It's nice to meet you :-)

I help education business owners design their business on their terms.

I'm an entrepreneur through and through!  I tried working for other people, but I kept coming back to running my own show. 


I believe that there's no one way to do things, and I'm passionate about helping others design businesses on their terms.


I'm also not one for rules :-)


And I'm proof that thriving businesses can be built by adapting, and sometimes ignoring (!) standard business advice.


There's no blueprint.  

Let's create our own.

I help education business owners design businesses their way, on their terms.

I'm an entrepreneur through and through!  I tried working for other people, but I kept coming back to running my own show. 


I believe that there's no one way to do things, and I'm passionate about helping others design businesses on their terms.


I'm also not one for rules :-)


And I'm proof that thriving businesses can be built by adapting, and sometimes ignoring (!) standard business advice.


There's no blueprint.  Let's create our own.

Some Clients - Past and Present

I've signed NDAs for certain clients, so can't include them in the list.

Corporate Training & Consultancy

Sainsbury's

Estee Lauder

Young's Brewery

Superdrug

Innocent Drinks

The Telegraph

GroupM

Iplato Healthcare

CMA

Ministry of Justice

Stemcor Ltd

Superdrug

Next

Business Mentoring & Training

Anika Choudhury, Harvard Business School

Emma Cann, Life Coach

Dwight Maths Tutor

JMB Educational Services

Firefly Education

Bright Mind Academy

Najma The Maths Tutor

Zoe Holland: History & Politics Tutor

The Biology Academy

Online Language School

Education Pathfinder

The Absolute Word

Super Tutor Academy

LET'S TALK BUSINESS!

I've done SO many things that you could be forgiven for thinking that I can't make up my mind.  



But honestly, that's not it.



I believe in doing what we love.  And that sometimes means being brave enough to reinvent ourselves.



I rose to every challenge as I embarked on new parts of my journey.



For instance, when I started applying for 'real' jobs after graduating, employers turned their noses up at me for taking a year out to do something different. 



When I left the coporate world to be a teacher, I dropped to less than a quarter of my salary - with a mortgage.



Three years into The Upgrade Project, Covid hit.  I lost half of my business in an hour and my husband was made redundant.



But when you want something, you do what it takes - right? 

2004

I was 22 years old when I experienced my first taste of business. 


I graduated with 1st class BSc (hons) and took a year out to qualify as a hairdresser and makeup artist!  Anya, my first business, was born.

2005 - 2011

I ran Anya on the side while working as a Business Trainer and Project Manager. But halfway through my career, I was made redundant.  With a mortgage and no job, I had to make ends meet.


So I freelanced and trained as a copywriter.  Fortunately, if I had scissors in my hand, I had an income. 


I continued delivering freelance training and secured a contract with the Ministry of Justice.

2011 - 2017

Six years in, I was tired of the corporate rat race.  I craved something more meaningful.  Enter teaching.  


To my surprise, the adult training came in handy - my last school involved me in teacher training and project managing IT roll outs.  Anya was still going but teaching was tough - I had to slow the business down.

2017

My life changed.


The training, the teaching, the copywriting, running the business ... my journey helped me put my best foot forward.  I launched The Upgrade Project, housing private tuition and business training.


Unlike in 2004, I had experience and maturity under my belt.  I could design a business with confidence, on my terms and build financial freedom.


2020 marked the end of an era.  After 16 years of running Anya, I closed the doors to let The Upgrade Project take centre stage.