Paul Ripley: From drum solos to driving mastery and safety advocacy.

In this episode of CAREER-VIEW MIRROR, we’re celebrating the career to date of Paul Ripley.

Paul Ripley is one of the UK’s most experienced and decorated advanced driving coaches, with a 45-year career dedicated to helping people drive more skilfully, more safely—and with more enjoyment. Nicknamed “God’s Chauffeur” by The Daily Telegraph, Paul has worked with top global manufacturers including Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Porsche, and Rolls-Royce, and has appeared as the “Driving Doctor” on Channel 4’s Driven.

His story began in Leeds, where he left school at 15 to pursue a career in music. He played professionally as a drummer, performed at iconic venues like the Royal Albert Hall, and went on to build and sell a successful amplifier business—funding the Ferrari that sparked his next career chapter.

In our conversation, we talk about Paul’s journey from working-class roots and musical ambition to becoming a trusted advisor on road safety, a weekly columnist for The Telegraph, and a globally respected coach of high-performance drivers. He shares his philosophy of mindset over mechanics, and why emotional stability, self-reflection, and attitude matter more than raw speed behind the wheel.

Paul’s story is one of ownership, mastery, and making a meaningful impact—not just in driving, but in how we approach performance in life.

Connect with Paul

LinkedIn
Email: info@paulripley.co
Website

Industry accreditations:

DVSA ADI, DIA Diploma Di, RoSPA ADA Gold, MDG Gold Level, RoSPA ADA Teaching Diploma, C&G 730 Diploma, Diamond Advanced Test, High Performance Course, MDG Diploma, IAM, Mercedes-Benz Performance Driving Masters (Melsheim),DVSA Grade One Advanced Cardington Test, MDG Masters (Human Factors), Royal Carmen of London, Diploma (Royal Logistics Corps), Performance Coaching Diploma (SJW). 

Awards:

HRH Prince Michael Special Road Safety Award
BRAKE - Best Driver Safety Innovation Award 2018
BRAKE - Best Fleet Driver Safety Product 2019
Business Car Techies Award 2018
WebFleet Best Product Innovation Partner 2019
Author of the Acclaimed Book ‘Expert Driving’ Paul provides Expert

Consultancy Services for:

UK Dept of Transport, DVSA, RoSPA, UK Police Forces, IMS, BP Chemicals, Cosworth, Daily Telegraph, EVO Magazine,Auto Express / Autovia, Ricardo,  Mercedes-Benz, Lotus Engineering, RoadSafe, Volvo UK, BMW, Porsche, Audi, AMG, Hyundai South Korea, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Chevrolet, VW, Nissan, Pirelli, Caterham, Toyota, Prodrive, Proton, Caterham, BCAA Canada, FTA, Bridgestone Tyres, AA Magazine, Shell, Webfleet, The Driving Doctor, Dunlop Suspension, Roll Royce Engineering, Mascotech, TWR Engineering, Mitsubishi etc/. 

About Andy

I’m a business leader, coach, and the creator of the Fulfilling Performance framework—designed to help people bring more of themselves to what they do and experience greater fulfilment and performance as a result.

Learn more about Fulfilling Performance

Check out Release the Handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance

Connect with Andy

LinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Join a peer mentoring team: Aquilae Academy

Thank you to our sponsors:

ASKE Consulting
Email: hello@askeconsulting.co.uk
Aquilae
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk

Episode recorded on 4 July, 2025.