A Biggleswade Driving Instructor has become the first in Bedfordshire to achieve the accolade of ‘Trading Standards Approval’

Drive-Smart, a school of motoring based in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire went through the rigorous checking procedure set by Central Bedfordshire Council to achieve the status of “Trading Standards Approved”.

The aim of the Central Bedfordshire Council scheme is to improve business standards and increase consumer confidence in member businesses

The proprietor of Drive-Smart, Paul Burchell says. “The attainment of Trading Standards Approval is a significant milestone in the provision of driver training. As a driving instructor I, like all other driving schools must past rigorous tests of competency and suitability set by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA). However, these standards only cover the practical aspects of learning to drive. The attainment of Trading Standards Approval goes far beyond the minimum standards required”.

The Trading Standards Approval scheme was originally devised to protect consumers against sharp practice in industries such as the building and second-hand car market. But now, such is the success of the scheme it has been expanded to encompass a much larger section of “Service” type businesses.

“I have been through a very thorough process to achieve the accolade of ‘Trading Standards Approval’. I have had personal interviews with the Public Protection team at Central Bedfordshire Council. They checked through my customer list and record keeping systems. They picked random customers from my files and contacted them to see how satisfied they had been with the service provided to them, I also had to have my terms of business scrutinised to ensure they are fair to the consumer This sort of checking procedure goes far beyond the minimum DSA requirement”.

Paul goes on to say. “My personal ethic has always been to try to provide the highest level of customer satisfaction possible. I believe that the Trading Standards Approval scheme is a valuable way of monitoring and improving on that goal”

Anne Hornett, a spokesperson for Central Bedfordshire Council said. “Central Bedfordshire Council is keen to expand initiatives such as Trading Standards Approved (TSA), which help to improve local business standards and increase consumer confidence. I’d like to take this opportunity in congratulating Paul who is the first TSA Driving Instructor in Central Bedfordshire; we look forward to working with many more local businesses under the TSA scheme”

 

For further information you can contact drivesmart@ntlworld.com

or for more information on the Trading Standards Approved scheme visit the Central Bedfordshire Council website at www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/tsapproved or alternatively email us at  trading.standards@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk        Telephone on 0300 300 8136

 

Comments please from driving instructors and driving schools who are BADDIA (Bedford and District Driving Instructors Association) members giving driving lessons, Pass Plus, a2om BTEC in Driving Science, advanced lessons, automatic lessons, disabled lessons, towing lessons, refresher courses, motorway lessons, fleet training, instructor training, in preparation for driving tests or driver improvement in the Bedford area