The tutoring business helping GCSE students pass their exams using TikTok

An East London tutoring company is using social media to engage young people with Shakespeare and help them pass their GCSE exams.

Barbara Njau, a journalist-turned-English-teacher, founded First Rate Tutors in 2017 after deciding her impact was "limited" in the classroom. The former Financial Times reporter uses platforms such as TikTok to help her students learn - and business is booming.

First Rate Tutors has a significant presence online, with more than 103,000 subscribers on YouTube and 234,000 TikTok followers. The company also employs six staff.

"I have learned that the idea of young children being 'lazy' or 'distracted' is simply not true," she told BusinessLive. "I am amazed daily at how many students want to work with First Rate Tutors, purchase one of our courses, learn about Macbeth or Romeo and Juliet on our YouTube channel alone – with no coercion from their parents. I knew I could help my students actually love to learn English."

But, despite her success, Ms Njau has found it difficult to access finance. She has “completely boot-strapped” the business since its launch seven years ago.

“I have applied to numerous competitions for start-ups, as well as small and medium-sized enterprises, and even if my business has traction, proof of concept, it brings in cash flow – ‘tuition’ and ‘education’ is not sexy enough," she said.

“It’s not a ‘fun’ enough business for enterprises and corporations who are seeking the next big venture – to finance. It is no secret that black-owned businesses continue to struggle facing access to capital.”

Ms Njau would like the next government to make it easier for "businesses that aren't necessarily sexy" to secure funding.

“I would like to see more grants extended to traditional enterprises which offer society a service that we all need – businesses that aren’t necessarily ‘sexy’ like First Rate Tutors, but offer a service like tuition and education are important,” she said. “We are shaping the minds of generations of tomorrow. I would love to see more done to offer traditional businesses funding and finance.”

Despite the barriers facing her business, Ms Njau is proud of what she has achieved. Over the last year she has worked with nearly 1,000 students in the company’s online revision group classes. And 85% of the firm's students achieve grades 7-9 (equivalent of A-A*) in their final GCSE exams.

“This is an ongoing affirmation – every single year – that what we provide matters, we are changing the lives of students and they are one step closer to their dream careers because of us,” she said.

The secret to success, she said, is self-belief. “I see this in my students and I see this in myself and my business. I wake up everyday and tell myself that I am amazing at what I do, I am a fantastic English teacher and I am a talented businesswoman. My business is growing and going from one success to the next as a result of this story I tell myself every day.”

Her advice to people considering going into business? “Give it time and offer value. Time plus value, more than anything, is what separates the business that’s just for show - a flash-in-the-pan ego-trip - from a business that is durable and sustainable."