Getting into motorcycling has always had its quirks with licencing hurdles, limited test centre slots, and the occasional family member convinced you’ve either joined a biker gang or will be delivering pizza for a living. But now, there’s a more pressing issue: a shortage of qualified motorcycle instructors.
Despite the romantic appeal of turning a passion for bikes into a career, the industry is struggling to recruit instructors fast enough to meet demand. In 2024, 39,637 riders passed their motorcycle test, according to MCIA. That’s a significant jump from 32,607 in 2020, showing a steady rise in interest. But the real bottleneck is in CBT (Compulsory Basic Training), where demand is even higher.
While CBT figures aren’t nationally tracked due to their paper-based nature, Phoenix Motorcycle Training, Britain’s largest provider, issues around 6,000 CBT certificates annually. And they say they could do more if they had the staff. “We’ve got more learners than we can take on,” says Mark Jaffe, Phoenix’s owner. “It’s not like we’re asking for unicorns - just a full licence, three years’ experience, and a clean record.”
The role offers up to a potential £40k a year, comes with a teaching qualification, and has the chance to work with bikes daily. Yet vacancies remain unfilled, and many aren’t even listed on job sites. Phoenix is urging motorcyclists, and other training organisations, to help close the gap and get more people on two wheels.
If the industry can’t attract more instructors, the next generation of riders may never get started. And that’s a loss not just for biking, but for anyone who believes in freedom, fun, and the occasional well-earned bug splattered across the visor.
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