When did you start your job as a minicab driver in London?
In February 2016, by coincidence. It was just a few months after I had been widowed and I needed to find something to keep my mind occupied. The pay wasn’t brilliant, but the hours were good. So long as work didn’t interfere with my MiniCab in E15 study hours for the lessons, it was an easy enough way to supplement my weekly income when other jobs refused me because of the distance from where I live. I love what I do and it’s only been going well ever since! The challenges can be many – from wearing make up on windy days when driving or night time driving.
Do you think you will continue to work as a minicab driver in London?
Yes, I would like to continue doing this. Although it’s not the safest job in the world and there are times when it can be precarious, I enjoy the flexibility of being able to pick up fares when or where I want to. It’s also nice to be my own boss. I can set my own hours for work and take breaks as much as I want. As long as my tax returns are up to date and my health is good, I will carry on!
Why did you choose this career path?
I live in London now and have not found anything else that suited me. A friend of mine had MiniCab in E15 suggested this as an alternative to carrying a heavy supermarket bag around, which I had been doing ever since my husband passed away. So when I saw an online advertisement for a minicab driver, I thought it would be worth a shot. It was very convenient working near to where I lived and that’s why I have continued doing it ever since!
What do you like most about your career?
Being my own boss is the best thing about this job! Taking breaks and being able to work when and where you want is great. The flexibility is worth more than anything else.
How do you approach your job?
I have managed to train myself to be a very efficient driver, so now I can work without even having to walk with the passenger. I find that helps me in order to motivate myself. Being able to drive in the rain is also a challenge, but with practice and good timing, it can be managed!
What was your original goal as a minicab driver?
I used to work as a full time MiniCab in E15 driver when I lived in East London, but then I got married and I moved. I had always been interested in driving a car and this seemed like the best way to get experience.
How do you manage your time?
I have made a spreadsheet of all my addresses, so that whenever I have a new one, it is already recorded in there. I find it saves me from having to make notes as every new journey is added. My time is managed well in the way that I have to prioritise for each client, so that I can make sure I get them round to their destination in a timely manner. It’s a challenging job, but luckily it suits me!
What do you think of London’s minicab industry?
It has changed rapidly in the past decade or so. Long gone are the days where there were hundreds of old minicab companies. Now it’s mainly large companies that take over and some of them are very small. The pay isn’t great either MiniCab in E15 and you really have to be very efficient if you want to keep doing this job long term.
What advice would you give to someone applying to be a minicab driver in London?
If you want it to be an ongoing career, you have to focus on being efficient and timely with your service. As long as people are happy with your service, they will keep coming back! Don’t forget that it can also be a problem if you have bad weather or it’s a night time journey. It is a very busy time to be in the cab too.
How do you handle difficult situations?
They can happen at any time and so it’s important to be able to turn them around. My family have been through a lot of problems, so I have often found myself having to MiniCab in E15 deal with situations that I didn’t want to deal with. I always like to make sure that the passenger is safe and happy before putting them down! In some cases, it’s not possible, but as long as you are honest about it, people won’t take offence – we all deal with things differently.