Drive Further. Think Deeper. Arrive Safely. For Life
Elevating Driving Standards for Life
At Up Driver Training, we believe driving is a lifelong skill and that learning should never stop. We work with learner drivers, full licence holders, trainee instructors, qualified ADIs, and fleet drivers, helping each person develop the skills, confidence, judgement, and responsibility needed to thrive on today’s roads. Through evidence-based coaching methods, professional development, and a commitment to continuous improvement, we support people at every stage of their journey. Our mission is simple: to elevate driving standards and help create safer drivers for life.
What We Believe
We believe driving is one of the most important life skills a person can learn.
Learning to drive should be about more than passing a test. It should help people develop the confidence, judgement, responsibility, and self-awareness needed to make safe decisions on the road every day.
We believe that better drivers create safer roads, that learning never truly stops, and that professional development matters at every stage of a driver’s journey. Whether we’re supporting a learner driver, a full licence holder, a trainee instructor, or an experienced ADI, our goal remains the same: to help people continue growing, improving, and reaching their potential.
Our Story
Up Driver Training was founded on a passion for road safety, professional development, and helping people reach their potential.
What began as a local driving school in St Helens has grown into a wider driver development organisation, supporting learners, full licence holders, trainee instructors, qualified ADIs, and fleet drivers across the North West.
As we’ve grown, one thing has remained unchanged: our commitment to delivering high-quality training that makes a lasting difference.
What Makes Us Different
Many driving schools focus on helping people pass a test.
While passing is important, we believe it should be the beginning of a driver’s journey, not the end.
That’s why our training focuses on developing the skills, habits, attitudes, and decision-making abilities needed for real-world driving. We want our learners to feel confident driving independently, our full licence holders to continue developing their skills, and our instructors to embrace lifelong professional growth.
Everything we do is guided by one simple goal: raising driving standards and helping people stay safe on the road for life.
Supporting Learners for a Lifetime of Safe Driving
Learning to drive is about far more than passing a test.
Our goal is to help you become a safe, confident, and independent driver who can handle the challenges of real-world driving long after your test certificate arrives.
Through personalised lessons, evidence-based coaching methods, and structured driver development, we help learners build not only vehicle control skills, but also the awareness, decision-making, and self-reflection needed to drive safely for life.
Whether you’re completely new to driving or approaching your practical test, we’ll support you every step of the way.
Great driving instructors never stop learning.
Whether you’re training to become an instructor or looking to develop your skills as a qualified ADI, we’re committed to supporting professional growth through coaching, collaboration, and continuous development.
Our instructor training and development programmes draw upon evidence-based coaching principles, the National Standard, the Goals for Driver Education framework, and modern approaches to learning and skill acquisition.
We believe that better instructors create better drivers, and that raising professional standards benefits everyone who uses the road.
Supporting Instructors Through a Career of Professional Development
Supporting Parents Throughout the Learning Journey
Handing over the keys can be one of the biggest milestones in a young person’s life.
We understand that learning to drive is not just a journey for the learner, but for parents and families too.
Our approach focuses on developing safe driving habits, sound decision-making, and responsible attitudes from the very beginning. We aim to keep parents informed, supported, and involved throughout the learning process, helping young drivers build the confidence and experience they need to stay safe on today’s roads.
Because passing a test is important, but staying safe afterwards matters even more.
Meet Our Team
At Up Driver Training, people are at the heart of everything we do. Our team is passionate about learning, professional development, and raising driving standards. By working together and sharing knowledge, we create an environment where learners and instructors can continue to grow and thrive.
Emma Cottington
WA9/ WA10/ WA11
Director / Instructor / Instructor Trainer (North West)
Favourite Part of the Job? Meeting new people, finding out how they work, and watching them ace it their way!
Favourite Thing to Teach? Roundabouts – usually people’s biggest fear. I love watching them overcome it!
About Me?Usually found frantically keeping up with family life, work life, and throwing myself around at bootcamp three times per week. I’m a massive music fan and can’t be held responsible for my actions when I’m at a gig or festival. My favourite band is Aerosmith, and I travelled all the way to Las Vegas in 2019 to see them live. One of my biggest hobbies and passions is photography, and I love spending my spare time experimenting with a camera.
Garry Thomas
WN7/ WN2/ M29/ M46
Director / Instructor
Favourite part of the job? I love the variety of work; from teaching new drivers all the way to advance driver training. Everyday is different and I also get to pick my own hours.
Favourite thing to teach? I enjoy empowering the student to teach themselves. Each person comes with a vast amount of life experiences and they usually have all the answers without realising it.
About me? I’m a director and driver trainer at Up Driver Training. I'm a fleet-registered driver trainer, advanced motorcycle rider, blood bikes volunteer rider, and I hold a diploma in driver psychology. I’m a governing committee member for the ADINJC and like to walk my dog, spend time with my daughter, and read in my spare time.
Jessica Brannelly
L35/ L36
Director / Instructor
Favourite part of the job? I love seeing the transition from those first few lessons to the point where learners are driving independently and confidently. One of my favourite moments is reminding them where they started and showing them how far they’ve come.
Favourite thing to teach? I’m passionate about road safety and awareness. I particularly enjoy teaching real-world hazard prediction and perception.. helping new drivers read the road ahead, anticipate what other road users might do, and make safe decisions before situations develop.
About me? When I’m not teaching, I love getting outside for walks and fresh air. I’m a big dog lover… although somehow I ended up with a cat! I’m always interested in learning new skills and meeting new people because I believe everyone has something valuable to teach us. I also enjoy having a laugh, so be prepared for the occasional bad joke along the way.
Deb Jordon
Instructor
WA9/ WA10 / WA11
Favourite part of the job? Meeting new pupils and helping them achieve their goals.
Favourite thing to teach? There is way too many to list but it's probably anything that a pupil has admitted they have a specific worry of and then watching their confidence develop until you see that big smile of achievement! I Love that!!
About me When I’m not working, I am either enjoying walks with my partner and our 2 gorgeous Belgian Malinois dogs or out riding my motorbike. I love touring Scotland, Wales, Ireland and even Europe. My passion is being out on the open road, so road safety is paramount to having an enjoyable time. I love passing on my experiences to others in the hope it helps them stay safe on the roads!
Bob Lewis
Instructor/ Instructor Trainer
L14/ L28/ L34/ L35/ L36
Favourite part of the job? I enjoy meeting new people from all backgrounds. Helping them to develop their skills and abilities whilst behind the wheel and watch their ability and confidence grow.
Favourite thing to teach? I enjoy the manoeuvres because when a pupil says “you want me to put this car in that little space”. The smile on their face when they achieve it is brilliant.
About me. I always wanted to drive from a very early age and passed my driving test at 17. As a member of the TA, I was able to learn and obtain my LGV licence before reaching 21. I have always had a driving job and later on within the TA I got the opportunity to train other military personnel to operate plant machinery. I was able to carry this over to my then employer in civvy street. The next step was to combine the two roles and become a driving instructor.
Rick Higham
Instructor
L14/ L34/ L35/ L36
Favourite part of the job? Meeting new people, the flexibility for me and home life, watching people achieve a life skill.
Favourite thing to teach? Hmm this is a tough one for me, I don’t think I have a favourite thing I enjoy it all but I love the lesson where everything clicks and it all makes sense.
About me? I’m a relatively newly qualified instructor having passed my final exam in 2025.
I have a lot of driving/road experience to add to that new knowledge also because Before becoming an instructor I was a HGV driver for over ten years some of which I done long distance driving. I also have my motorcycle licence and enjoy riding that in my spare time too.