Instructor guide
How Cover Collective works.
A step-by-step walkthrough for instructors - finding cover to teach, and posting when you need cover yourself. Questions not covered here? Check the FAQ.
Getting started
1. Sign up and set up your profile
Create your account, then go to your profile and add the classes you teach, a short bio, and (optional but recommended) a teaching clip. You’ll also need to upload your certifications - at minimum a current qualification and public liability insurance. You can’t apply for or be confirmed on any cover until these are on file.
Finding cover to teach
2. Browse open cover
Your dashboard at /instructor/requests shows every open cover opportunity in one place - both venues looking for cover, and other instructors needing someone to cover their own class. Each one shows the badge colour, date, location, pay rate and length so you know exactly what you’re applying for.
3. Apply
Click Apply on anything that fits. It's free to apply, however many you go for - you only ever pay when you post your own cover need, never to apply for someone else's.
4. Wait to be confirmed
The poster reviews applicants and picks one. If it's not you this time, you'll get an email letting you know so you're not left wondering. Once you are confirmed, you'll get a confirmation email with the details.
5. Sort payment directly
Pay for the cover itself is agreed and paid directly between you and whoever posted it - never through Cover Collective. The only thing you ever pay us for is the small fee to post your own cover need (see below).
Posting when you need cover
6. Post when you need cover
Go to + Need cover? and fill in the class type, date, time, location and pay rate. It costs £5 per date - £4 if you’ve posted in the last 2 months, or if you’re posting more than one date in the same go. Long-term cover (6+ months) is a flat £20 instead.
7. Post several dates at once
Need cover for more than one class? Click "+ Add another date" on the same form to bundle several fully independent dates into one payment - each gets its own class type, location and pay rate, and posting 2+ at once automatically gets you the £4 rate on all of them.
8. Review and confirm who covers it
Applicants show up on Your posts with their bio, teaching clip and certificates right there, so you can check them out before confirming. Tick the box confirming pay is agreed directly between you, then hit Confirm - everyone else who applied is automatically let go and notified by email.
After the class
9. Build your track record
After a class you've covered, a short anonymous survey goes out to the members. Good ratings build into a reputation that follows you across every venue - visible proof for prospective clients of your own classes too.