Becoming an independant learning provider

[turbochrissy]

Hi all,

Having worked in further education and training with great success over the past 5 years, I am keen to move away from working in a (being very honest) 'below average' further education provider. Used to running my own business since leaving school I am a determined person and feel wasted in my current job.

I am a qualified teacher with knowledge in all areas of Business, having delivered a range of qualifications from Level 2 BTEC to Level 4 AAT, Leadership & Management training to Consultancy.

An obvious market would be offering professional qualifications to other businesses (at my own premises or in the workplace), such as administration, leadership, etc. Another would be to provide options for 16-19 year olds who may not want to study at college or 6th form and instead focus heavily on a Business related pathway. Finally, the opportunity for delivering apprenticeships is a really big seller currently and could not be ignored.

I know a bit about the funding available to established providers but in terms of getting started I feel it may be risky, as to start with we would have absolutely no students or clients and would be working hard to market the business. Would I be able to get help from anywhere, seeing as there is a real drive to increase the skills of young people and businesses?

 

[blueprinthub.co.uk]

Hi all,

Having worked in further education and training with great success over the past 5 years, I am keen to move away from working in a (being very honest) 'below average' further education provider. Used to running my own business since leaving school I am a determined person and feel wasted in my current job.

I am a qualified teacher with knowledge in all areas of Business, having delivered a range of qualifications from Level 2 BTEC to Level 4 AAT, Leadership & Management training to Consultancy.

An obvious market would be offering professional qualifications to other businesses (at my own premises or in the workplace), such as administration, leadership, etc. Another would be to provide options for 16-19 year olds who may not want to study at college or 6th form and instead focus heavily on a Business related pathway. Finally, the opportunity for delivering apprenticeships is a really big seller currently and could not be ignored.

I know a bit about the funding available to established providers but in terms of getting started I feel it may be risky, as to start with we would have absolutely no students or clients and would be working hard to market the business. Would I be able to get help from anywhere, seeing as there is a real drive to increase the skills of young people and businesses?

Out of curiousity do you intend to develop your own qualifications and get them formally recognised by Ofqual, or would this be something that would come later, but start by offering qualifications of other exam boards?

Try small grant scheme funding.

 

[ethical PR]

As with any business you need to identify what the demand might be for the service or product you want to provide and why students would want to choose to study with you rather than one of your established competitors at the price you would need to charge.

I know a lot of under 19 education is free. So how are you looking to generate income for these courses.

Professional business qualifications may be better depending on your competition. You would of course need to get any courses you offer accredited.

What money are you putting into your business. Banks and others offering loans will want a properly researched business plan, budget and marketing plan and budget as well as understanding what investment you are making and what you have available as security against a loan.

As someone who teaches business I am sure you have already researched local and national funding options so look into ones that are suitable for your business model.

Why not start by offering the courses you want to teach at adult education and other education establishments to test the market.

 

[Blaby Loyal]

Learn how to spell independent?

 

[turbochrissy]

Ideally offer courses from existing boards such as Pearson and aim these at the 16-19 (maybe adult) provision. Funding for the 16-19 would hopefully come from the skills funding agency, but unsure when the money is paid, either on enrolment or completion? If it were to be on completion then the first year would be tough financially, perhaps a market for Maths/English tuition to get by

 

[blueprinthub.co.uk]

Ideally offer courses from existing boards such as Pearson and aim these at the 16-19 (maybe adult) provision. Funding for the 16-19 would hopefully come from the skills funding agency, but unsure when the money is paid, either on enrolment or completion? If it were to be on completion then the first year would be tough financially, perhaps a market for Maths/English tuition to get by

Yes, I think that offering qualifications run by other boards is the best way to go, at least at first.

Also, there's no point developing a new qualification under your own label and getting it regulated by Ofqual if it is exactly the same as the qualifications offered by other boards.
The only advantage you'll have is zero entrance fees.

If you have an idea for a brand new qualification that is likely to be popular (e.g. GCSE law - feel free to steal the idea! ), or an existing subject improved in some way, then go for it!

I know how you feel by the way.
As a young enthusiastic teacher in an institution that you don't feel is particularly good, you feel not only that you're wasted but also that you're not being 'allowed' to make as much difference to the lives of your students as you otherwise might be able to, right?

Many young teachers feel like this and it is the system that destroys the enthusiasm, which is why in every school you've got that lovely 500 year old woman who has been there since the crucifixion of Jesus advising newcomers to "get out while you still can".

When you start your own business in this area though, my honest and hardnose advice would be to start by targeting the customers who will be able to pay higher prices, and pay faster.
You'll need cashflow, especially at the start.

What you don't want is to engage a government department only willing to pay £24.95 per student, and they don't even pay you on time either.

Targeting other groups can come later when you actually have cashflow, and are surviving off of something other than cornflakes.

 

[Mr D]

At least you can set up a business with your eyes open and experience.

There have been some teachers I've come across who want to get out of employed teaching with school issues etc. And are starry eyed about business.