Episode Overview

Sarah shares how she built a tutoring franchise from an “accidental” start into a long-term business. The conversation explores franchising from both sides, decision-making under uncertainty, and what actually drives sustainable growth in education businesses.

The discussion focuses on practical realities: communication failures, hiring decisions, scaling challenges, and the operational pressure of running a small business. It also looks ahead to long-term thinking, including succession, flexibility, and what “retirement” really means for founders.

 

00:01:00 – Sarah’s accidental path into business

00:03:30 – Leaving a franchise and starting from scratch

00:05:00 – Building a family-run franchise model

00:07:45 – Where franchisors get it wrong

00:11:30 – What makes a great franchisee

00:19:30 – Online tutoring and building Study Central

00:24:30 – Rethinking retirement as a founder

00:32:00 – The reality of small business pressure

00:36:00 – Why outsourcing matters more than hiring

00:39:30 – Final advice: you are not alone

 

All About Sarah:
Sarah always wanted to run her own business, a passion that began in her teenage years and continues to shape her career today. She is part of the family behind MagiKats Tutoring, a company that delivers small group tuition through a network of franchised Tuition Centres across the UK and internationally. Alongside this, she supports private tutors through the Study Central subscription.

While tutoring itself isn’t her focus, Sarah is most passionate about helping educators grow and succeed in building their own businesses, so that they, in turn, can help the next generation achieve their full potential.. Outside of work, she sings professionally and enjoys keeping active with the gym, as well as spending time on coffee outings and dog walks.

Website: https://www.studycentral.info/ and https://www.magikats.co.uk/

Instagram: @sarahmagikats

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-marsh-51227523/

TikTok: @sarah.magikats

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100011448608582

Episode Overview
Sarah shares how she built a tutoring franchise from an &ldquo;accidental&rdquo; start into a long-term business. The conversation explores franchising from both sides, decision-making under uncertainty, and what actually drives sustainable growth in education businesses.
The discussion focuses on practical realities: communication failures, hiring decisions, scaling challenges, and the operational pressure of running a small business. It also looks ahead to long-term thinking, including succession, flexibility, and what &ldquo;retirement&rdquo; really means for founders.
&nbsp;
00:01:00 &ndash; Sarah&rsquo;s accidental path into business
00:03:30 &ndash; Leaving a franchise and starting from scratch
00:05:00 &ndash; Building a family-run franchise model
00:07:45 &ndash; Where franchisors get it wrong
00:11:30 &ndash; What makes a great franchisee
00:19:30 &ndash; Online tutoring and building Study Central
00:24:30 &ndash; Rethinking retirement as a founder
00:32:00 &ndash; The reality of small business pressure
00:36:00 &ndash; Why outsourcing matters more than hiring
00:39:30 &ndash; Final advice: you are not alone
&nbsp;
All About Sarah: Sarah always wanted to run her own business, a passion that began in her teenage years and continues to shape her career today. She is part of the family behind MagiKats Tutoring, a company that delivers small group tuition through a network of franchised Tuition Centres across the UK and internationally. Alongside this, she supports private tutors through the Study Central subscription. While tutoring itself isn&rsquo;t her focus, Sarah is most passionate about helping educators grow and succeed in building their own businesses, so that they, in turn, can help the next generation achieve their full potential.. Outside of work, she sings professionally and enjoys keeping active with the gym, as well as spending time on coffee outings and dog walks.
Website: https://www.studycentral.info/ and <a href="https://www.magikats.co.uk/">https://www.magikats.co.uk/</a>
Instagram: @sarahmagikats
LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-marsh-51227523/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-marsh-51227523/</a>
TikTok: @sarah.magikats
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100011448608582

The Education Business Podcast is for educational consultants, small education-based business owners, Edtech providers and workshop leaders focused on providing education services to schools, as well as for teachers transitioning to freelancing with an entrepreneurial business idea. Growing and scaling a business that provides a service to schools and education requires a different skillset and inside knowledge to many other entrepreneurial ventures. In this podcast Claire Riley, CEO of Classroom Secrets and host of The Teachers' Podcast, shares what it takes to market and pitch your services to this sector. Find out exactly what headteachers and teachers are looking for, and why building a personal brand matters in your marketing and how you can grow your education business.

The Education Business Podcast is for educational consultants, small education-based business owners, Edtech providers and workshop leaders focused on providing education services to schools, as well as for teachers transitioning to freelancing with an entrepreneurial business idea. Growing and scaling a business that provides a service to schools and education requires a different skillset and inside knowledge to many other entrepreneurial ventures. In this podcast Claire Riley, CEO of Classroom Secrets and host of The Teachers' Podcast, shares what it takes to market and pitch your services to this sector. Find out exactly what headteachers and teachers are looking for, and why building a personal brand matters in your marketing and how you can grow your education business.

The Education Business Podcast

Building a business in education can feel overwhelming—but you don’t have to do it alone.

Hosted by Claire Riley, founder of Classroom Secrets and passionate advocate for helping educators turn their expertise into thriving businesses, this podcast brings you honest conversations, practical strategies, and the behind-the-scenes lessons from those already making an impact in the education space.

Each episode dives into the realities of running and growing an education business—from building sustainable income streams and navigating challenges, to embracing innovation and scaling with purpose. You’ll hear inspiring stories from fellow entrepreneurs, expert insights, and Claire’s own experiences of successes and setbacks along the way.

Whether you’re an aspiring edupreneur just starting out or a seasoned business owner looking for fresh perspective, this podcast will give you the tools, clarity, and encouragement you need to grow with confidence.

Tune in weekly to discover how to make your education business thrive while staying true to your mission of making a difference.

Building a business in education can feel overwhelming&mdash;but you don&rsquo;t have to do it alone.
Hosted by Claire Riley, founder of Classroom Secrets and passionate advocate for helping educators turn their expertise into thriving businesses, this podcast brings you honest conversations, practical strategies, and the behind-the-scenes lessons from those already making an impact in the education space.
Each episode dives into the realities of running and growing an education business&mdash;from building sustainable income streams and navigating challenges, to embracing innovation and scaling with purpose. You&rsquo;ll hear inspiring stories from fellow entrepreneurs, expert insights, and Claire&rsquo;s own experiences of successes and setbacks along the way.
Whether you&rsquo;re an aspiring edupreneur just starting out or a seasoned business owner looking for fresh perspective, this podcast will give you the tools, clarity, and encouragement you need to grow with confidence.
Tune in weekly to discover how to make your education business thrive while staying true to your mission of making a difference.

Sarah Marsh: The Accidental Founder: Building an Education Franchise

Episode Overview

Phil Robinson shares the unconventional journey that led him from military service and central government IT programmes into education and eventually founding Tide Education.

In this conversation, Phil talks openly about the realities of building an education business from scratch. He explains how his experience working inside schools revealed both the pressure teachers face and the operational gaps that still exist around student support and communication.

The episode explores leadership, trust, systems, scaling, networking in education, and the financial realities of launching an edtech company without major backing.

Phil also reflects on what founders often underestimate when entering the education sector, including time, trust, visibility, and the challenge of simply getting people to engage with a new product.

 

00:01:00 – Phil’s career journey from engineering to the Army
00:03:35 – Moving into education and discovering the problem
00:05:00 – Why Phil founded Tide Education
00:08:00 – Similarities between military leadership and schools
00:12:10 – What founders should do first with an idea
00:16:20 – Why networking matters in education
00:17:05 – The realities of funding and marketing an edtech startup
00:22:05 – The hardest part of building Tide Education
00:27:15 – Scaling, automation and reducing barriers for schools
00:29:25 – Final reflections on building an education business


All About Phil:

Philip Robinson is a dad, technologist and veteran with a background spanning defence, UK Government and education. A former Major in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Philip served for 16 years, culminating in leading mission-critical IT system in Afghanistan.

On retiring he worked in central government leading IT programmes and portfolios for a number of years before moving into education as Head of Business Intelligence in a medium-sized Multi-Academy Trust. Here he brought together fragmented information to create 360-degree views of students, enabling better insight, coordination, and outcomes across schools and trust.

Philip is the founder of Tide Education, a real-time inclusion support platform for teachers, providing one view, one timeline, and one shared understanding of each child’s support journey.

Website: www.tide.education
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philip-robinson-22ba9a30/

Episode Overview
Phil Robinson shares the unconventional journey that led him from military service and central government IT programmes into education and eventually founding Tide Education.
In this conversation, Phil talks openly about the realities of building an education business from scratch. He explains how his experience working inside schools revealed both the pressure teachers face and the operational gaps that still exist around student support and communication.
The episode explores leadership, trust, systems, scaling, networking in education, and the financial realities of launching an edtech company without major backing.
Phil also reflects on what founders often underestimate when entering the education sector, including time, trust, visibility, and the challenge of simply getting people to engage with a new product.
&nbsp;
00:01:00 &ndash; Phil&rsquo;s career journey from engineering to the Army 00:03:35 &ndash; Moving into education and discovering the problem 00:05:00 &ndash; Why Phil founded Tide Education 00:08:00 &ndash; Similarities between military leadership and schools 00:12:10 &ndash; What founders should do first with an idea 00:16:20 &ndash; Why networking matters in education 00:17:05 &ndash; The realities of funding and marketing an edtech startup 00:22:05 &ndash; The hardest part of building Tide Education 00:27:15 &ndash; Scaling, automation and reducing barriers for schools 00:29:25 &ndash; Final reflections on building an education business
 All About Phil: Philip Robinson is a dad, technologist and veteran with a background spanning defence, UK Government and education. A former Major in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Philip served for 16 years, culminating in leading mission-critical IT system in Afghanistan. On retiring he worked in central government leading IT programmes and portfolios for a number of years before moving into education as Head of Business Intelligence in a medium-sized Multi-Academy Trust. Here he brought together fragmented information to create 360-degree views of students, enabling better insight, coordination, and outcomes across schools and trust. Philip is the founder of Tide Education, a real-time inclusion support platform for teachers, providing one view, one timeline, and one shared understanding of each child&rsquo;s support journey. Website: <a href="http://www.tide.education/">www.tide.education</a> Linkedin: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/philip-robinson-22ba9a30/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/philip-robinson-22ba9a30/</a>

Phil Robinson: From Military Leadership to Education Innovation

Episode Overview

Katie Stone shares the transition from teaching to building a scalable virtual assistant business. The conversation focuses on the realities of leaving teaching, the mindset barriers that stop founders from outsourcing, and the practical systems required to grow beyond a one-person operation. This episode is grounded in operational clarity: how to move from doing everything yourself to building processes that allow your business to run without you.

 

00:02:00 - Leaving teaching under pressure

00:05:00 - Starting a business with £500

00:07:00 - Why remote work changed everything

00:14:00 - The mindset shift required to outsource

00:15:00 - Control vs growth: the turning point

00:17:00 - Building simple processes that scale

00:22:00 - What to hand off first in your business

00:28:00 - Why systems matter early

 

All About Katie: 
Katie Stone is the founder of Elevated Support Ltd, a virtual assistant agency that helps education businesses grow by taking admin off their plate. A former teacher turned entrepreneur, Katie is passionate about helping education businesses to find more time for the work that matters.

Since 2020 she has built an award-winning team of ex-educators and specialists who streamline systems, set up automation, manage email marketing and handle day-to-day operations. 

When she's not digging her clients out of spaghetti like tangles of admin, she can be found in South Shropshire gaming, watching and much TV as possible and hanging out with her husband and two lovely kids.

Website: https://katiestonepa.com/ 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiestonepa/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elevatedsupportltd

Episode Overview
Katie Stone shares the transition from teaching to building a scalable virtual assistant business. The conversation focuses on the realities of leaving teaching, the mindset barriers that stop founders from outsourcing, and the practical systems required to grow beyond a one-person operation. This episode is grounded in operational clarity: how to move from doing everything yourself to building processes that allow your business to run without you.
&nbsp;
00:02:00 - Leaving teaching under pressure
00:05:00 - Starting a business with &pound;500
00:07:00 - Why remote work changed everything
00:14:00 - The mindset shift required to outsource
00:15:00 - Control vs growth: the turning point
00:17:00 -&nbsp;Building simple processes that scale
00:22:00 -&nbsp;What to hand off first in your business
00:28:00 -&nbsp;Why systems matter early
&nbsp;
All About Katie: Katie Stone is the founder of Elevated Support Ltd, a virtual assistant agency that helps education businesses grow by taking admin off their plate. A former teacher turned entrepreneur, Katie is passionate about helping education businesses to find more time for the work that matters. Since 2020 she has built an award-winning team of ex-educators and specialists who streamline systems, set up automation, manage email marketing and handle day-to-day operations. When she's not digging her clients out of spaghetti like tangles of admin, she can be found in South Shropshire gaming, watching and much TV as possible and hanging out with her husband and two lovely kids. Website: <a href="https://katiestonepa.com/">https://katiestonepa.com/</a>&nbsp; LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiestonepa/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiestonepa/</a> Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/elevatedsupportltd">https://www.facebook.com/elevatedsupportltd</a>

Katie Stone: From Teacher Burnout to Scalable Business

Episode Overview

This episode explores how a classroom teacher built opportunities beyond school without leaving it. Simon shares how he moved from simply posting ideas online to working with global education brands, while staying grounded in teaching.

The conversation focuses on value, credibility, and the tension between education and business. It unpacks what companies actually need from teachers, why authenticity matters, and how educators can create opportunities without chasing them.

For education founders, it offers a clear perspective on working with teachers effectively. For teachers, it shows a realistic path into building influence and income without losing integrity.

 

00:00 – Introduction

02:00 – Why Simon Became a Teacher

04:30 – Starting to Share Online

06:30 – The Shift to Business Thinking

12:30 – Understanding Your Value

17:30 – Monetisation and Credibility

19:30 – The Role of Trust in Schools

23:00 – Getting Started in 30 Days

26:30 – What Brands Get Wrong

29:00 – Working with Small vs Big Companies

31:30 – What Education Businesses Need to Know

 

All About Simon:

Simon Hunt is a primary school teacher, education consultant, author, and content creator with 17 years of experience across a range of settings. He began his teaching career in Reception before teaching in Year 6 and now teaches a mixed Year 3/4 class at Tottington Primary School in Bury.
Alongside his classroom role, Simon is a Specialist Leader of Education (SLE) for Bury, supporting schools to develop creative, inclusive, and effective teaching practices. He works with schools across the UK to deliver CPD, share innovative approaches to learning, and help teachers feel confident and inspired in their practice.

Simon has worked as an education consultant with the BBC on the 500 Words writing competition for the past three years and has collaborated with organisations including Netflix on projects linked to the Blackfish documentary. He is also a published children’s author and has worked with a range of education and EdTech organisations across the UK and Europe to develop meaningful, classroom-focused resources. He was also named Inspirational Teacher of the Year by the Manchester Evening News.

Known online as Mr Hunt from the Front, Simon shares practical ideas, classroom strategies, and creative approaches to teaching with a wide audience of educators. His work is driven by a passion for making learning engaging, inclusive, and memorable for all children.

Website: https://www.mrhuntfromthefront.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mrhuntfromthefront
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrhuntfromthefront/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-hunt-b0a442161/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mrhuntfromthefront

 

Episode Overview
This episode explores how a classroom teacher built opportunities beyond school without leaving it. Simon shares how he moved from simply posting ideas online to working with global education brands, while staying grounded in teaching.
The conversation focuses on value, credibility, and the tension between education and business. It unpacks what companies actually need from teachers, why authenticity matters, and how educators can create opportunities without chasing them.
For education founders, it offers a clear perspective on working with teachers effectively. For teachers, it shows a realistic path into building influence and income without losing integrity.
&nbsp;
00:00 &ndash; Introduction
02:00 &ndash; Why Simon Became a Teacher
04:30 &ndash; Starting to Share Online
06:30 &ndash; The Shift to Business Thinking
12:30 &ndash; Understanding Your Value
17:30 &ndash; Monetisation and Credibility
19:30 &ndash; The Role of Trust in Schools
23:00 &ndash; Getting Started in 30 Days
26:30 &ndash; What Brands Get Wrong
29:00 &ndash; Working with Small vs Big Companies
31:30 &ndash; What Education Businesses Need to Know
&nbsp;
All About Simon:
Simon Hunt is a primary school teacher, education consultant, author, and content creator with 17 years of experience across a range of settings. He began his teaching career in Reception before teaching in Year 6 and now teaches a mixed Year 3/4 class at Tottington Primary School in Bury. Alongside his classroom role, Simon is a Specialist Leader of Education (SLE) for Bury, supporting schools to develop creative, inclusive, and effective teaching practices. He works with schools across the UK to deliver CPD, share innovative approaches to learning, and help teachers feel confident and inspired in their practice. Simon has worked as an education consultant with the BBC on the 500 Words writing competition for the past three years and has collaborated with organisations including Netflix on projects linked to the Blackfish documentary. He is also a published children&rsquo;s author and has worked with a range of education and EdTech organisations across the UK and Europe to develop meaningful, classroom-focused resources. He was also named Inspirational Teacher of the Year by the Manchester Evening News. Known online as Mr Hunt from the Front, Simon shares practical ideas, classroom strategies, and creative approaches to teaching with a wide audience of educators. His work is driven by a passion for making learning engaging, inclusive, and memorable for all children. Website: <a href="https://www.mrhuntfromthefront.com/">https://www.mrhuntfromthefront.com/</a> Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mrhuntfromthefront">https://www.facebook.com/mrhuntfromthefront</a> Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mrhuntfromthefront/">https://www.instagram.com/mrhuntfromthefront/</a> LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-hunt-b0a442161/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-hunt-b0a442161/</a> TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@mrhuntfromthefront">https://www.tiktok.com/@mrhuntfromthefront</a>
&nbsp;

Sarah Marsh: The Accidental Founder: Building an Education Franchise

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