Thousands of driving instructors and trainees from across the UK are booked in to descend on Solihull this month for the ADINJC & Intelligent Instructor National Conference and Expo ’26.

The FREE national get-together promises a packed day of learning, networking, innovation and celebration.

If you are set to attend just one professional event this year, this has to be the first one to consider – it has the widest selection of seminars, speakers and trade stalls. 

It offers opportunities to test products on the spot, from new EVs to the latest training aids.

But it’s not all work; what about the networking opportunities, meeting up with friends and colleagues and relaxed quizzing of the experts?

Spending time wisely

The free-to-attend event takes place on Sunday, 27 September 2026, at Cranmore Park, Solihull.

Opening its doors at 8am, it remains open until 4.30pm for you to immerse yourself in professional luxury.

It is open to everyone, from experienced Approved Driving Instructors (ADIs) to Potential Driving Instructors (PDIs), and to anyone involved in or considering a career in driver training and road safety.

The event has already established itself as the biggest gathering of the UK’s driving instructor community.

Last year, more than 1,785 ADIs and PDIs attended the 2025 conference, making it the largest gathering of driving instructors ever held in the UK.

Have a look at the event here.

This year, the organisers expect to surpass that record, with more delegates, more expert speakers, more sessions, and more opportunities for attendees to develop their skills, become better teachers and build their businesses.

Better things to do

Rather than simply being another trade exhibition, the conference has been designed as an annual celebration of the profession, bringing instructors together to share ideas, learn from industry experts and discover new ways of working.

One of the biggest attractions will be the programme of more than 40 expert-led seminars, spread across four dedicated zones.

The Live Stage will feature some of the biggest names in driver training, including a dedicated DVSA update, as well as a speaker line-up second to none, including Terry Cook, Lynne Barrie, Chris Benstead, Tommy Sandhu, Ray Saegrave, Dr Julia Malkin, Dianne Hall, Kev &Tracey Field, Lee Jowett, Fazil Shah…. the list is so long, click here.

What they do is provide instructors with the full kaleidoscope of information, experience and thinking around our industry. 

 

 

Greater ways to learn

For those working towards becoming an instructor, the PDI Zone will provide guidance, insight and motivation, helping aspiring ADIs navigate their route into the profession.

The Training Zone will focus on practical development, with back-to-back sessions designed to help instructors improve their teaching skills and become even more effective behind the wheel.

Meanwhile, the Innovation Zone will look beyond traditional driver training, exploring subjects including artificial intelligence, road safety, technology, business tools and new ways for instructors to develop additional revenue streams.

There will also be plenty to discover in the exhibition area, with more than 70 industry suppliers expected to showcase products, technology, training resources and services.

For instructors running their own businesses, the Expo provides an opportunity to compare products, try new equipment, take advantage of exclusive offers and collect practical resources to take back to their businesses.

Fantastic experiences

But organisers stress that the day isn’t all work.

For example, visitors will be able to test-drive the latest electric and adapted instructor cars, including the Porsche Taycan, BMW iD3, MG4, Tesla Model 3, Mini Electric and Kia Niro.

There will also be a pop-up photography studio where visitors can get a free professional headshot, while prizes will be available through the PNG driving simulator and Speed of Sight charity tombola.

The ADINJC Health & Well-being Area, hosted at the SmartLearner stand, will combine entertainment with fundraising.

A reaction-time challenge will see SmartLearner make a charitable donation to Speed of Sight each time someone takes part, with prizes of £100, £50 and £25 available for the fastest reactions.

Don’t think twice, it’s alright

For instructors, the event offers something increasingly valuable in a rapidly changing industry: the opportunity to step away from the day-to-day pressures of teaching, meet fellow professionals, and consider where their careers and businesses could go next.

Whether attending as an established independent ADI, a franchise instructor, a PDI or someone considering entering the profession, the ADINJC & Intelligent Instructor National Conference and Expo ’26 promises to be the most important date in the driving instructor calendar.

You can’t afford to miss it – it’s FREE too!