Below is a list of the benefits you can get as a member of the Sheffield & District Driving Instructors Association. These benefits are for all members:

Sickness Benefit.

The SDDIA offers a sickness benefit package for members who have been fully paid up for 12 months. The benefit scheme offers financial support to members who have been off work due to sickness or injury for at least four months.

Full details of the scheme are available to all members in their welcome email and also for download in the members only section of this website.

Halfords Trade Card.

While not on the list of approved professions, members of the SDDIA are eligible for a Halfords Trade Card. Members can get their card from Halfords branches in Sheffield on proving their eligability.

Benefits include:

: : 30% off Fuses and Fixings.
: : 25% off Wipers, Ignitions and Filtration.
: : 20% off Oils, Additives, Brake Pads and Batteries.
: : 20% off Tools and Workshop.
: : 10% off Car Cleaning.

There may be cheaper alternatives available but the convenience of a Halfords in terms of their range in stock and their opening hours. The discount card can save significant amounts over the life of a vehicle.

Tyres – Out of Hours Service.

One of our members has family who operates a mobile tyre replacement service. This service is available out of hours.

Details of how to access this benefit are available in the members area and the welcome email.

Fuel Cards

One of the largest expenses any ADI or PDI has is fuel for their vehicle. To help tackle this increasing cost the SDDIA has an arrangment in place with Fleetmaxx. The company provides fuel cards to operators and as a result of their large weekly purchasing access discounted prices for the fuel they sell.

Members wishing to pursue this option should contact the secretary for more information. This benefit may be subject to credit checks.

Orange 3 Car Park

Finding a place to practice bay parking manoeuvres is a challenge for every driving instructor which is why the SDDIA have reached an agreement to use one of the Orange car parks at Meadowhall Shopping Centre.

Full details of this benefit will be communicated to members by email on joining. This email should be retained to ensure that you can continue to use the car park if challenged by security.

Non-members are cautioned against using the car park. Security regularly challenge vehicles using the car park for practice and you can be ejected from the car park if you do not have permission. 

Regular Meetings, CPD Courses and Events

The SDDIA hold regular meetings, including specific meetings to discuss and hear information on industry specific matters of interest. We regularly are visited by the local LDTMs for Handsworth and Middlewood test centres. We also have sessions on a range of subjects including accounting, vulnerable road users and automotive electrification.

As one of the largest local driving instructors associations in the UK, we have exception buying power and use this to bring the professions most respected experts to provide CPD courses for members and non-members alike. Member pricing for these events is usually much below the normal rate for attending these courses at other promotors.

Nicholas Smith
Author

Nicholas Smith is an approved driving instructor and a member of the SDDIA committee responsible for the build and maintenance of the association website and content production. Nick draws on his experience of over a decade as a motorsport journalist alongside his driving and instructing roles.