South East London female educator continues to inspire local students and community five years on

This year, Greenwich-based businesswoman Amrit Rahi is celebrating her fifth anniversary with in-home and online tutoring company, Tutor Doctor. Using the pandemic to advance her operations, Amrit has established herself as an important part of improving the wellbeing of children and students in south-east London, as well as providing high-quality and personalised educational experiences.

At the beginning of the pandemic, a sudden and unexpected change in circumstances left Amrit very much fending for herself and her two children. However, with a strong female support network forming the majority of her Tutor Doctor team and operations, Amrit has been able to continue to provide education, employment and training to vulnerable young people that have come from backgrounds with unequal opportunities to establish a better starting point for their futures. And after five years and over 10,000 hours of tutoring, Tutor Doctor Greenwich, managed by Amrit, has certified its mastery status as a leading education provider in London.

Learning from personal times of hardship, Amrit is continuing to channel her strength and energy into ways in which children’s lives can be improved in the area five years on.

“In the face of personal adversity, I became really motivated to crack on and elevate Tutor Doctor to the next level. I’ve always had my brilliant team of passionate and caring women with me along every step of the way, which was even more important during the pandemic when we were ensuring Tutor Doctor became even more accessible to those who needed our services. The least we could do during the international crisis was to fill the education gap that had been exposed due to the pandemic. We were fortunately in a position to do so. Through elevating our services, we have been able to hit the ground running out of the pandemic, with our amazing community of more than 250 tutors taking on more responsibility and becoming key figures in the lives and wellbeing of children in our community.

“With this, I have also been able to devote my time towards my education consultancy role for Lambeth Council, which supports young people that are in care, by giving them a solid chance at reaching their full potential. I’ve devoted a lot of passion towards working with this cohort of young people that have begun with the least chances and have ultimately risen up to reach their full potential. My current role has even enabled me to help asylum seekers and refugees get into employment and help other vulnerable young people find apprenticeships and traineeships.”

Prior to joining Tutor Doctor in 2017, Amrit worked in youth services in Greenwich and Bexley where she did a whole range of jobs, including delivering extended school provision, delivering youth activities in areas of deprivation, managing youth centres, supporting voluntary sector organisations and much more. Amrit’s vast experience has enabled her to establish her Tutor Doctor business as the leading one-to-one education company in the area, supporting over six local schools and contributing to improving over 600 students’ education.

Tutor Doctor Greenwich has always been conscious of the community around them and have been actively involved in charity organisations. Recognising the challenges that everyone has gone through during the pandemic, this year they have continued their tradition of giving back, by donating a portion of their proceeds to MIND, a mental health charity. The company has celebrated going from strength to strength in five years, with the number of families and schools they work with almost doubling every year since they became established.

“Tutor Doctor has given me the opportunity that I was looking for. I love being able to see children and young people achieve their full potential in every way – whether it be academic or personally. Seeing results and making families happy is very rewarding to me. But not only that, it has enabled me to spend more time with my children. I regularly take my children to and from school, so it’s had an overwhelmingly positive impact on my family life too.”

Tutor Doctor Greenwich also covers Rotherhithe, Ladywell, Deptford, Woolwich, and surrounding areas. 

Embracing education with open arms

From a young age, Ash Obhrai had been surrounded by educators. With his father as a GCSE Maths examiner, mother as an A-Level Art & Design teacher and aunt as a successful primary school teacher, it was only a matter of time before he too would venture into academia. After working as a tutor alongside his corporate career for 15 years, he decided to turn the tables and launch his own Tutor Doctor business in 2017.

“It was one day when my parents made me realise how fulfilling working in education would be,” said Ash. “They were responsible for changing the lives of students every single day, whilst I was working in the corporate world and it didn’t bring anything close to that same level of satisfaction. I knew I wanted to make a transition into something that would provide a greater sense of achievement – at Tutor Doctor, I get that every single day.”

Ash’s corporate career began when he graduated from UCL with an M.Eng in Electronic Engineering with Medical Electronics, taking him into various sectors including retail, traveller marketing and finance. It was from there that he moved into an international role, managing global luxury retailers such as Burberry, Jimmy Choo and Samsonite. This was when the conversation with his father happened.

Having also attempted to launch his own tutoring agency, Ash realised that the franchising route would give him a better chance of success. Tapping into the franchisors’ knowledge, combined with the wealth of experience that typically comes with a franchise network, he knew that his skills would allow him to truly thrive.

“I’ve always had a passion for caring for others and wanted to run my own business, meaning it was a toss-up between a care or education franchise. It came down to having past experience with tutoring and continuing with my family’s passion for children too. After thorough research of which organisations fit my personal values best, Tutor Doctor was the only one. My wife Shilpi was also very encouraging and supportive, wanting to manage the recruitment arm of the business.”

Wasting no time, Ash flew to Tutor Doctor Home Office in Toronto for his initial franchisee training in August 2017. Although he was already prepared for the plethora of information he would receive during his 10 days, he was still surprised by the sheer breadth of the training material.

“The training was one of the best I could see in the market. Tutor Doctor genuinely cared about their franchisees and gave them all the skills to make it a success from the very beginning. That was evident as soon as I stepped into that training room – it was extremely thorough and set me up nicely to hit the ground running as soon as I arrived home.”

Immediately after launching, franchisees are actively supported by a business coach across all areas of business through structured training programmes, weekly coaching calls, weekly global calls and on-demand support as and when needed. Then, as the business grows, specifically designed support systems help to maintain growth, build momentum, and scale the business, allowing franchisees to achieve both financial and personal goals. Ash used this support network to bolster his own business.

Whilst in his training, Ash was already receiving leads from tutors in his Newham territory. This meant that when he had completed his 10-day programme, he was ready to put his skills into practice and start generating business almost instantly.

“The field support team were incredible during the initial stages and really put my mind at rest at the beginning. Although today I can work almost independently, knowing they’re available any time for guidance and advice is so reassuring. It’s one of the reasons why Tutor Doctor appealed so much due to the level of support that I would receive throughout the life of my business.”

Fast-forward three years and Ash has handed over the reins of the Newham franchise to another franchisee, whilst investing in an Empire licence that covers Leighton, Wanstead, Chingford and Chigwell. With the foundations set, he’s now turning his attention to an important aspect of the business.

“It’s always been a focus, but I’m now placing more emphasis on building strategies, trust and client care. I have someone trustworthy in my team who is responsible for community marketing and we are looking to extend this role into family liaison like making regular check-in phone calls, sending birthday cards, and even organising hand-delivered cake hampers. My business has helped change the trajectory of 230 students’ lives with the assistance of 110 qualified tutors on my team. It’s important that we continue to nurture those relationships as, essentially, that’s the reason why people choose our service over our competitors – we always promise to go that extra mile.

“In November 2020, I also secured a partnership with a high school in Woodford Green, delivering academic support to students who require it using their Pupil Premium Fund. Working with schools is going to be a focal point moving forward, especially as we leave the pandemic behind and children need help with getting back up to speed with their learning.”

Ash’s growing family was also a contributing factor to launching his Tutor Doctor franchise. His son was born in 2013 whilst he was working 15-hour days, meaning he wasn’t able to be around his family as much as he’d liked to have been during his childhood. Now though, he’s able to make up for it and enjoy quality time with his family.

“That’s the beauty of Tutor Doctor. Most of the student consultations happen in the evening, meaning the rest of my day is flexible to schedule family time in. I can drop my son off at school, pick him up and even put him to bed too. I was never able to do this before, but now I have the freedom to do what I like – of course, fitting in my business activities around all of that.

“The world of academia embraced me with open arms, and I’m so glad that I’ve been able to join the rest of my family in appreciating the positive impact that education can have on people.”

Building a business to be proud of

As he approached his 40th birthday, Rob Kerrison was unsure which direction he wanted his life to take. After many years of working in sales and marketing, he searched for the best option that would utilise his skillset whilst providing him with a chance to reflect on what he had achieved throughout his career so far. Although the idea of franchising didn’t initially appeal to Rob and his wife Lynne, it was tutoring franchise Tutor Doctor that eventually piqued the pair’s interests. Over a decade later, they have firmly cemented themselves as an integral role of the franchise network that they are extremely proud to be part of.

“We joined Tutor Doctor at a time when there was a lot of freedom for us to run things in our own way,” said Rob. “The brand had only launched in the UK the year before, so we were heavily involved with building the foundations of the network as it established itself. Although we didn’t know the tutoring sector, we both had the business skills and experience to make our new venture a success. We felt confident that this was the right decision for us.”

Rob and Lynne met whilst studying for a business degree at Loughborough University. After graduating, they both went into corporate roles - Rob at Unilever and Lynne at Tesco. Following various moves career-wise and relocations, the couple had the opportunity to find something new but didn’t quite know what that something was. What changed things was a meeting with a franchise consultant to help find the most suitable solution. 

“Not only did this inform us of the franchise opportunities on offer, but it also helped us reflect on the strengths we had developed over the course of our careers and made us think how we could best apply them in new space. We had to answer a lot of questions, which ranged from what roles we were good at to what specific elements of business we enjoyed. This exercise was great at helping us finalise our next steps – as a result, one of the standout brands was Tutor Doctor.

“Initially, we didn’t quite understand the benefits of being part of a franchise but very quickly, it became clear why franchising can be, and is, so successful. Having the support network, along with the expertise of the brand, is advantageous to anybody - whether you’ve got existing business skills or not. Tutor Doctor is a fundamentally simple business, and we could just see ourselves making it work for us, and being involved with the local community in such a positive way is a real draw.” 

Tutor Doctor is the fastest-growing in-home tutoring franchise in the world. Franchisees manage a team of tutors and work closely with families to identify the needs of students. As successful business owners at the heart of the local community, franchisees help children to achieve their potential and change lives for the better. In today’s modern, hectic world, the tired old centre-based model lacks convenience and the personal touch. Tutors visit students at home or work with them one-to-one via an online platform for a truly bespoke, person-centred service.

Rob and Lynne flew to Toronto for their initial franchisee training in July 2010. In a cohort with other eager business owners looking to start their tutoring empire, they were ready to make it happen.

“The training was very comprehensive,” added Lynne. “But perhaps the best part was being able to see and hear from other franchisees who were already running a successful Tutor Doctor business. It gave us an extra boost of confidence that we were making the right decision and, from that point onwards, it’s been full steam ahead.” 

The husband-and-wife team didn’t let that energy dwindle when they arrived home to launch Tutor Doctor Cambridge, getting straight into the community to get their name out there. They focused on being visible to ensure prospective customers knew how they could provide a solution to their children’s learning needs. Their efforts quickly paid off as their business began to gain traction.

“For the first two years, although enquiries were coming in thick and fast, we didn’t stop attending events and leafleting across the area. We knew the first couple of years are the most important and wanted to create a solid foundation for the future. It might be a bit crazy to admit that we grew too quickly within that time, but it gave us a reality check – we learnt to understand the market and concentrated on being more strategic with our choices as we moved the business forward.” 

Tutor Doctor has been through many transformations since the duo joined the network, but one thing remains at the forefront: the emphasis on their ongoing support. In the present day,  franchisees are actively supported by a business coach across all areas of business through structured training programmes, weekly coaching calls, weekly global calls and on-demand support as it’s needed. Then, as the business grows, specifically designed support systems will help to maintain growth, build momentum and scale the business, allowing franchisees to achieve both financial and personal goals. 

After celebrating the business’ 10th anniversary, Rob and Lynne are not resting on their laurels. If anything, they are even more committed to making a difference and providing a much-needed service to students in the area.

Lynne added: “Increasingly, our business grows through referrals, from families and schools we work with. Everyone says it, but our organisation absolutely needs to focus on customer service as our success depends on these customers continuing to tell their friends and colleagues. And they do. At the end of 2020 we’d worked with 661 tutors who provided tuition to 2,670 clients, resulting in us delivering almost 100,000 hours of tutoring. It’s these numbers that make me feel proud and makes it all worthwhile – and we can see the positive impact that we’re having.”  

Their business is a far cry from their lives in the corporate world. Alongside giving them the satisfaction of providing a service to their local community, it’s given them the chance to enjoy their personal lives much more. 

“I coach the under-14s at the local hockey club and try and squeeze in the odd round of golf,” said Rob. “By commuting to London every day and being in control of our own calendar we’ve not missed out on those key moments you have with your children as they grow up. As a Tutor Doctor franchisee, it’s given me the freedom to do the things that I love and spend time with my children whilst building a local business that makes a difference to so many people. 

“Establishing the Tutor Doctor brand in Cambridge and also being involved with the growth of Tutor Doctor’s presence in the UK has been extremely rewarding. We definitely feel that working within a franchise system has helped us build the business we have over these past 10 years and are very much looking forward to the next 10 years."

Ex-finance director searches for more “soul”

When Piyush Gupta was offered redundancy after 20+ years working within finance, he jumped at the opportunity. In trying to decide on his future, Piyush’s main aim was to find something that offered more fulfilment and enjoyment. Something with ‘a little bit more soul’. After evaluating his priorities and assessing his skillset, Piyush knew the direction he wanted to take. All that was left was to find the perfect role. 

“After my redundancy, I knew that I didn’t want to go back into the corporate world – I needed something that gave me more satisfaction. I began looking at education, health and working with children as that was guaranteed to give me that sense of accomplishment that I craved. I then thought a lot about what I’d enjoyed in my work and the main things were business development and managing a team – so I knew I was looking for a career that combined all these things.”

After completing a Business Degree and becoming a Chartered Accountant, Piyush went on to rise through the ranks in some well-respected companies. The 51-year-old’s career has seen him support a £200million division, manage and recruit large finance teams of staff as well as proving to be instrumental in the growth of an entire business model. A key team player, he also provided business support to directors and team leaders, before redundancy gave him the opportunity to become his own boss.

Whilst on the lookout for his new vocation, Piyush kept an open mind. He applied for many roles in his hometown of Peterborough, hoping to find the right fit. After seeing an advert which said: ‘Be your own MD in Peterborough’ he was intrigued. The meeting, however, was not what he expected.

“I spoke with Fiona Price from Tutor Doctor and she started talking about the franchise model. I immediately said ‘No! This isn’t for me’ to which she replied: ‘Hear me out’. After a few more discussions with Fiona and other franchisees, I was sold. We spoke about how I would still be my own boss but have the added security and support franchise model and the team behind me. 

“I was so impressed by the structure of the franchise and how I could create a business for me but have an impact on other people too. We really get to know the families we work with to ensure the right tutors are matched with students for the best outcome. That’s led to Tutor Doctor being a go-to brand for advice. I was keen to be a part of that.”

Tutor Doctor is the fastest growing in-home tutoring franchise in the world. Our franchisees work with families to thoroughly assess a child’s needs and then carefully select the best-fit tutor based on goals, personality and learning style. Tutors then visit students at home or work with them via an online platform, so that they can learn in the comfort of their own home, at a time that suits them. Tutor Doctor franchisees arrange and oversee the tutor/student relationship for a truly bespoke solution and exceptional level of service.

“I spoke with other franchisees and they seemed to have one thing in common – the passion for education. They all wanted to have an impact on the formative years of a persons’ life, and I knew that I had to be part of it.”

In September 2016, Piyush and his fellow new recruits flew out to Toronto for an intensive seven-day business bootcamp. Tutor Doctor’s award-winning training programmes prepares new franchisees for everything they need to run a successful business so that when they arrive back home, they’re ready for launch! 

“The training was great and really comprehensive. It felt great to meet people from different backgrounds that were about to do the same thing as me. It gave me real comfort in knowing that I was part of something much bigger that I could bring back to my community. We went through every aspect you could think of including profiling individuals, sales training and the recruitment process – tutors are the cornerstone to our business after all. However great the training was, I must admit my mind wanders very quickly – I just wanted to get out and do it.”

After you launch your franchise, you are actively supported, by a Learning Support Specialist (LSS), across all areas of your business through structured training programmes, weekly coaching calls, weekly global calls and on-demand support as you need it. As your business grows, we have specifically designed support systems to help you continue growth, build momentum and ultimately scale your business to help you achieve your financial and personal goals.

“It’s amazing to see the constant development and growth within the franchise that goes on at all times. There’s always free courses that I can book onto, weekly conference calls and regular meetings with my LSS that help me to develop my own business.”

The first two years of business for Piyush were so successful that at the beginning of 2019, he expanded into two more territories – Huntingdon and Stamford. The expansion meant that Piyush recruited an administration assistant and an Education Consultant to allow him the time to focus more on growth and customer care. He also enlisted the help of his son to work on the social media for the business.

“I knew that I wanted to have an impact on more people, so it just made sense to expand to the neighbouring territories. I want to get them to a point where I’m just replicating the success of Peterborough and going above and beyond for more families. I currently have 75+ tutors on the books that work with over 100 families across the three regions.

“The sense of achievement I get from Tutor Doctor is nothing like I ever imagined. When I get a phone call from parents telling me their child has done great things because of my tutors, it is such a rewarding feeling – I’ve been close to tears on occasion. It’s a complete contrast to my corporate job as it’s more personal.”

As he approaches his third-year anniversary, Piyush reflects on the success of his business so far. He still has grand plans for the future.

“Once I reach three years, I’m going to have a pit stop and evaluate everything. Then, I will go forward methodically and see how I can take things to the next level. I’m hoping I can get the two new territories to a level where I’m left to consider expanding once again – that would be very exciting! I also want to hire another Education Consultant to help manage the areas.

“I think the most important thing is that I’ve been honest with myself. I knew that I wasn’t going to be the best at every single aspect of business, but I was assured I’d have the team behind me to help. Looking back now the only thing I ever ask myself is ‘Why did I ever become an accountant?’”

Rediscovering the passion for education

Education has always been close to Katrin Dennehy’s heart. She spent over a decade teaching in Secondary schools throughout Essex but eventually began to feel let down by the traditional education system. Not one to admit defeat, Katrin actively went on the hunt for something that would reignite her passion once again. She found the perfect opportunity in the form of Tutor Doctor.

“I began to disagree with several aspects of the education system. Nowadays, teachers are put under so much pressure that I started to fall out of love with that which I had invested so much time and effort into for so many years. I wasn’t keen on being involved with certain school systems that I just didn’t believe in and which, I felt, were detrimental to not only teacher’s but student’s mental health too. Now, Tutor Doctor allows me to create an impact by providing supportive education from a different angle.”

Originally from Germany, Katrin came over to the UK in 1995. After a couple of years working as a Foreign Language Assistant in Colleges and Secondary Schools, Katrin decided to train to become a qualified Modern Foreign Languages teacher. After showing much promise, she was quickly promoted into middle management, in charge of pastoral care, before moving on to become Vice Principal of a secondary school in Romford. It was whilst in this role, in charge of inclusion, safeguarding and a coordinator for special needs students, that Katrin found her passion clearly lay in protecting and promoting the welfare of students.

But the role still didn’t give Katrin the satisfaction that she thought she would get. Although the job was very rewarding in many ways, she felt as if nothing much was ever accomplished despite working over 60 hours a week. So, with her own children grown up, she decided now was the time for a change.

“My husband, David, has had his own franchise for many years and he informed me of the support and success of investing into a franchise. In February 2018, I went to a franchise exhibition where I spoke to Nigel Mayne, the Franchise Director of Tutor Doctor. It was the first stall that I came across but I immediately thought ‘No – I don’t want to go back into education!

“I continued looking around the rest of the show, I was interested in a care franchise, but I somehow kept being drawn back to Tutor Doctor. I’d gathered information from other brands that I was interested in to make sure that I had a few to consider. Tutor Doctor stood out as I was able to provide support to students, however in a way that I had true belief in.”

Tutor Doctor is the fastest growing in-home tutoring franchise in the world. Our franchisees manage a team of tutors and work closely with families to identify the needs of students. As a successful business owner at the heart of the local community, franchisees help children to achieve their potential and change lives for the better. In today’s modern, hectic world, the tired old centre-based model lacks convenience and the personal touch. Tutors visit students at home or work with them one-to-one via an online platform for a truly bespoke, person-centred service.

Katrin handed in her notice but school policy meant that she had to continue to the end of the school term before being able to go on her training. In August 2018, Katrin and her fellow new recruits flew out to Toronto for an intensive seven-day business bootcamp.

“Once I’d eventually arrived, it was amazing. I learnt everything that I needed to know to get me started for when I got back home. Although it was a very steep-learning curve for me, I was certain that I’d be supported throughout the whole process.”

After you launch your franchise, you are actively supported, by a Learning Support Specialist (LSS), across all areas of your business through structured training programmes, weekly coaching calls, weekly global calls and on-demand support as you need it. As your business grows, we have specifically designed support systems to help you continue growth, build momentum and ultimately scale your business to help you achieve your financial and personal goals.

“I’m quite independent and like to figure things out myself. I prefer to do and learn as I go along. The good thing was that I knew I had support from my LSS if I required it. The support I’ve received from other people in my training class has been invaluable, too. We’re always in contact and it’s great to know that we’re all going through the same issues at a similar time – whether they’re good or bad.”

Katrin’s passion for education has given her the opportunity to create a lasting impression on many students’ lives in her local community. Since her launch, she has utilised her existing contacts to create relationships and boost her business – becoming part of Havering’s ‘Alternative Provision’ programme as an ‘approved provider’ for schools.

“As part of the programme, I work closely with several schools if students need extra tuition. It might be because they display challenging behaviour or because they have special educational needs, but the schools can come to me directly to provide that service in the knowledge that I adhere to strict practices. As well as those connections, I have over 50 tutors providing tuition to over 100 families.

“The sense of achievement that Tutor Doctor gives me is like no other. Families know that I have a lot of experience in education and they feel comforted by that. The satisfaction scores that I’ve received from my clients actually placed me in the Top 10 across the whole global network. That is a great feeling!”

The first year of business for Katrin has been comfortable and has given her the satisfaction that she was once craving. The ability to set her own schedule has worked wonders for her personal life too.

“The flexibility of my schedule is perfect. With most of my family still living in Germany, I have the freedom to visit them if I wish. When I first started, it was all about generating attention for the business and making sure the foundations were set before growing, so I worked seven days a week. However, I quickly established myself in the local area and I’ve since been able to have Sundays off and most Saturdays, too.

“Since leaving teaching I now enjoy a much healthier lifestyle. I enjoy cooking and sitting down for dinner with my family as well as taking long walks in the surrounding parks and woods with our dog. I can still provide an education to local students but not to the detriment of my personal physical and mental health.

“Tutor Doctor has really allowed me to rediscover my passion. It presented itself as the perfect opportunity to make me fall in love with education all over again.”

A learning journey

Julian Field really has done it all. Following graduating with two degrees in engineering, founding a furniture retail business and working for several years in the corporate world, he added another notch to his belt – investing in a franchise. In 2017, he turned his attention to Tutor Doctor, using all of his experience to give back to young people in his territory of York. It is more than a passion for business that has led him to the tutoring franchise - he knew the power of lifelong learning.

“When I was in high school, I struggled with maths,” said Julian. “So, my parents hired a tutor to help me out. On reflection, this helped me massively, not just with completing my two degrees, but I went on to become a maths and physics tutor myself. That’s the reason why Tutor Doctor resonated with me so much – I know first-hand the impact a personal tutor can have on a student. Equipping children with those possibilities makes it all worth it.”

A year before the new millennium, Julian founded and ran the operations of Furniture123.co.uk, Europe’s first online furniture retailer. He ran the business for 13 years, growing it into a multi-million-pound company, before selling it in 2013 to find a new venture. It was then that he worked as a management consultant in the corporate world, but it didn’t take long before Julian was looking for another challenge.

Throughout his whole career, Julian was certain that he would return to education one way or another. But, as is the case for many people, life got in the way. With a clear head and the ability to fulfil his destiny, he sought out his next opportunity. He had moved to York at this point, married his wife Clare and started a family. He wanted a business opportunity that would fit around that, whilst also providing the professional satisfaction he was seeking.

“Clare and I discussed the options, eventually finding Tutor Doctor online. The more we researched, the more it looked like the perfect opportunity. I had to be sure, so I attended a discovery day to get a real feel for the brand. As soon as I arrived, I knew I had found what I had been searching for.”

Tutor Doctor is the fastest-growing in-home tutoring franchise in the world. Franchisees manage a team of tutors and work closely with families to identify the needs of students. As successful business owners at the heart of the local community, franchisees help children to achieve their potential and change lives for the better. In today’s modern, hectic world, the tired old centre-based model lacks convenience and the personal touch. Tutors visit students at home or work with them one-to-one via an online platform for a truly bespoke, person-centred service.

Julian flew to Tutor Doctor Home Office in Toronto for his initial franchisee training in October 2017. In a cohort with eight other eager business owners looking to start their tutoring businesses, he was ready to make it happen.

“Being immersed in this atmosphere felt great. We were all in it for the same reasons and getting an introduction to the franchise with those like-minded people set us up perfectly for when it was time to launch the business.

“I wasted no time in getting my name out into the local community as soon as I got back to York. Putting all the skills into practice from training helped generate some attention, securing packages with six families within the first two months. Although tutor recruitment is one of the most difficult parts of what I do, as I heavily vet candidates to ensure they are perfect for our students, I had the added benefit of two universities close by. This  attracted plenty of academics, graduates and  post-graduates who simply wanted to offer their own support, whilst also earning money of course.”

Immediately after launching, franchisees are actively supported by a business coach across all areas of business through structured training programmes, weekly coaching calls, weekly global calls and on-demand support as and when needed. Then, as the business grows, specifically designed support systems help to maintain growth, build momentum, and scale the business, allowing franchisees to achieve both financial and personal goals. Julian used this support network to bolster his own business.

A little over three years later and Julian’s business is a buzzing empire. Although the COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on their usual in-person service, parents soon learnt the benefits of online tuition for their children. With a name made for himself, Tutor Doctor York is growing organically with client referrals.

“We currently support over 50 students with their learning at one of the most crucial times in their academic career. Perhaps the best part though is receiving feedback from families and helping people to reach significant achievements through tutoring. One student didn’t get the grades they needed for medical school but, with the help of a tutor, they secured their place for the following year just a few months later.

“And it’s not always the students in school who come to us for help. For example, we’ve helped a woman in her 70s to learn the keyboard, whilst another also in that age bracket, required support with a family history project they were conducting. I think that’s what makes being a Tutor Doctor franchisee so fulfilling – no two days are the same, and there really are no boundaries to who you can reach. No subject is off limits. 

“On a personal level, it’s made a huge difference to me. I was seeking fulfilment, and I’ve received it in bucketloads. Clare has joined the business, so we can plan our schedules around work. Typically, consultations happen in the evening, meaning we have free time in the mornings. When we do take time off, we enjoy travelling and keeping fit. I’m an avid tennis player, which is great because I can get on the court in the mornings, and a member of a local film club.

“Looking back on my tutoring journey going full circle is great. Even from a very young age, I loved learning, and it feels extremely humbling to be able to offer that same opportunity to others.” 

  

Owning a business that makes a difference

Deaglan Furey knows a thing or two about running businesses. After studying robotics at the University of West England, and finding the course wasn’t suited to him, the savvy entrepreneur went his own way and set up a food supply company. Following this he opened an estate and letting agency in central London and went on to run and work in several businesses across a variety of sectors. When he came across an opportunity with Tutor Doctor, Deaglan discovered that becoming a franchisee would enable him to utilise his experience and the business lessons he had learned, all whilst making a positive impact in his local community.

Deaglan launched his company, Tutor Doctor Bromley and Croydon, in 2019, and set about applying his energy and skills to building a thriving business he could be proud of. He has since been running his territories with the support of his mother Ann Mary Wardman. Keeping up with the demand in the local areas, the business has only grown and Deaglan now manages the Romford and Upminster area for the brand too.

“I enjoyed school and went on to complete A Levels in Physics, Maths and Design & Technology. I did attend university, but it just wasn’t the right fit for me. After leaving, I made the decision to set up and work on my own businesses, but I was left unfulfilled. In 2019, I came across an opportunity in Tutor Doctor. The company had been operating in the UK for eight years at the time I was looking to invest. I was unhappy in my current role as it felt like I was predominantly making cold calls. I was impressed by the growth of the Tutor Doctor brand and decided to invest.

“I had several years of business experience, and I knew Tutor Doctor’s model. I had seen them work quite effectively over the years and saw the brand accelerate quite drastically. It had expanded to 15 countries and it’s steady and sustainable growth through the years made it an attractive option as a business investment. One of the things the company is extremely passionate about is running a business, whilst making a difference. It’s always impressed me how this has shone through and this ethos has really transformed me as a business owner.” 

Deaglan flew to Tutor Doctor Home Office in Toronto for his initial franchisee training in January 2019. Although he was prepared for the plethora of information he would receive during his 10 days, he was still impressed by the sheer breadth of training material on offer, covering various business disciplines.

“I had a full week of training in Toronto which was fantastic. It was very hands on, and we discussed everything from sales to how to employ the right tutors to managing cash flow. I took my first member of staff, Dominique, with me and it was very informative for both of us. We returned home feeling well equipped to run the business from the get-go.” 

Immediately after launching, franchisees are actively supported by a business coach across all areas of business through structured training programmes, weekly coaching calls, weekly global calls and on-demand support as and when needed. Then, as the business grows, specifically designed support systems help to maintain growth, build momentum, and scale the business, allowing franchisees to achieve both financial and personal goals. 

“The ongoing support is fantastic and there is always someone at the end of the phone if you need them. We have a good working relationship with our regional manager who ensures everything runs smoothly. When the pandemic hit we did initially find things difficult, as we were unable to have any meetings with the rest of the network. We would usually be having regional meetings once a quarter and a global meeting once a year. These are held in one centralised location for franchisees. The last one we were able to attend was in Mexico and it provided a great opportunity to keep up to date with the rest of the network, as well as share ideas and progress with one another.”

“In terms of how we worked with our students throughout the pandemic, we were lucky to already have an online system in place. It was just a case of moving our content online and training our tutors how to do that too. The main problem we came up against was the government’s handling of the closing and re-opening of schools. Being able to provide support to our families through such a difficult time for education was a pleasure and a privilege.”

Deaglan’s aim when he first launched in 2019 was to develop his business into one that would work as a larger model, whilst also ensuring they were successful and, of course, making money. Due to the size of his business, Deaglan made the wise decision to employ a team to help with the running of the franchise. He now has two full time members of staff and he has a goal to turnover £1.25m a year.

“What’s great about being a franchisee is that it’s not just running a business. You’re much more supported; you can be more open, which in turn creates better results. Although you’re working for yourself, it’s never by yourself. The freedom of being able to set up your office from home is fantastic too. You save money and time on travelling and the flexibility is great.”

Due to the flexibility of the Tutor Doctor model, Deaglan is still able to own and run other companies. In his spare time, he enjoys going for walks with his housemate and going to the cinema. As an avid gym goer, he enjoys playing regular games of badminton. Deaglan also has a passion for video games, science and rocketry.

“For me the best thing about being a Tutor Doctor franchisee is the other franchisees in the network. You never work as competitors; you are part of a team. Although we all have our own plans of attack, this creates different outcomes. When someone in the network finds something that works, we can all share it. We are all individuals, but we always want to help each other improve. Having that support network is invaluable.

“Joining the Tutor Doctor franchise is a fantastic opportunity. I would recommend that any prospects research their marketing strategy, as well as their territory before making a decision. If it feels right after you’ve done your due diligence, my advice would be don’t hesitate!”

 

PM’s former Press Secretary makes education his business!

David Boddy (pictured below, far left) already an established businessman, confesses that he wants to be the oldest and most successful Tutor Doctor franchisee worldwide. The 65-year-old was keen to add to his, already impressive, CV and help give something back to the younger generation. David’s passion for education and his community has seen his business flourish since training. He and his team smashed their first month’s goal within two weeks of opening their London-based franchise in October 2018. And his plans for the future are grand.

“The values of Tutor Doctor completely align with those of my own. The advantages and the opportunity to succeed is significant. There is such a positive market for home tutoring in the UK so, I plan to expand across London and into other metropolitan areas in the future. I’m extremely proud to tell my friends that I’m part of a global association - it’s very satisfying.”

“My experience in independent businesses taught me that it can often be lonely with very little support. I knew that I wanted something that had a better structure to it and that’s the moment I realised franchising was my opportunity. I needed my business to be able to deliver quickly, to cope with demand, and provide me with the support and knowledge to see me through the process.”

David’s professional journey began in the early 1970’s when he graduated from the Wellington School of Journalism in New Zealand, deciding shortly after to travel to the UK to get more work experience and complete a Master’s Degree in Ethics. With a distinct passion for politics and philosophy, he went on to become the Conservative party’s Press Secretary where he served Margaret Thatcher in the 1979 and 1983 press campaigns.

“It was such a formative experience that helped me understand leadership – especially the importance of values and vision in leadership. This position alone shaped my subsequent future and made me realise the direction in which I wanted to go.”

In 1997, David helped launch a graduate training company with a central purpose of lifting the experiences and career opportunities of young people. He was then invited to become Headmaster of a senior boys’ school in Middlesex, wrote two education specialist books and was elected Chairman of The UK Society of Heads - where he oversaw professional development programmes for budding and new head teachers. It was whilst in this role that David discovered the passion that would ultimately lead him to Tutor Doctor.

“It was clear that too many young people had not had the opportunity to evolve their own sense of purpose or realise their calling. So, I pulled together a group of young men and women, including my own sons, and together we launched a charity called the Lucca Leadership Trust. We provided leadership training to young people between 16-30 years old to help them discover their inner strengths and find their feet in the working world. I knew then that I wanted to actively change young people’s lives.”

In looking to combine education with making a difference, David discovered that the Tutor Doctor franchise opportunity was the obvious choice: “I particularly liked the way Tutor Doctor do business. They are straight-forward people that work with complete transparency – they take care of the child and the whole family. I knew that I wanted to continue with my inspiration towards learning and Tutor Doctor allows me to do just that.”

David’s desire for an extensive support network was realised from day one as, like all new franchisees, he spent 80 hours in online training followed by a full week training at Home Office. “It was fully intensive, and the Tutor Doctor promise of complete training and support was definitely fulfilled. I have to admit, they were very long days, but we got the whole A-Z of running a franchise, so it was worth every minute. My colleagues and I were completely confident that we could go away and face any challenge.”

After you launch your franchise, we ensure you are actively supported across all areas of your business through structured training programmes, weekly coaching calls, weekly global calls and on-demand support as you need it. As your business grows, we have specifically designed support systems to help you continue growth, build momentum and, ultimately, scale your business to help you achieve your financial and personal goals.

“Tutor Doctor brings a lot to the party and the investment level is very generous. I am provided with industry-leading technology, company branding and advanced systems that make my everyday workload manageable.”

Even though he is an experienced education professional, David has the ongoing support of a Launch Support Specialist (LSS). Weekly meetings allow for strategic business planning and problem-solving for any issues that David and the team are facing. The LSS regularly spends time on the ground with franchisees to offer support, reassurance and that all-important face-time.

“There were a couple of issues to begin with and, even though they were at an operational level, the support was tremendous. They were quickly resolved and that was down to the efficiency of the training and the availability of my LSS. Since then, it has been very positive. Getting that first enrolment was a massive highlight and it showed that all my hard work was starting to pay off. To see the team full of gratitude was extremely satisfying. Being a relationship business, we have the ability to change people’s lives and working with others is much better than doing it alone.

“I’m looking forward to being a major player in changing the trajectory in young people’s lives – satisfaction from that will be incredible. I know that certain elements of the existing learning systems are failing and, unless radical change happens, they will continue to fail. I believe that our team, and Tutor Doctor, can make that change.”

Meet the former teacher taking centre stage

Roger Kennedy has had quite the career, from the theatre stage to the small screen and even stand-up comedy before finally finding his passion for education; all before the age of 30! After seven years in teaching, disillusioned by what he describes as the ‘daily bureaucracy’, Roger decided that he wanted to take control over the help and support he could offer young people. Less than six months into his new Tutor Doctor business, Roger says he has only one regret: not doing it sooner!

“I get such an immense sense of pride from my business, I have to stop and pinch myself sometimes! Education was always a passion but to be able to go into people’s homes and make a difference in their lives – there’s no greater feeling. Education is the best way to help children academically and beyond. What we do is about more than book-learning; we help build self-confidence and self-worth – it was important to me as a teacher and now it’s what drives me.”

Majoring in Drama and English Literature, Roger graduated University in 2004. Over the next five years, he established his own theatre company, toured the UK as an independent actor and stand-up comic and even appeared on TV! Keen to share his love of the arts with young people he decided to train as a teacher and qualified in 2009. Unsurprisingly, Roger initially specialised in Drama but later moved into English due to demand for high-quality teachers in the subject. For the next eight years, he taught in schools around London – from inner city academies in Tottenham and Walthamstow to a privately run all-girls school Letchworth. But as time went on, increasing pressure and ever changing policies left Roger feeling unable to do the thing that mattered to him most; help his students to achieve and grow and individuals.

“I became disillusioned with certain elements of the role and the constantly changing policies. It almost became that the evidence of achievements were favoured in place of genuine knowledge and interaction of your students. Teachers want to make a difference and see students’ progress but it’s being taken away from them.”

Determined that he still wanted to make an impact in children’s lives, as his contract with his last school came to an end, Roger started looking to into starting his own education business. But his dream was short-lived as the reality of going it alone set in: “I began to realise that learning how to run a business from scratch was going to be a long road and it was actually quite daunting. Instead, I started to research the concept of franchising because I knew that it was based on proven business models and there was a level of support and existing systems in place”

Confident that franchising was the way to go, Roger attended the National Franchise Exhibition in Birmingham. It was whilst at the show that he first found Tutor Doctor. But, determined to proceed with an open mind, he considered all options and looked at everything from health and courier franchises to man-in-a-van and management concepts.

“When I came away from the show I continued to research all the options and one by one closed them all off. I realised that the obvious was staring me in the face with Tutor Doctor. I kind of had a light-bulb moment and thought to myself, ‘why not choose something that I have a knowledge of and a passion for?’ I started to think about the need for it in the community and to be honest, I never looked back.”

Tutor Doctor is the fastest growing in-home tutoring franchise in the world. Our franchisees operate at the heart of their local communities, helping children to grow in confidence and ability. We thoroughly asses a child’s needs and then carefully select the best-fit tutor based on goals, personality and learning level. Instead of the traditional centre-based model, our tutors visit students at home, at a time that is convenient for them. Tutor Doctor franchisees arrange and oversee the tutor/student relationship for a truly bespoke solution and exceptional level of service.

"The recruitment process wasn’t easy! And the fact that it wasn’t easy really reassured me. I could tell they took real pride in the brand and the quality control over who was coming in."

"As part of my due diligence, I spoke to other franchisees and the family-feel and supportive nature of the network was clear. The openness and enthusiasm from the team totally sold it to me in a genuine non-salesy way. I thought that all of this, coupled with what I could bring to it could be a dynamite combination!"

"After you launch your franchise, you are actively supported across all areas of your business through structured training programmes, weekly coaching calls, weekly global calls and on-demand support as you need it. As your business grows, we have specifically designed support systems to help you continue growth, build momentum and ultimately scale your business to help you achieve your financial and personal goals."

“The training was fairly intense but I was like a sponge – I still am! I enjoyed the classroom-based programme in Canada the most. It was brilliant to meet other new franchisees at the same point in the journey as you. The thing I took away that really stuck with me was that geography means nothing; we’re all working towards the same goal and we built a great bond. We learnt about strategy, marketing, sales and IT. We touched on everything from accounting to networking and closing the sale. There was lots of role play for things like mock consultations which was really useful. It cemented the fact that this was a great product.”

“In terms of support, we had a 12-week ‘jump-start’ programme with weekly sessions with our Franchise Developer working on sales and marketing and also had a weekly meeting with all new franchisees where we shared experiences and ideas. Even now, there’s always someone there if you need them. I’m already working with a neighbouring franchisee who launched in November. The openness and collaborative nature of the network is key! Collectively you create something quite magnificent.”

Tutor Doctor has over 500 franchise territories in 15 countries world-wide. Over the past three years, consumer spending on tutoring has increased 7% to 10% each year. One-on-one tuition has exploded into a billion-pound a year industry that annually serves over 2 million children across the UK. Our UK network of 45 franchisees all enjoy an exciting, scalable business whilst making a positive impact in the lives of children.

Roger, now 35, launched his Tutor Doctor business in Hitchin and Stevenage in January 2017. In less than six months, he’s already working with over 40 families in his community as well as a local school. Not to mention providing regular work to the 25 local tutors he’s recruited to date.

“We’ve had a great take-up in the area. Student workloads have increased dramatically, including homework – and parents are often busy working and are time-starved so invest in the extra support for their children. Our service helps families out and alleviates that stress whilst enabling children to progress. I’ve got some fantastic tutors on board and I’m getting great feedback so we’re already getting business through referrals.”

“I’ve been incredibly lucky that everything has come together for me – my background and experience couldn’t be a better fit. I love where I live and the community that I’m in – I take all of that and when I go into consultations and talk to people, I feel confident, passionate and feel that I’ve got a lot to share. I’m inspired to aim for the stars. Not just for my own success but the success we can help every student to achieve. The beauty of Tutor Doctor is that you’ve got the systems and support but you’re free to chase the opportunities in your area in a way that works for you! I’ve got a huge list of strategies that I want to implement and it’s great that you can do that within the model.”

When he’s not busy building his new empire, Roger is a sports-fan and fitness enthusiast and enjoys swimming and golfing. He still loves the theatre, and of course, stand-up comedy. He has fond memories of his time as a stand-up comic because that’s how he met his wife, Daria. The couple have two young children and Roger loves the new-found freedom that his business brings to family life.

“Being in control of my schedule is wonderful and it’s given me the freedom of time with my family – I can drop my daughter off at school and see her in school plays. I feel liberated, optimistic, well supported and I’ve even got enough time to go the gym!”

Making a mark on the network by capitalising on Tutor Doctor’s bespoke schools programme

Giving back has always been Neil and Melodie Watson’s priority. With Neil’s 25 years’ experience as Managing Director of manufacturing companies combined with Melodie’s 22 years working in high school pastoral departments, the pair have always been motivated by providing invaluable opportunities to better their community. So, after reassessing their careers and endeavouring to find a shared venture that would make them feel personally and financially rewarded, September 2022 was the turning point that finally put them in the right direction.

In less than a year since launching Tutor Doctor Newcastle Upon Tyne, Neil and Melodie’s short but successful franchise journey has enabled the pair to become leading lights in their local education system. Capitalising on Tutor Doctor’s industry-leading programme, which enables franchisees to make a significant impact on the mainstream UK school’s market, they are fast becoming the area’s trusted go-to supplementary education provider.