Preston business aims to drive change

By Blush Digital

21 Nov 2016

Today, we do most things online or via our mobile phones. From ordering meals to dating, there’s not much we can’t do with a few clicks of a button.

Something as simple as finding a driving instructor is more difficult than it needs to be. Learners or their parents need to call multiple driving schools in order to acquire information and make purchases.

In the UK, over 90% of young adults own a smartphone, and spend two hours a day surfing the Internet. With no free online service offering learners the ability to search, review and book a lesson, a rethink for how students connect with instructors was needed, this is where Oppima steps in.

Aleks, founder of Oppima, originally came up with the idea when looking for driving lessons. He needed to find a teacher quickly, so he went on to Google, and called them one by one. Aleks was only met with unavailability and a lack of answers. He had to call around 10 different schools and instructors, spending 10-20 minutes per call. Wouldn’t it be easier if it were all in one place? Fed up with the experience, Aleks decided to start working on his idea for a platform so that no other learner had to go through what he did just to book a driving lesson.

Aleks approached the guys at Blush Digital to create the software due to Blush Digital’s extensive knowledge in mobile app and software development. After many discussions and a lot of market research. Blush Digital took up the option of teaming up with Aleks to create Oppima.

Daniel Fisher of Blush Digital said: “When the opportunity arose to get involved in Oppima, I grabbed it with both hands. With it, we can create a customer-orientated business that eliminates the stress of finding a decent driving instructor. We get asked regularly to get involved in projects and we almost always turn it down, but with Oppima, we see its true potential and ability to disrupt the current thinking in the market. There are 7.7 million provisional drivers in the UK, of which a total of 750,000 get a license every year. Additionally, the market grows by about 230,000 new students annually. That to me is very appealing.”

Aleks, founder of Oppima continues on from Daniel; “The way we’ve approached this problem is by creating the Just Eat for driving lessons. Now learners can search for instructors based on their specific needs such as availability, price, gender, transmission type and most importantly, user ratings. Learners can book lessons and use the conventional method of paying cash-in-car, with the option to securely pay online if they so choose.

From our market research, 67% of learner drivers would prefer to use an online booking system rather than the traditional methods, with 78% more likely to purchase a lesson from instructors with good reviews.

Younger generations prefer doing things online, avoiding any time spent unnecessarily calling. By providing users a simple-to-use messaging system, learners and instructors are able to co-ordinate and arrange bookings through our software eliminating any communicative barriers.

We’re not just a listing, booking & lead generation platform, we’ll be releasing a theory practice section specifically aimed at supporting learners through the process of studying for their theory tests. “

Having completed a successful soft launch in the north west, Oppima have started a UK-wide marketing campaign and are soon to be looking for investment to further develop the software and to create a mobile app for learners and instructors. Oppima envision becoming the first market leader to disrupt the industry by creating a service that brings value to all users. There are many countries on their radar and the UK is just the beginning. Oppima are already in talks with international partners and plan to take their service into other English speaking countries such as Canada and the US.

Enjoyed this? Read more from Blush Digital

Latest news

1

Roundhouse secures approval for new £15m office and industrial scheme in Preston Momentum

Roundhouse secures approval for new £15m office and industrial scheme in Preston

25 Jul 2025

2

Homebuilder's high-performing sales advisers clinch awards Ben Garland and Julia Lorente

Homebuilder's high-performing sales advisers clinch awards

24 Jul 2025

3

Work is set to start on Multiversity project Multiversity Blackpool

Work is set to start on Multiversity project

24 Jul 2025

4

BAE Systems welcomes MOU between Republic of Turkiye and UK for purchase of Typhoon aircraft Typhoon production Warton

BAE Systems welcomes MOU between Republic of Turkiye and UK for purchase of Typhoon aircraft

23 Jul 2025

5

Assystem to double UK jobs to deliver Sizewell C EDF Assystem

Assystem to double UK jobs to deliver Sizewell C

22 Jul 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Preston Tech Connection: Buzz Word Bingo. Challenging Todays's Buzzwords In Tech
July PTC banner long updated.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
29 Jul 2025 - 29 Jul 2025

Preston Tech Connection: Buzz Word Bingo. Challenging Todays's Buzzwords In Tech

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:30

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July
Longer July Banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
31 Jul 2025 - 31 Jul 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – August 14th
Navy--Event Tile.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
14 Aug 2025 - 14 Aug 2025

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – August 14th

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 12:00

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Header (24).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
21 Aug 2025 - 21 Aug 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Mytton Fold, Langho, BB6 8AB

11:30 - 14:15

Morecambe Bay Walk
Walk.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Awards
30 Aug 2025 - 30 Aug 2025

Morecambe Bay Walk

Arnside, CARNFORTH, LA5

09:30 - 14:00

Longridge Soap Box Derby
Screenshot 2025-06-10 090035.png.png
LBV Hub Fundraisers
14 Sep 2025 - 14 Sep 2025

Longridge Soap Box Derby

Berry Lane, Longridge, PR3 3WH

10:00 - 16:30

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

Help to grow management course
Help to grow - barriers to growth.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Sep 2025 - 16 Dec 2025

Help to grow management course

Preston Campus , Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women
thumbnail_Emma Weston Illustration WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 18 Mar 2026

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:30 - 15:30

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV 123 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin