Company business activities:
Royal National Lifeboat Institute – National charity established in 1824.
What were your reasons for driver training?
Safety: Upskilling new drivers from practising their recently acquired driving skills. Risk assessing each driver and allowing them to refresh their driving skills/style to keep them and the public safe.
The high number of minor incidents in the previous years as also a reason for training – a preventative measure in reducing the likelihood of more serious incidents – and to reduce damage costs.
What elements were most important to you for the driver training?
That it allows each driver to familiarise themselves with the new works vehicle in the location they will be regularly driving whilst being supported by a calm, qualified, knowledgeable tutor who will focus on improving our drivers’ observation and driving skills.
Due to the demographics of some of our staff and because our rental vehicles are very new, larger, high-tech models, our research found that online driver safety courses may raise safety awareness but don’t improve driving skills or vehicle familiarity like in-car training sessions do.
How did your team respond to the idea of doing driver training, and how was it communicated within the organisation?
The training offer we provide greatly emphasises safety at work for our staff across all environments they will work, so driver training is placed in this context. It’s introduced early in their induction; it’s presented as an opportunity to invest in their skillset and be part of our safety culture. If they are deemed high-risk, they won’t be able to drive our work vehicles, but it will not negatively impact on their employment with us.
How did your drivers find the training – any specific feedback?
From the team, managers had complimented that the driving instructors are professional and approachable with detailed feedback after each session.
From North East delegate
Hi Caroline! I just wanted to say that the driver trainer I had couldn’t have done more to make sure all my questions were answered; he was great. I had passed by test 5 days before and felt so much more confident after the training, and I have used the things he covered in the sessions many times, both driving the work car and my own car. Plus, he was just lovely and very funny.
From South Central team delegate was trained by Martyn Lock
Hey Caroline, in regards to your message in the senior chat, I thought the driver training team were great this year! Personally, I was made to feel so comfortable during my training. Also in terms of from a senior point of view, we had mix-ups on our driver training day with car mix-ups and confusion over timings and the trainers were so relaxed and happy to be flexible with the plan for the day – overall, very, very good!
From South East team
Hi Caroline, really positive feedback for Drivers Domain UK from the South East. Communication for booking in sessions and planning logistics were easy. The trainer turned up early and was very patient and calm, particularly in managing a situation with a nervous driver very well. After all the sessions, I received a call with a rundown of the driver’s performance. Overall our experience was hassle-free and efficient.
Notes from our tutors
Tutors love driver training with RNLI. Many of them are supporters and have an interest in the charity – which makes the training even more enjoyable. The locations, while they can be tricky to get to being coastal locations, do not deter tutors, with some making sizable journeys to provide the training. There is always someone on-site to help should the need arise. Drivers are always very keen to listen and learn from the session. Some have very limited experience but always try their best to make sure their start with RNLI is positive.