amazed how much of a "converyer belt" approach was taken.

Seemed a bit like money for old rope to me - although I'm sure there's good and bad.

However, I had a chat to the main intsructor afterwards and he said that after the insurance and maintnance, there wasn't a lot of money in it - he said he only started to make decent money when he was doing direct access prep on the road with three or more and that was very hard work...

just my 2ps worth...

 

[Ogmios]

......direct access prep on the road with three or more and that was very hard work...

just my 2ps worth...

three or MORE not only hard work, but hazardous too! the potential for disaster is enormous.

i.m.h.o. that is.
~~
Og

 

[LiquidLAN]

Many thanks

Cheers for the feedback guy, not negative at all, most of it reflects what I already expected...

Afterall if you could make money riding bikes and giving a little instruction, wouldnt everyone be doing it by now?