A Gateshead-based entrepreneur, who created her own mindfulness-focused tuition business, has tripled enrolments after learning how to manage her team and find her unique selling point thanks to the Help to Grow: Management Course.
Kelly Maxwell qualified as a teacher in 2013, but after five years of teaching, she decided she wanted to create her own specialised learning environment. One with smaller classes and a more bespoke approach to learning.
Kelly began her entrepreneurial journey as an in-home tutor and soon realised there was a need for a permanent, dedicated teaching space in her hometown. She went on to open her business, Kelly’s Heroes Private Tuition, in 2020 and within six months had employed a second teacher and an apprentice due to increased demand. The business has gone from supporting 30 students to now helping more than 150, and the waiting list is growing.
While the business was growing, Kelly was aware she had never been in a management position or had responsibility for other employees, so needed support. She decided to enrol on a 12-week Help to Grow: Management Course, which is designed to help business leaders and senior managers to increase resilience, innovation, and growth within their organisations.
Kelly completed the course equipped with the tools needed to make the changes to grow her business. Since Kelly completed the Help to Grow: Management Course her business’ turnover has increased from £46,000 in 2021 to £180,000 this year. And there are plans in place to add a further full-time teacher, a part-time teacher, and a dyslexia assessor to support students during exam preparation.
“The course is the best thing I could have done. I’ve been able to transform the business and maximise the positive impact we’re having on students.
Kelly Maxwell, founder of Kelly's Heroes Private Tuition
Kelly Maxwell, founder of Kelly’s Heroes Private Tuition, said:
“Before I did the Help to Grow: Management Course I was spread thin and exhausted. I thought I had to do everything and assumed I would have to do 8am-10pm every day as the business owner.
“The course is the best thing I could have done. I’ve been able to transform the business and maximise the positive impact we’re having on students. Now we’re planning to expand the team even more and add a dyslexia assessor to our team to ensure the best care is being provided for our students.”
As part of the Help to Grow: Management Course, each participant benefits from peer-to-peer networking and is provided with a dedicated mentor to support.
Kelly added:
“The mentoring really brought everything together for me. I was able to discuss what I’d been taught and then plan how it could positively impact my business.
“I’m still in touch with my mentor and speak to my peer group regularly. As a business owner, it can sometimes feel lonely or daunting having to make decisions by yourself but having a different perspective to act as a sounding board has been brilliant and given me the confidence to approach new challenges head on.”
Kelly’s Heroes Private Tuition is now in the process of launching an online group tuition programme to support those not comfortable with learning in-person while an app is being developed to act as a hub for all that the business offers.
