WHAT MAKES A GOOD CHAUFFEUR

Mitchelmore started his career as an officer with the Metropolitan Police in 1992. He was posted to Heathrow where he regularly had to look after VIPs passing through the airport. He spotted a gap in the market for highly trained drivers and chauffeurs, which inspired him to launch his own company - Eminence Chauffeuring. His drivers almost all have a police background and hold valuable qualifications such as Advanced Driving, Emergency Life Support and Enhanced Medic, Anti-Hijack, Armoured Vehicles and Personal Protection.
Mitchelmore shares his tips on what to look for when choosing a chauffeur:

Driving and awareness skills that are second to none

There are many different types of chauffeurs - driver/owner, personal/private, full-time and event chauffeurs among them. The two key skills required are the ability to drive smoothly and confidently and to communicate effectively - to speak clearly and to listen carefully.

Don't assume a chauffeur has all the right training - ask for their qualifications. The best drivers will have outstanding car handling skills, but one who is Police Advanced Driver trained can foresee incident risks and react without the passenger even noticing. Being involved in many security incidents during my career, you get a sixth sense for danger and what feels 'off', acting on it discreetly before anything materialises.

Pre-journey safety checks:

When taking a flight, you assume the pilots have carried out the necessary safety checks. Likewise, a good chauffeur should carry out pre-departure checks, especially if not driving their own car: these include making sure the car has a valid MOT certificate, insurance and tax, examining the wheels/tyres for correct pressures, more than the minimum tread, with no rips, ...