Wheely has opened a purpose-built Chauffeur Academy in Hammersmith, west London, alongside its relocated company headquarters. The facility joins Wheely's existing academies in Dubai, New York and Paris, with more expected to open as the platform continues its North American expansion.

Wheely was founded in Switzerland before establishing its headquarters in London, and now operates across the UK, UAE, France and the United States.

The academy, confirmed by Wheely, runs a three-day training programme covering etiquette, situational awareness, privacy protocols, vehicle standards, driving style and communication, with graduates required to pass written and practical assessments including a vehicle inspection and grooming test. Only around one in six applicants successfully complete the course.

Wheely, founded in London in 2010 by Anton Chirkunov, has raised $96.6 million in total funding and reported revenue of $30.7 million in 2022, its most recent publicly disclosed figure. The company employs around 200 people and has served business travellers through its black car service for 15 years.

The structural driver behind the academy's expansion is Wheely's shift from vetting third-party drivers toward standardising service delivery across every market it enters, using a common curriculum to ensure clients receive the same hospitality standard whether travelling in London, Dubai, New York or Paris.

Laura Allen, Wheely's global director of customer experience, said exceptional service "is created through thousands of small details delivered consistently, journey after journey," adding that the academy ensures every client experiences the same standards "no matter when and where they travel."

Ricky Miller, a former Royal Marines warrant officer who leads the programme, said driving "is only one part of being a Wheely chauffeur," with the real skill lying in "reading every situation, anticipating every detail and delivering exceptional service with absolute consistency."

For the sector, Wheely's academy network confirms that premium mobility platforms are treating standardised, in-house training as core brand infrastructure, rather than leaving service quality to individual drivers' own experience.

Source: prodrivermags.com / preqin.com