We’re shining the spotlight on one of our members each month, to help our ladies promote their businesses!
This month we caught up with Emma Perry, owner and founder of Top Grades Education Ltd.
What do you do?
I am one of the owners and founders of Top Grades Education Ltd. Top Grades develops confident learners and improves life chances for young people. We offer a safe, positive environment for young people to learn, make mistakes, develop understanding and ask questions.
‘Top Grades Education’ tuition centre on Cross Street in Standish provides small group tuition in English, Maths, Science, French and Spanish for young people from year 5 through to GCSE. In addition, during the day we offer lessons for Home Educated children, adults and specifically tailored lessons for Dyslexic students.
How long have you been doing it?
Top Grades Education was formed in September 2019. Initially we were a mobile business operating from St Wilfrid’s Parish Hall at the weekend; alongside our full-time leadership roles in schools. Top Grades client base and reputation grew to the point where we now have a dedicated Tuition Centre open 6 days per week with students coming from all over the Wigan area to have tuition. In June – when the Queen celebrates her Diamond Jubilee – we will be celebrating our 1st birthday in our Tuition Centre.
What kind of projects are you working on right now?
Behind the scenes we are working on many exciting projects. Currently, I am studying to be a specialist teacher for dyslexic students and an assessor to diagnose dyslexia and I will be working with local schools to support their dyslexic learners in the new academic year. We are also developing our Languages offer and will be ‘going live’ offering businesses across the country support teaching languages online. Year 11 leave in June and this marks the start of recruitment season for us. We are planning exciting marketing events to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee, ‘Our Town Live’ is returning to Standish in the summer and we are already looking ahead to the Standish Christmas Markets (yes, I have mentioned the ‘C’ word in May – sorry!)
What is your favourite part of your job?
The most wonderful part of my job is the ‘light-bulb’ moments that occur throughout every hour of teaching; when our young people understand something which has been puzzling them. When our young people arrive and tell us about their successes; how they have beaten their targets, moved up a set or achieved a grade they didn’t think they were capable of we could burst with pride for them. We believe that ‘success is a habit’, we want our young people to feel successful and carry that with them for the rest of their lives.
We are proud to be a family business – and as such our young people are an extension of our family – we greet our children with a smile, ask how their day was and take an interest in them as people.
What do you enjoy doing outside of your job?
Outside of the business we love going for walks in the countryside with our dogs – Rivington is a firm favourite. We are looking forward to warmer weather as we also love paddleboarding, canoeing and cycling – literally anything which involves going outside!
Why do you attend Fubhub?
When I first came to Fubhub I didn’t really know what to expect, who I would meet or what I would think. When I delivered my first 60 seconds presentation my stomach flipped. I had been used to teaching classes for over 20 years – but presenting to businesspeople felt very different. Making the huge life change to become ‘self-employed’ was scary, empowering and exciting. I immediately loved the positive energy of Fubhub, the genuine interest people have in one another’s businesses and the opportunity to meet some inspirational women. The positive energy and the fact that no two meetings are the same mean that I am a Fubhub advocate – I am quite evangelical about it – I tell every businesswoman I meet about it.