The Profs
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Overview
The Profs are an EdTech start-up offering face-to-face or online tuition in the UK and abroad. They offer "school, university and professional-level private tutoring, education consultancy and academic mentorship."
It was launched in 2014 by: Richard Evans, a graduate from The London School of Economics and NatWest's Great British Young Entrepreneur of The Year 2017-8, Rory Curnock Cook, a graduate of Durham University and previous British Airways employee, and Leo Evans, a former financier from JP Morgan and lecturer at Imperial College. [1]
They currently have a team of 15 employees and are located in London.
History
Founded with modest beginnings, The Profs has experienced exponential growth underpinned by its innovative educational model and strategic financial management. Since inception, the organisation has demonstrated a commitment to reinvestment and sustainable practices, leading to substantial annual revenue growth and solidifying its stature in the global educational services sector.
Services
The Profs offers a tailored range of educational services designed to meet the needs of students across various academic levels:
- University Tutoring: Personalised support services for undergraduates and postgraduates aimed at enhancing academic performance and fostering intellectual growth.
- A-Level and GCSE Tutoring: Targeted assistance to help students excel in these critical examinations with confidence and academic prowess.
- Online Tutoring: Utilising cutting-edge technology to deliver high-quality educational resources and mentorship globally.
- University Applications: Comprehensive advisory services to guide prospective students through the admissions process.
- Oxbridge Applications: Specialised mentorship tailored for applicants to Oxford and Cambridge Universities, enhancing their chances of acceptance.
Impact and Achievements
The Profs has made a significant impact on the educational landscape, empowering students to achieve their academic goals through personalized tutoring and innovative learning strategies. The organisation's success is reflected in its growing clientele and numerous accolades, recognizing its commitment to educational excellence and student success.
Awards and Recognition
The Profs has been consistently recognised for its dedication to educational excellence and innovation. In 2017, The Profs were awarded The "Microbusiness of the Year category at the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) London Business Awards". They then went on to win The "Best Tutoring Company" at The EducationInvestor Awards later that year[2] and also took the gong for The Telegraph’s "Most Innovative SME Exporter" in September of 2018.[3]
The Profs also won the 'Ed Tech Provider of the Year' award at the prestigious 2024 EducationInvestor Awards.
Notable awards include:
- 2024 EducationInvestor Awards (2024): EdTech Provider of the Year[4]
- National Tutoring Awards (2023): Best Tuition Business of the Year and Best Tuition Delivery to Private Clients.
- The Tutors Association (2022): Best Tuition Business for Customer Support.[5]
- Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe (2019)[6] and Spear’s 500 Top Recommended (2019).
- The Telegraph Trade Awards (2018): Most Innovative SME Exporter.[3]
- UK Department of Education (2018): Higher Education Open Data Competition Winner.
- Education Investor Awards (2017): Best Private Tuition Provider.[2]
- Great British Entrepreneur Awards (2017): Young Entrepreneur of the Year.
- FSB London Business Awards and FSB Worldpay Award (2016, 2017).
- Finalist in The Guardian's Start Up of the Year (2016).
For a comprehensive list of awards, visit The Profs' awards page.
Technology and Innovations
In December 2018, The Profs was awarded one of two contracts totalling £150,000 by The Department for Education through its Open Data Competition. Richard Evans spearheaded the development team in creating TheWayUp, an innovative app designed as a 'personalised careers assistant'. This initiative, funded under Innovate UK’s Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI), aimed to provide prospective students with interactive simulations of various graduate career paths. TheWayUp was launched in a public beta phase in March 2019, offering users the ability to explore and compare earnings and employment outcomes associated with different academic degrees. [7]
In 2024, The Profs launched The Profs Marketplace, a pioneering platform offering affordable, self-service tutoring solutions. Utilising machine learning algorithms, the marketplace matches students with professional tutors, allowing them to schedule, pay for, and attend online classes flexibly.[8]
By leveraging their technology effectively, they are able to support 10,000 students a year.[9]
Future Plans and Vision:
Richard envisions a future where artificial intelligence evolves beyond simple information retrieval to serve as a catalyst for personal growth and learning. He imagines AI systems capable of comprehending individual motivations and tailoring learning experiences accordingly, thereby augmenting the efforts of personal trainers and tutors.[10]
