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With over 100 years in operation, the AA is the UK's leading name in breakdown cover. Since 1905, they've expanded into finance, leisure, and lifestyle services -- including their own driving school, where trainee instructors are trained by AA experts to become franchisees and pass on their knowledge.
In this interview with Mark Born (Head of the AA Driving Instructor Training Academy), we find out how their partnership with Thrive allowed them to foster social learning, uniting their driving instructors from all over the country on one, central learning platform.
What led the AA Driving School to partner with Thrive Learning, and what were your initial goals for the collaboration?
“When we began exploring options for our training programme, we realised we didn’t have a structured learning platform or management system in place. We had just introduced a new driving instructor training course for our trainees and were looking for a solution that combined structure with flexibility. At the same time, we wanted to foster a sense of community similar to what you might find in Facebook or other social media platforms.
After evaluating different suppliers, Thrive stood out for several reasons. It wasn’t just the platform itself but the experience of working with their team. From our very first interactions, we could clearly see the steps for implementation and the level of support we would receive. Thrive’s team genuinely wanted us to succeed, and that mutual commitment has been pivotal.
The platform gives us the agility we need to make quick changes and adapt to new releases, which aligns perfectly with how we like to work. We’ve built a fantastic relationship with Thrive. It’s the kind of partnership where my colleagues now wear their Thrive hoodies with pride! We feel like we’ve grown together, which reflects the strength of the collaboration.”
How does Thrive’s platform align with the AA Driving School’s mission and values?
“For us, confidence is key. Our driving instructor franchisees oversee more than 200,000 first driving lessons each year, so it’s essential that we equip them to not only teach people how to operate a car but also ensure their safety on the road.
Building a sense of community among our instructors has been equally important. Driving instruction can be a solitary profession, and we wanted to create an environment where instructors could connect, share content that resonates, and support each other. Thrive has made that possible. It offers a risk-free way to foster that community and highlight valuable resources, whether through the virtual platform or in-person connections.
It’s about helping our instructors thrive – not just professionally but personally.”
Can you describe how Thrive Learning has been implemented at the AA Driving School and how it fits into your operations?
“We’ve implemented Thrive specifically for our Driving School Academy, which caters to two types of training:
A traditional route involving in-car training with a dedicated trainer and account manager.
A Virtual Reality programme – something unique to us – which we developed to help reduce the costs of becoming a driving instructor but maintain the high quality needed within a training course.
We’ve reached a balance where about 50% of our new instructors that qualify through our training – around 1,000 each year – now join through our VR course training. The combination of these approaches, supported by Thrive’s platform, gives us incredible flexibility.
To ensure a smooth onboarding experience, we’ve created a structured programme called ‘Five Goals to Success.’ New trainee instructors follow a two-week onboarding pathway within the platform, which includes events and self-assessments. This allows them to clearly understand their expectations and assess whether this role is the right fit for them, while they are still within their course cooling off period and able to obtain a full refund.
As trainee instructors progress, additional goals unlock, and we can monitor their compliance [would maybe say engagement or success, as compliance sounds a little harsh] through the platform. What’s been truly rewarding is seeing a direct correlation between platform engagement and higher pass rates. It’s a testament to how well the system works.”
What specific features or tools from Thrive have been most valuable to your team?
“Pathways and events have been game-changers for onboarding and training. The self-assessment tools and the ability to track compliance have allowed us to identify areas for improvement and proactively support our trainee instructors. The data we collect is invaluable – it helps us ensure that our trainee instructors are prepared and confident, which will ultimately benefit their students.”
What measurable improvements or successes have you seen since working with Thrive?
“Before Thrive, we had no way to monitor or measure progress effectively. Now, with the platform, we can track everything our trainee instructors do and use that data to provide targeted support.
One of our guiding themes at the AA is ‘digital convenience and human care.’ Thrive has allowed us to embody that perfectly. The platform provides digital convenience for our users, but the insights we gain enable us to offer personalised, human-centred support. It’s helped us align with our core values and deliver real results.”
Has Thrive helped address any specific challenges the Driving School was facing, such as instructor retention or upskilling?
“Absolutely. The community-building aspect has been pivotal critical in addressing the isolation that can come with this profession. By creating a space where trainee instructors can share insights and resources, we’ve fostered a sense of belonging that’s helped with retention. Additionally, the platform’s flexibility makes it easier for us to introduce upskilling opportunities that resonate with our trainee instructors’ needs.”
What feedback have you received from staff or instructors about using Thrive’s platform?
“The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Trainee instructors appreciate how intuitive the platform is and the way it streamlines their journey. We regularly collect feedback to refine user experiences and address any challenges they face. It’s not just about passing the course with us – we want to create confident, capable driving instructors, and Thrive helps us achieve that.”
Are there any unexpected benefits you’ve discovered through the partnership with Thrive?
“The biggest surprise has been how seamlessly Thrive has become an integral part of our operations. Beyond its technical capabilities, the platform has strengthened our culture and given us new ways to connect and grow together as a team.”
How do you see Thrive Learning supporting the AA Driving School Academy’s goals over the next few years?
“Thrive will continue to play a central role in our growth. With industry trends like the shift to electric vehicles and evolving driving regulations, we need a platform that can adapt quickly and support ongoing education. Thrive gives us the flexibility to stay ahead of these changes and prepare our trainee instructors for what’s next.”
If you could describe Thrive’s impact on the AA Driving School Academy in one sentence, what would it be?
“We’ve grown our franchise by 11% each year and Thrive has been essential to that success – we simply couldn’t have achieved this level of growth without them. It’s been a real team effort.”
What has been your experience with Thrive as a partner?
“It’s truly a partnership. The Thrive team is invested in our success and deeply understands our business needs. That level of commitment and collaboration has made all the difference.”
Explore what impact Thrive could make for your team and your learners today.
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With over 100 years in operation, the AA is the UK's leading name in breakdown cover. Since 1905, they've expanded into finance, leisure, and lifestyle services -- including their own driving school, where trainee instructors are trained by AA experts to become franchisees and pass on their knowledge.
In this interview with Mark Born (Head of the AA Driving Instructor Training Academy), we find out how their partnership with Thrive allowed them to foster social learning, uniting their driving instructors from all over the country on one, central learning platform.
What led the AA Driving School to partner with Thrive Learning, and what were your initial goals for the collaboration?
“When we began exploring options for our training programme, we realised we didn’t have a structured learning platform or management system in place. We had just introduced a new driving instructor training course for our trainees and were looking for a solution that combined structure with flexibility. At the same time, we wanted to foster a sense of community similar to what you might find in Facebook or other social media platforms.
After evaluating different suppliers, Thrive stood out for several reasons. It wasn’t just the platform itself but the experience of working with their team. From our very first interactions, we could clearly see the steps for implementation and the level of support we would receive. Thrive’s team genuinely wanted us to succeed, and that mutual commitment has been pivotal.
The platform gives us the agility we need to make quick changes and adapt to new releases, which aligns perfectly with how we like to work. We’ve built a fantastic relationship with Thrive. It’s the kind of partnership where my colleagues now wear their Thrive hoodies with pride! We feel like we’ve grown together, which reflects the strength of the collaboration.”
How does Thrive’s platform align with the AA Driving School’s mission and values?
“For us, confidence is key. Our driving instructor franchisees oversee more than 200,000 first driving lessons each year, so it’s essential that we equip them to not only teach people how to operate a car but also ensure their safety on the road.
Building a sense of community among our instructors has been equally important. Driving instruction can be a solitary profession, and we wanted to create an environment where instructors could connect, share content that resonates, and support each other. Thrive has made that possible. It offers a risk-free way to foster that community and highlight valuable resources, whether through the virtual platform or in-person connections.
It’s about helping our instructors thrive – not just professionally but personally.”
Can you describe how Thrive Learning has been implemented at the AA Driving School and how it fits into your operations?
“We’ve implemented Thrive specifically for our Driving School Academy, which caters to two types of training:
A traditional route involving in-car training with a dedicated trainer and account manager.
A Virtual Reality programme – something unique to us – which we developed to help reduce the costs of becoming a driving instructor but maintain the high quality needed within a training course.
We’ve reached a balance where about 50% of our new instructors that qualify through our training – around 1,000 each year – now join through our VR course training. The combination of these approaches, supported by Thrive’s platform, gives us incredible flexibility.
To ensure a smooth onboarding experience, we’ve created a structured programme called ‘Five Goals to Success.’ New trainee instructors follow a two-week onboarding pathway within the platform, which includes events and self-assessments. This allows them to clearly understand their expectations and assess whether this role is the right fit for them, while they are still within their course cooling off period and able to obtain a full refund.
As trainee instructors progress, additional goals unlock, and we can monitor their compliance [would maybe say engagement or success, as compliance sounds a little harsh] through the platform. What’s been truly rewarding is seeing a direct correlation between platform engagement and higher pass rates. It’s a testament to how well the system works.”
What specific features or tools from Thrive have been most valuable to your team?
“Pathways and events have been game-changers for onboarding and training. The self-assessment tools and the ability to track compliance have allowed us to identify areas for improvement and proactively support our trainee instructors. The data we collect is invaluable – it helps us ensure that our trainee instructors are prepared and confident, which will ultimately benefit their students.”
What measurable improvements or successes have you seen since working with Thrive?
“Before Thrive, we had no way to monitor or measure progress effectively. Now, with the platform, we can track everything our trainee instructors do and use that data to provide targeted support.
One of our guiding themes at the AA is ‘digital convenience and human care.’ Thrive has allowed us to embody that perfectly. The platform provides digital convenience for our users, but the insights we gain enable us to offer personalised, human-centred support. It’s helped us align with our core values and deliver real results.”
Has Thrive helped address any specific challenges the Driving School was facing, such as instructor retention or upskilling?
“Absolutely. The community-building aspect has been pivotal critical in addressing the isolation that can come with this profession. By creating a space where trainee instructors can share insights and resources, we’ve fostered a sense of belonging that’s helped with retention. Additionally, the platform’s flexibility makes it easier for us to introduce upskilling opportunities that resonate with our trainee instructors’ needs.”
What feedback have you received from staff or instructors about using Thrive’s platform?
“The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Trainee instructors appreciate how intuitive the platform is and the way it streamlines their journey. We regularly collect feedback to refine user experiences and address any challenges they face. It’s not just about passing the course with us – we want to create confident, capable driving instructors, and Thrive helps us achieve that.”
Are there any unexpected benefits you’ve discovered through the partnership with Thrive?
“The biggest surprise has been how seamlessly Thrive has become an integral part of our operations. Beyond its technical capabilities, the platform has strengthened our culture and given us new ways to connect and grow together as a team.”
How do you see Thrive Learning supporting the AA Driving School Academy’s goals over the next few years?
“Thrive will continue to play a central role in our growth. With industry trends like the shift to electric vehicles and evolving driving regulations, we need a platform that can adapt quickly and support ongoing education. Thrive gives us the flexibility to stay ahead of these changes and prepare our trainee instructors for what’s next.”
If you could describe Thrive’s impact on the AA Driving School Academy in one sentence, what would it be?
“We’ve grown our franchise by 11% each year and Thrive has been essential to that success – we simply couldn’t have achieved this level of growth without them. It’s been a real team effort.”
What has been your experience with Thrive as a partner?
“It’s truly a partnership. The Thrive team is invested in our success and deeply understands our business needs. That level of commitment and collaboration has made all the difference.”
Explore what impact Thrive could make for your team and your learners today.
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