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Grow Your Tutoring Business Podcast
Learn business tips and find inspiration from other tutors sharing there story,
Latest episode
When Teaching Breaks You… and Tutoring Builds You Back Up
19:05|In this episode of Grow Your Tutoring Business, Richard shares a powerful personal story about his mum and dad, a sliding-doors moment on a roundabout, and how heartbreak and hardship pushed his dad into action. He connects that family story to the journeys so many tutors and ex-teachers go through: the misalignment with school values, the pressure of targets, the emotional toll of staying in the classroom too long, and the moment you realise something has to change. If you’re a teacher thinking about leaving education, a tutor building a tuition business, or an online tutor wondering where your drive comes from (and why it sometimes disappears), this episode will really resonate.Richard explores how hardship can be the catalyst for ambition and legacy – whether that’s starting your own tutoring business, growing from 10 to 50+ students, or creating work–life balance that actually works for your family. He talks honestly about being “in the pit”, why you shouldn’t make big decisions when you’re at your lowest, and how to use frustration, burnout and “I’ll prove you wrong” energy as fuel to build something better. You’ll be encouraged to reflect on the stories, role models and key moments that shaped you as an educator, and be reminded that the work you do now as a tutor becomes part of your students’ stories – and sometimes, part of their children’s stories too.email: richard@tutorswhothrive.com
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Trust Your Gut: The Power of Instinct in Tutoring and Teaching
16:07|In this episode of Grow Your Tutoring Business, I’m talking about something we don’t give ourselves enough credit for: our professional instincts. I share a story from my early days in social services, where a primary mental health worker picked up on signs of domestic abuse before we’d even knocked on the door, just from subtle cues and experience. We dig into what that means for us as tutors, teachers and education professionals – how our brain, body and nervous system are constantly reading red flags and green flags in the children and families we work with, whether that’s safeguarding concerns, tricky parent conversations, or noticing when a child is actually ready to move on academically.We then bring it right into the tutoring room: spotting when a student is bored because the work is too easy, handling behaviour in small groups, recognising when a family isn’t the right fit, and noticing the things that quietly light you up in your tutoring business (hello, GCSE maths tutoring!). This is a reflective, honest episode for private tutors, tuition business owners and teachers who want to lean into their intuition, stay aligned with their values, and make better decisions about the students, parents and opportunities they say yes (or no) to.You’re Bloody Good at Your Job: Passion, Legacy and the Difference You Make
17:03|We forget how powerful our work is. In this solo episode of Grow Your Tutoring Business, I make the case that tutors aren’t “just tutors”—we change trajectories. From 11+ and GCSE breakthroughs to confidence, mindset and motivation, I explore the academic and emotional impact of tutoring: light-bulb moments, intrinsic motivation, and the long-term ripple effects into sixth form, university, careers and family life. If you’re a tuition business owner who needs a reminder of your value (and a few stories to share in your marketing), this one’s for you.You’ll get practical prompts to reflect on impact, build your “evidence bank” (testimonials, messages, results), and turn those into content that attracts ideal families. We’ll talk authentic branding, simple habits for consistent visibility, and why sharing wins (and the graft behind them) grows trust and bookings. Perfect for UK tutors, GCSE/11+ specialists, and tutoring business owners focused on client acquisition, student outcomes, and sustainable growth. Subscribe for more episodes on pricing, packaging, safeguarding, marketing and systems that help your tuition business thrive.Authenticity Sells: How Tutors Build Trust & Loyalty
14:12|Want to build an authentic audience for your tutoring business without feeling fake on social media? In this solo episode of Grow Your Tutoring Business, I share a practical framework for showing up as yourself, growing trust and loyalty, and turning followers into families who buy. We cover core values, consistent content habits, and real engagement (DMs, comments, voice notes) that help tutors create a personal brand parents actually believe in, without the over-polished, inauthentic stuff.I also reflect on how Tutors Who Thrive grew when I stopped performing and started speaking in my real voice, plus lessons from Lisa Johnson on consistent, values-led visibility. You’ll leave with simple steps to grow your audience, improve engagement, build an email list, and market your tuition services with integrity. Perfect for UK tutors, teacher-turned-tutors, and anyone who wants ethical marketing that leads to bookings.The Bait-and-Switch Killing Trust in Tuition
15:54|Feeling tempted to say “I’m not selling anything, come to this free thing”? In this solo episode, I unpack why that line erodes trust, first in you, and then across the wider tuition industry. I’ve seen this bait-and-switch approach in other sectors for years, and it’s now creeping into tutoring. I explain why it backfires (even if you don’t pitch on the webinar) and how it trains parents to be sceptical of all of us.Instead, I share a simple, ethical structure you can use today: be transparent about next steps, deliver a complete win in the free session, then invite—never pressure—the right people to continue. We’ll cover the “Promise → Proof → Path” framework, a permission-based CTA, and a quick checklist to audit your copy, design a useful free asset, set expectations, and nurture without tricks. If you care about trust, community, and long-term reputation, this one’s for you.Passion, Boundaries, and Better Business
13:01|In this reflective episode, I unpack a simple but slippery question: where does passion actually come from, and how do we use it well in our tutoring businesses? Fresh from a visit to a school’s IB cohort (mentoring project = very impressive!), I share what I told their sixth formers about running a great session—and how their questions led us into a wider chat about passion. Is it discovered by trying things, or is it something we already have that gets assigned to football, teaching, business… even fixing washing machines? We explore both sides, plus the role of boundaries—what to fold into your brand and what to keep purely for you.Then I bring it home with what’s changing for me: still loving the Kent Test/11+, but feeling pulled towards creating resources and opening up GCSE Maths again. We’ll talk seasons of passion, how to balance impact with life (hobbies, family, sanity), and how to notice when the thing that lit you up needs to evolve. If this resonates, or you’ve got your own “passion pivot”, I’d love to hear it. Drop me a message via the email in the show notes.thrive@tutorswhothrive.comSafeguarding for Tutors: Holly Goodwin’s Advice for Tutors
38:01|Safeguarding can feel daunting when you’re tutoring solo, but it doesn’t have to. In this episode, I’m joined by Holly Goodwin, safeguarding lead for The Tutors’ Association and a former school DSL, to demystify what safeguarding really means for tutors day to day. We dig into the big picture (children at the centre, clear boundaries, and confident communication) and the practicals you’ll face: handling a disclosure, liaising with parents and schools, when to contact the local authority, simple record-keeping that stands up, and how the home-education register and KCSIE (Part 1) affect your practice.We also get into the “nitty gritty” that pops up in our community all the time, lone working (in your home and in a family’s home), whether parents should stay, safer online set-ups, and why most tutors don’t need to record lessons (plus the GDPR pitfalls if you do). Finally, Holly shares ways to protect your own wellbeing and avoid isolation, including where to find mental health support via the Hub of Hope. Check the show notes for links to The Tutors’ Association, KCSIE Part 1, and key resources mentioned.