Examiner Recruitment
We are still running our recruitment campaign in the southern end of the country. Instructors who are interested in becoming driving examiners can find details of how to apply on our website (www.dsa.gov.uk).

Last year we recruited 283 new examiners and we aim to recruit a further 330 in 2004-05. Nearly half of this year's recruitment will be in London and the South East - which has the highest waiting times - and a further quarter in our Northern area. By the end of this year we will have increased our examiner workforce by 33% since March 2003.

We've had nearly 7,000 applications from people to become driving examiners and over 300 have succeeded in passing the selection process so far; there are still another 800 to process. Nationally, 151 new examiners have been placed so far. A further 122 are either in training or booked for a course starting in the next few months.

Trainer Register
The Agency's Business Plan reported that work would start during the year on the creation of an Integrated Register of Driver Trainers. This would eventually rationalise the existing registers and improve the speed and quality of the service we are able to give ADIs by introducing a more modern database and paper handling systems. I am pleased to say that the first phase of actually delivering this work is now underway. Our IT provider, Capita, has already started work on the design of the new system and a contract for the first phase, a scanning and retrieval system for records and documents, has now been awarded.

ADI Registration
We announced in August the establishment of a new email registration service for ADIs that would enable us to improve the way that we can get messages to individual ADIs more quickly and effectively. By visiting our website and registering your email address with us we will be able to send you e-bulletins on matters of interest. Although the service is not yet fully operational, we can record your details and will let you know when you can expect to receive regular updates from us.

So far, almost 2,000 ADIs have registered. If you have not already done so, please register now, so that we may improve our communication channels with you. We have introduced the email service in response to customer focus groups wanting more communication from the Agency.


Despatch magazine is also being published on the website about two weeks before the hard copies arrive on your doorsteps. Each issue can be found under the 'instructors' area and in future you will be able to look at copies going back to this summer.