Page 82 • The HERALD • 9th October 2025 v READ THE HERALD ONLINE: www.herald-publishing.co.uk v Our knowledgeable staff are on hand to keep your vehicle on the road in a safe manner • We offer all garage services including free collection and delivery from your home • We now offer Dpf cleaning - Injector cleaning - Turbo cleaning and Air intake cleaning to help your car run cleaner improving its performance and economy. • Good Garage Scheme – RMI – Trust my Garage Member MOT’s, TYRES, CLUTCHES, CAMBELTS, SERVICING, WELDING, DIAGNOSTICS, LASER-TRACKING. CARS, VANS UP TO 3.5T, MOTORHOMES UP TO 30’ 023 8001 0029 Badminston Lane, Fawley, SO45 1BX 023 8001 0029 Long established family business • MOT TESTING • SERVICE & REPAIR FOR ALL MAKES AND MODELS • CLUTCHES • DIAGNOSTICS • CAMBELTS • SERVICE TO MANUFACTURERS SPECIFICATION • FREE COLLECTION & DELIVERY • USED CAR SALES 128-132 Calmore Road, Totton. SO40 8GQ 023 8086 4424 www.calmoreservicestation.co.uk Motorcycle Instructors Needed To Plug Skills Gap A lack of motorcycle instructors is creating a backlog and making it more di cult for new riders to get on two wheels. But it also means there are exciting career opportunities available… Becoming a motorcycle instructor seems tempting in many ways: a steady income, exible hours, gaining a nationally recognised quali cation in the process, and for those who love motorcycling there’s the joy of working with bikes and introducing new people to the wonderful world of two wheels. However, the industry is struggling to hire enough motorcycle instructors to meet the demand from people wanting to learn to ride. With Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) data showing that just shy of 40,000 people passed their motorcycle test in 2024*, the problem with nding trainers is clearly a big one. However, the skills gap is even more evident in Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) where the volume of demand is far greater. Because CBTs are still paper-based, there are no exact national gures showing how many certi cates are awarded annually, but the fact that the UK’s largest motorcycle training organisation, Phoenix Motorcycle Training, alone is issuing around 6,000 CBT certi cates yearly gives you an idea of the scale of the issue. Mark Ja e, owner and chief instructor at Phoenix Motorcycle Training, believes they could be delivering many more training sessions and bringing new people into motorcycling if they had enough sta to meet the demand. Instead, Phoenix Motorcycle Training is constantly looking for instructors to help ll the skills gap, and meet the demand from people wanting to ride. ere are jobs from CBT instructors to full motorcycle licence training and advanced rider training instructors that need lling. Mark Ja e said: “The lack of motorcycle instructors is a real hindrance. At the moment, we have more It’s not like we are looking for trained professionals either. You need a full, clean, motorcycle licence and a minimum of three years riding experience, but that’s about it. We have a fantastic training programme for our instructors to give them not just the skills to train people to ride bikes, but also a Level 3 Award in Education and Training (RQF), so they gain a teaching qualification applicable to any teaching job.” e need for motorcycle instructors is clear if you talk to the training organisations, as not all jobs are advertised on the job sites. Phoenix Motorcycle Training for example has more vacancies advertised on their website than on external sites. ey are currently actively recruiting in Southampton as well as Bognor Regis, and further a eld in Bristol, Colchester, Cwmbran and Milton Keynes. Phoenix Motorcycle Training is encouraging not only motorcyclists to consider this exciting career, but all training organisations to join in the drive to recruit more instructors in order to make it easier for more people to discover the joys of motorcycling. *39,637 licence test passes in 2024 according to MCIA Phoenix Training Instructor learners wanting to sign up for courses than we can take on because we don’t have enough instructors to train them. You would think that earning potential of up to £40k per year and the chance to turn motorcycling into a career would be enough to get bikers applying, but we are really struggling to find enough instructors to meet the demand in several areas around the UK. AUTUMN QUIZ Join Lepe Country Park on Friday 24th October, 6pm for a cosy evening of autumn-themed trivia, where falling leaves meet friendly competition! From seasonal foliage and harvest festivals to local knowledge and music trivia, the quiz will put your knowledge to the test. Take along your team, your thinking caps, and your love for all things autumn. ere will be a prize for the top scorers and maybe even a few surprises along the way! Food and drinks will be available to purchase on the night from a limited menu. Doors open at 6pm for a 6.30pm start. Jigsaw Sale A Jigsaw Sale is taking place on Saturday 25th October, 2pm–4pm, at Copythorne Parish Hall on Pollards Moor Road. Entry is £1 for adults, children free; visit the café, there will be books on sale as well. Proceeds from the sale will go to Copythorne Parish Hall. For further information call: 023 8081 3341 or email: gemmacat15@hotmail.com Holbury Manor WI Holbury Manor WI is a friendly group that meets on the fourth Monday of the month at their new venue at Fawley Rugby Football Club (RFC), Newlands Road, Fawley SO45 1GA at 7.30pm. eir next meeting is on Monday 27th October for a talk by historian Ruth Kerr titled ‘Up at the Big House’. Visitors are always welcome to go along to see (and hear) what they do and what being in the WI is all about! Please contact: holburysec@hampshirewi.org. uk for more details, or do go along to a meeting. is is a bookable event, please visit: www.hants.gov. uk/thingstodo/ countryparks/lepe/ whats-on or call: 023 8089 9108. £2per person, usual parking charges apply.
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