From lightbulb moment to fully-fledged business: how this UK entrepreneur grew her turnover eightfold

When qualified teacher Kelly Maxwell embarked on her entrepreneurial journey, she had little institutional knowledge of what it took to run a successful business.  

While teaching in schools, Kelly observed how very large classes with very little support impacted the confidence of students and quickly realised that there was a gap in the market for specialised, 1-2-1 tuition.  

Kelly left her teaching job to create her own specialised learning environment, becoming an in-home tutor before opening a dedicated space for her business, Kelly’s Heroes Private Tuition in 2020.  

Demand skyrocketed and within six months student numbers soared to more than 150 and the waiting list was ever growing. 

But Kelly had never been in a management position before, nor had she ever had to take responsibility for five other employees - she needed support, advice and a solid plan for the future.  

So Kelly enrolled in the 12-week Help to Grow: Management Course.  

Funded by government, the course is designed and delivered by entrepreneurs and industry experts.  

Since completing the course, Kelly’s business has more than tripled enrolment and staff, and gone from £30k turnover to £180k. Now it’s on track to hit £250k this year. 

We sat down with Kelly to chat about her experience and her secrets for success:  

1. Why did you undertake the Help to Grow: Management Course? What did you like the most about the course?  

I loved the mentoring support and putting plans into action, having someone to bounce ideas off and create a detailed plan that I could use after the course was over.  

I also loved the peer support and the lectures as it sparked so many new ideas that I have implemented into my business.  

Most importantly it has helped turn this teacher into a business owner and manager, giving me the tools and confidence to succeed in business that I didn’t have before. 

2. How has the course enabled you to transform your business? What are some of the practical learnings you’ve put in place?  

It has completely transformed my business and outlook.  

Before I was going day by day and hoping for the best, from the course I learnt strategic planning and preparation is so important to help get you to where you need to be and working smarter.  

There were many key takeaways but the case studies for me were extremely helpful, as I was able to learn so much from these. We met as a cohort in person for these so the healthy debates and sharing of ideas sparked a lot of new ideas for me that could be implemented into my business.  

Also, the session on managing staff I found extremely helpful and allowed me to feel confident in what I was doing and how I can continue to lead and support my team.  

3. Why should other UK SMEs enrol in the course? 

I can’t recommend this course enough. It gives you so much - peer support, mentoring, fresh ideas and a deep understanding of business and how to scale and grow.  

Once completed you’ll have a different outlook on business and the confidence and assurance to take it to new heights.  

4. What’s your top piece of advice for other aspiring entrepreneurs at the start of their business journey?  

Take as many opportunities as you can, network and learn from those around you - starting out is always the hardest part of any entrepreneur's journey, but if you truly believe in your vision, it’s a very exciting one to go on! Embrace it all. 

We can support your business at every stage, whether it's through courses, workshops or funding, visit our Help to Grow site to find out more.