Tutor Doctor franchisees making education their business
Just two months into a new decade and Tutor Doctor has already welcomed five new faces to its UK network. As they take the leap into business ownership – opening offices the length and breadth of the country – each new business owner hopes to make waves in their local community. Franchisees like Wing Woo, launching in Bath, and Jai Sharda, who is taking over an existing franchise in Leicester, are ready to make a difference.
Although franchisees don’t require any previous experience in the education space to become a Tutor Doctor franchisee, it’s certainly a selling point for some. Something which is a common theme, however, is the passion to make an impact on children’s lives – a core value for the brand. Prior to launching in January 2020, Jai worked at Ofsted carrying out inspections on post-16 education. He also conducted training in further education colleges, local authorities and private training providers; all of which ultimately led him to his new venture.
“After I left Ofsted, I decided to use my many years’ experience I had gained as an educator to manage a business that was intellectually and personally fulfilling, as well as meeting an important community need. I was particularly impressed with the professional and ethical approach. I settled on buying an existing franchise as there just happened to be a territory near my hometown up for sale. However, I knew that this would be a good option and I could, to some extent, bypass a few challenges that new franchisees face in their first months of business.”
Tutor Doctor 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 their local community, franchisees help children to achieve their potential and change lives for the better. Jai’s fellow new recruit, Wing, also possesses a passion for children’s development. As well as being attracted to Tutor Doctor’s robust model, it was the opportunity to provide a more tailored and personalised service that really appealed.
“I’ve been a teacher for many years, so education is something that I feel very strongly about. The values and ethos directly aligned with my own and I knew it was something that I could make a success of. The training has prepared me for the start of my franchise and has helped to develop a business that has an impact on the local community.”
All new franchisees attend initial training at Tutor Doctor’s head office in Toronto. A comprehensive programme equips new recruits with the tools and knowledge needed to hit the ground running back home in the UK. Whilst a dedicated support structure and ongoing training empowers franchisees to reach their potential.
Jai adds: “The training was exhaustive, inspirational and motivating, but, like most people, I am very much a hands-on kind of person and I learn best by doing. After completing my training, I was pretty fired up and keen to apply my knowledge, skills and behaviours I had learned during my week. I carried out my first consultation and secured my first client. It went well but there’s still so much to learn – I’m looking forward to honing my skills so I can deliver the best service.”
Founded in the US in 2004, Tutor Doctor recently celebrated its 10th year on British soil. UK franchisees have the opportunity to leverage a market which continues to report record numbers in the ongoing demand of tuition. The 80+ franchisees in the network currently provide over 5.2million hours of tutoring to students all over the country, with over 36,000 tutors delivering the brand’s personalised, in-home service.
