The drive: What challenges have you overcome?
Managing rapid growth has been our biggest challenge. Demand grew faster than we ever expected, and at times it feels like we are running just to keep up. We have had to build systems, scale our team and maintain our quality, all while keeping the personalised care that families value. It has been a steep learning curve, but it has also made us more organised, resilient and committed to what we do.
For better or worse: What are the pros and cons of running your own business?
The best part of running our business is the freedom to create something that reflects our values and the joy of seeing children grow in confidence and happiness. Along the way, I have also gained a mum friend in Jenny, someone who truly understands navigating mum life while running a business and teaching full time.
The hardest part is the constant responsibility. Growth brings excitement, but it also brings pressure to maintain quality. Another con is when you are sick, the work just piles up.
Our people are the most important thing. We are incredibly proud that many of our tutors have been with us from the very beginning, and that families trust us enough to keep coming back and recommending us. Reaching the milestone of 50 Google reviews last month (all five-star) felt like a quiet confirmation that the care we put into our work is being felt on the other side.
In our dreams, we are creating a genuine community of teachers. We often read about teacher burnout, and people ask how we recruit qualified teachers who are already in the classroom and still want to tutor or babysit on top of that. There is no real secret. We create a flexible, supportive environment – many of our tutors are mums too – and because we are teachers and mums ourselves, we understand.
Hopes and dreams: What next?
We want to continue expanding sustainably, reaching more families while maintaining our personal touch. Our dream is to grow a nationwide community of support where children feel encouraged, parents feel confident and teachers feel valued, supported and able to share their skills in a way that fits their life.
To find out more, visit theteachersconnections.com. You can also follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
