Q1 2019

16 SME NEWS / Q1 2019 , Since its foundation in 2014, Minerva Tutors has thrived through its expert private tutoring and home-schooling services. Here, Hugh Viney, Director of Minerva Tutors, offers insight into their efforts to establish best practices in an industry that has – arguably- beenwithout a guiding cornerstone since its meteoric rise in popularity over the last decade. Minerva Tutors : Best-in- Class Tutoring Services Far from being reserved for the elite few, tutoring has become a viable tool for parents who want to see their children excel in their education. Over the last decade in particular, tutoring’s popularity has soared to ever greater heights, and yet, the industry is still unregulated. There’s no performance benchmark, no oversight, no paragon to look up to. Minerva Tutors was, by all regards, created to challenge that. “We’re a thriving, passionate education company built on a foundation of innovation, incredible tutors, and a fearless educational philosophy. We provide highly specialist tutors to families for after-school tuition, home-schooling and residential tutors for families around the world. They are experts in GCSE, iGCSE, A level and IB as well as entrance exams to top Grammar and Independent Schools (11+, Pre-test and 13+). Our tutors work face to face in Greater London or via Skype beyond the M25. During the summer we co-run summer camps teaching sport – football, lacrosse, hockey and golf – and English to international students aged 10-18. We also supply tutors to companies looking to upskill their employees. “We have a strong digital presence, receiving many enquiries through Google, whilst the majority of our clients come from the recommendations of other parents. We have a very strong, loyal parent community in the UK and internationally.” By all considerations, the crux of Minerva’s success lies in their approach to their work. They believe, fundamentally, in the idea that tutoring is a skill that can be improved and honed. The best tutors are not simply knowledgeable in their chosen field, they are a source of inspiration for their students. Hugh wanted to create a company based around only the very best tutors – those that are passionate about helping students to attain their full potential. “In a relatively short space of time, Minerva Tutors has become one of the fastest growing education companies in the UK and received nominations for leading national education and business awards. From the very beginning we took on tutors that dedicated their professional lives to tuition, as opposed to those that tutor to supplement their income. We focused on creating a small core team of less than forty tutors, rather than signing up hundreds to ‘our books’. By 2016 we were hiring full-time tutors on salaries (a ‘Minerva Tutor’). We are one of the only UK companies to do this. This recruitment philosophy creates a powerful team ethos and belief in a shared company vision, as well as allowing us to invest in our tutors with pioneering training programmes, educational resources and give them the support they need to grow.” But Minerva Tutors is more than just the sum knowledge and ethos of its tutors. “We have an excellent client manager team that deals with all our parents personally, helping to find them the perfect tutor for their situation. Our small tutor team is made up of full-time tutors, dedicated to their clients and a career in tuition, as opposed to part-time tutors looking for some extra cash. Both teams work brilliantly together to provide excellent customer service and inspirational tutoring, which is exactly what our clients want.” It would not be an overstatement to say that Minerva Tutors aims for excellence in every facet of its operation. In the absence of an established industry standard they have taken up the mantle, setting the path for others to follow. As we come to the close of the interview, Hugh takes a moment to comment on the challenges that this absence has caused in Jan19285 gaining a foothold in the industry. “Thousands of part-time tutors treat tutoring as a way to earn a quick buck, rather than caring about the long-term future of their pupils. This has given the industry a bad name and a reputation of being unprofessional.” Yet, these challenges seem, for the most part, to be in the past. Ultimately, Minerva Tutors have flourished to become one of the goliaths of the tutoring industry, renowned for their commitment to their students and their dedication to meeting the highest of standards. Their future is defined by new growth and partnerships. “We are very excited about our new partnerships with CMT and Nike Summer Camps this summer. We will be providing high-quality English tutoring to hundreds of international pupils at their sports summer camps.” Company: Minerva Tutors Contact: Hugh Viney, Director Address: London, EC2Y 9DT, United Kingdom Website: www.minervatutors.com Telephone: +44 (0) 208 819 3276