Katrin Dennehy

Education has always been close to Katrin Dennehy’s heart. She spent over a decade teaching in secondary schools throughout Essex but eventually began to feel let down by the traditional education system. Not one to admit defeat, Katrin actively went on the hunt for something that would reignite her passion once again. She found the perfect opportunity with in-home tutoring franchise, Tutor Doctor.

“I began to disagree with several aspects of the education system. Nowadays, teachers are put under so much pressure that I started to fall out of love with that which I had invested so much time and effort into for so many years. I wasn’t keen on being involved with certain school systems that I just didn’t believe in and which, I felt, were detrimental to not only teachers’ mental health but that of our students too. Now, Tutor Doctor allows me to create an impact by providing supportive education from a different angle – all whilst building a profitable business.”

Originally from Germany, Katrin came over to the UK in 1995. After a couple of years working as a Foreign Language Assistant in colleges and secondary schools, Katrin decided to train to become a qualified Modern Foreign Languages teacher. After showing much promise, she was quickly promoted into middle management, in charge of pastoral care, before moving on to become Vice Principal of a secondary school in Romford. It was whilst in this role, in charge of inclusion and safeguarding and as a coordinator for special needs students, that Katrin found that her passion clearly lay in protecting and promoting the welfare of students.

But the role still didn’t give Katrin the satisfaction that she had hoped for. Although the job was rewarding in many ways, she felt as if nothing much was ever accomplished, despite working over 60 hours a week. So, with her children grown up, she decided it was time for a change.

“My husband, David, has had his own franchise for many years, and so we knew I could benefit from the support of a good franchisor if I found a brand to invest in. In February 2018, I went to a franchise exhibition where I spoke to Nigel Mayne, the Franchise Director at Tutor Doctor. It was the first stall that I came across and my immediate thought was ‘No – I don’t want to go back into education!’

"Tutor Doctor stood out as I was able to provide support to students, but this time in a way that I had a true belief in.”

“I continued looking around the rest of the show. I was interested in a care franchise, but I kept being drawn back to Tutor Doctor. I’d gathered information from other brands that I was interested in to make sure that I had a varied selection. Tutor Doctor stood out as I was able to provide support to students, but this time in a way that I had a true belief in.”

After you launch your franchise, you are actively supported by a business coach across all areas of your business through structured training programmes, weekly coaching calls, weekly global calls and on-demand support as you need it. Then, as your business grows, specifically designed support systems will help you to continue growth, build momentum and scale your business to allow you to achieve your financial and personal goals. 

“I’m quite independent and like to figure things out myself. I prefer to take action and learn as I go along. The good thing was that I knew I had support if I required it. I’m always in contact with other people from my training class too, and it’s reassuring to know that we can call on each other.”

Katrin’s passion for education has allowed her to create a lasting impression on many students’ lives in her local community. Since her launch, she has utilised her existing contacts to establish relationships and boost her business – becoming part of Havering’s ‘Alternative Provision’ programme as an approved provider for schools. 

“As part of the programme, I work closely with several schools if students need extra tuition. It might be because they display challenging behaviour or have special educational needs, but the schools can come to me directly to provide that service in the knowledge that I adhere to strict practices. As well as those connections, I have over 50 tutors providing tuition to over 100 families.

“The sense of achievement that Tutor Doctor gives me is like no other. Families know that I have a lot of experience in education and they feel comforted by that – especially during the challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic threw at us. The satisfaction scores I’ve received from my clients placed me in the top 10 across our global network. That’s a great feeling!” 

The first year of business was comfortable and gave Katrin the satisfaction she was once craving from a career in education. The ability to set her own schedule has worked wonders for her personal life too. 

“The flexibility of my schedule is perfect. With most of my family still living in Germany, I have the freedom to visit them if I wish. When I first started, it was all about raising awareness for the business and making sure the foundations were set before growing, so I worked seven days a week. However, I quickly established myself in the local area, and I’ve since been able to reduce my workload.