Craig McKee: From the Head’s Office to SaaS Founder

Episode Overview In this episode of the Education Business Podcast, Claire speaks with former head teacher and chair of governors Craig McKee about his journey from school leadership to building a portfolio of successful education tools. Craig shares how stepping away from headship in 2021 led him…

Kate Wadsworth: Progress Isn’t Linear: Lessons from an Education Business Founder

Episode Overview In this episode of the Education Business Podcast, Claire Riley speaks with education founder Kate Wadsworth about her journey from classroom teacher to launching What If Education. Kate shares the moment she realised the education system was pulling her away from the values that…

Matthew Curnier: Scaling Beyond Yourself: A Multi-Company Founder

In this episode of the Education Business Podcast, Claire Riley sits down with Matthew Curnier — founder of Capital Tuition Group and Tutor Onboarder — to explore the winding road from marine biologist to multi-company education entrepreneur. Matthew shares how the National Tutoring Programme expo…

Matt Wilkinson: Charging Your Worth: From FE Teacher to Tutoring Business Owner

Overview In this episode of The Education Business Podcast, Claire Riley is joined by Matt Wilkinson, founder of Restart Tuition. Matt shares his journey from FE lecturer to business owner, the reality of building a tutoring company, and the mindset shifts required to grow sustainably. They explo…

John Nichols: The Uncomfortable Truths of Teaching, Tutoring, and Entrepreneurship

What really happens when a teacher leaves the classroom and builds an education business? In this episode, Claire Riley is joined by John Nichols, President of The Tutors’ Association and founder of an international education consultancy, to unpack the uncomfortable truths about teaching, tutoring…

Darren Norman: The Gradual Shift from Teacher to Business Owner

Podcast Overview What happens when a teacher starts questioning the relevance of what’s being taught — and decides to do something about it? In this episode of the Education Business Podcast, host Claire Riley is joined by Darren Norman, founder of Headline Maths, who shares his journey from a 17…

Aidan Severs: From Classroom to Education Consultancy

Overview In this episode of The Education Business Podcast, host Claire Riley speaks with education consultant Aidan Severs about his journey from classroom teacher and school leader to running his own education business. Aidan shares how blogging, leadership roles, and consultancy work helped him…

Lisa Haycox: From Tutor to CEO

In this episode of the Education Business Podcast, Claire is joined by Lisa Haycox, Chief Executive Officer of Explore Learning. Appointed CEO in April 2025, Lisa has grown with the organisation for more than two decades, joining in 2002 as a tutor and progressing through senior leadership roles a…

Ian Hunter: Breaking into International Education Markets

Episode Overview In this episode, Claire Riley is joined by Ian Hunter, founder of Lyme Education Consulting, to explore how education businesses can successfully expand into international markets. With over 27 years in edtech and global education, Ian shares practical insights on trust, localisat…

Joshua Perry: Insights from Multiple Edtech Ventures

Navigating the EdTech Landscape: Insights from Multiple Ventures In this episode, Claire Riley, co-founder of Classroom Secrets, talks with Joshua, a seasoned entrepreneur in the education sector. Joshua shares his journey from children's publishing to running multiple education businesses, includ…