A couple of weeks ago I travelled to Liverpool for an
assessment with the Guild of Professional Chauffeurs in the hope of becoming a qualified
Chauffeur. Gladly I passed and am now a member of the Guild. Initially I was
unsure of joining but that changed a few weeks ago. The Guild of Professional
Chauffeurs is a fairly new movement in the chauffeur industry - it only carried
out its first assessment in 2018. Initially the uptake was slow. Although I was
aware of the efforts to grow the membership, I was probably similar to many
people who were waiting to see if it gained momentum.
As an effort to dispel the myths of it being a cloak and
dagger type organisation the Guild held an open meeting in Walsall. They wanted
to reassure potential members there was a recognised procedure for assessment
and everything was above board. As an opportunity to meet other operators in
the Chauffeur Industry and network, I went along. It was good to talk to so
many like-minded people and share experiences. It gave me the confidence needed
to believe the Guild would be more than just a member’s directory. A lot of
time and effort had been invested in establishing the organisation as a
professional body.
The Guild of Professional Chauffeurs (or GoPC for short)
needed members to join if it was really going to get the ball rolling. It was
time for people to sign-up and become a qualified Chauffeur. All the hard work
had been done by the committee. What it required now was for those wait-and-see
type people to undergo assessment. It would then become their Guild and grow
with their requirements. Anyone with vision will see the potential for the
Guild to become an industry body and represent the niche market of the
chauffeur world. The capability exists in its members to help each other with
licensing issues, vehicle purchasing questions, discounted insurance schemes and
a whole lot more.
As someone who has always believed ‘one man can make a difference’,
it was time to stand up and be counted. Luckily in 2019, I had already completed
a one day first-aid course with the Guild. This meant all I had to do was
complete a practical assessment and a written Highway Code test. Obviously you
have to send over some documents, just to ensure your vehicle is licensed and
legal but this can be done in advance. On the day, it is truly nerve-racking! Being
assessed by your peers is quite something. However, I simply took the approach
that, if I was lacking in any department, there would be constructive feedback
and a second opportunity to attempt the assessment at a later date.
True to their word in Walsall, if you carry out a
chauffeuring role on a daily basis (and you are working to a good standard),
there is every likelihood you will achieve success. Gladly, my advanced driver training with RoSPA was
noted and it made a difference. This was praised by my assessor. The feedback
was all positive (apart from a minor setback on the practical test). To end the
day, a lapel badge was pinned to my suit and a certificate was dispatched in
the post. Now I proudly have something to differentiate my skills from anyone branding
themselves a Chauffeur. I have been assessed by my peers and approved as a Qualified
Chauffeur.
