And learner drivers can receive £20 off their first booking through the Learnr app when they create an account until the promotion ends on August 31.

Marcus Worsley and Mickey Seymour, co-founders of Learnr Technology Limited, think their app can help solve this problem. Instead of having to wait weeks or months, learners in Leeds can now find qualified instructors in minutes and hit the road the next day.

There are currently 40 instructors registered with Learnr in Leeds. Together they offer courses in a geographical area covering all Leeds and Bradford postcodes, with coverage constantly expanding to cover the whole of West Yorkshire. More than 400 hours of lessons were booked through the app in June, and the number keeps growing.

Driving instructor Alan Cockerham, who runs Guiseley-based Mad About Driving, is one of 40 instructors offering lessons in Leeds on the app. He said:

“In over 20 years as a driving instructor, I have yet to come across an application that could disrupt my industry the way Learnr can, despite the efforts of other companies. It should be an essential tool for any driving instructor.

“The Learnr app has optimized my diary planning resulting in a more efficient workload and higher profits. I no longer need to spend hours every day on the phone answering inquiries , now students simply book with me directly through the app.

All driving instructors listed on Learnr go through a verification process and must be fully qualified, insured and registered with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).

Marcus Worsley, co-founder of Learnr Technology, said: “Having lived and studied here, we knew Leeds would be the perfect place to launch Learnr. The response has been fantastic and it has been great to hear the positive experiences of learners using it.

“It’s about putting learners in the driver’s seat and helping them make more informed choices. Instead of being stuck on a long waiting list, you can book a driving lesson with a qualified instructor in minutes and be on the road the next day.

“Some learners take advantage of the added flexibility of testing several different instructors before deciding who to continue with.

“The nationwide shortage of driving lessons created by the pandemic reinforces the need to improve and modernize the process of booking driving lessons, which we are making possible with Learnr.”

Mickey Seymour added: “Many driving instructors work independently and are on the road all day, so it’s no wonder the traditional model of booking driving lessons has failed to keep pace. of the digital age.

“When we came up with the concept of Learnr, we thought it sounded crazy that you could book flights, order food and buy cars with the click of a button online, but you still have to search the yellow pages and make a phone call to book a driving instructor. Even after doing that, chances are they won’t be able to answer because they’re teaching.

“Learnr aims to change all that. It has been extremely valuable to have driving instructors working with us to develop Learnr. This app will support their business by helping fill empty class slots and providing a more efficient way to manage bookings and collect payments.

“The Learnr approach simplifies lesson booking and, in the longer term, we believe it can revolutionize the industry and people’s experience of learning to ride.”

Three months after its launch, Learnr is already being hailed as a game changer by driving instructors and learners alike.

Megan Barker, 21, a nurse from Headingley, recently passed her driving test after booking lessons with Alan through Learnr. She said: “I discovered the Learnr app while researching different driving schools online. I ended up passing my exam on the first try after only 20 hours of lessons.”

The app is available at: https://mylearnr.co.uk/