Craig Nickson is a highly qualified and experienced driver trainer with over two decades of professional expertise, blending frontline emergency service instruction with modern, client-centred driver education. Since qualifying as an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) on 4th April 2001, Craig has built a career dedicated to raising driving standards, promoting road safety, and developing drivers and instructors to the highest professional levels.
His professional qualifications and registrations speak for themselves:
- Approved Driving Instructor (DVSA Government Registration)
- Police Advanced Driving Instructor – Greater Manchester Police Emergency Fire
- Appliance Driving (EFAD) Instructor Level 3 Certificate in Emergency Response
- Ambulance Driving (CERAD) DERADI – Diploma in Emergency Response
- Ambulance Driving Instruction ROSPA Gold Award (Highest civilian driving standard)
- Category C (Rigid LGV) & Category D1 (Minibus) Vocational Licences – Unrestricted NVQ A1 Assessor Award (Edexcel)
- Level 4 Certificate in Education & Training
Craig’s career began in the Armed Forces before moving into healthcare, but it was in driver training where his skills and passion truly came together. As a Police Driving Instructor for Greater Manchester Police from 2006 to 2020, he trained officers in advanced car handling, high-speed response driving, and specialist vehicle categories, often in challenging, high-pressure environments. He also delivered training to the Royal Logistics Corps bomb disposal teams, fire service personnel, and private ambulance crews linked to the NHS.
His professional attainments and CPD record demonstrate his commitment to continuous learning and industry excellence, with regular development in advanced driving techniques, road traffic law, vehicle safety, and driver education methodology. Over his 22 years as an instructor, Craig has consistently achieved the highest DVSA grading — Grade 6 under the old system and Grade A under the new — with an exceptional 49/51 on his most recent standards check.
The benefits Craig brings to driver education include:
- Credibility from the frontline – First-hand operational experience in blue-light and high-performance driving
- Versatility across vehicle types – Cars, 4×4, minibuses, LGVs, and specialist emergency vehicles
- Proven instructional excellence – From coaching complete beginners to training instructors and emergency response drivers
- Client-centred methods – Tailoring training to the needs, abilities, and learning style of each individual
- Safety and performance focus – Instilling lifelong skills to prevent collisions and improve driver decision-making
Today, Craig runs his own successful driver training business, delivering courses for learner drivers, potential driving instructors (PDIs), approved driving instructors (ADIs), and specialist emergency vehicle operators. His mission remains the same as it was in 2001: to create safer, more capable drivers through high-quality, professional training grounded in real-world expertise.
