Assistant Director Opportunities for

Inspirational Graduates

www.explorelearning.co.uk/careers

Company

What is Explore Learning?Explore Learning is a national network of learning centres providing maths and English tuition to children aged 5-14, designed to enhance knowledge, confidence and enjoyment of learning. Children become members and attend regularly once or twice a week.

Since we opened our first centre in 2001, over 60,000 children have joined Explore. We help children make academic progress and the vibrant atmosphere keeps them engaged and focused, enabling them to have fun while they learn. Our ambition is to be the leading provider of after-school tuition.

How do we achieve all this?Fantastic staffExplore staff are passionate and enthusiastic people who know how to get the best out of children. They are great communicators and role models. Each team is made up of a Centre Director, 2 Assistant Directors and a team of part-time Tutors.

We work in a low ratio of 1 Tutor to 6 children - balancing independent learning with motivational tutoring.

Great SupportExplore centres are lively, energetic and inclusive. The mixture of children who attend our centres and the strong bonds they have with our Tutors help to create a vibrant atmosphere.

We love to celebrate success. Children are praised and rewarded with certificates, prizes and most importantly by staff saying “That is fantastic!”

Excellent resourcesWe adapt our teaching methods to each child and challenge them at the correct level for their abilities. Our interactive and engaging tools map to the National Curriculum, and cover maths, reading, writing, spelling, and Entrance Exams, as well as many other skills.

Strong PartnershipsManagers hold regular meetings with parents where we discuss their child’s progress and plan their learning pathway. Detailed reports help us to track the academic achievements of each child and set learning goals for them.

We work closely with local schools as Explore works in an entirely complementary way to the school curriculum.

We are registered with Ofsted in England and the Care Inspectorate in Scotland. This allows us to maintain high standards, and helps parents to qualify for a number of government initiatives to support membership costs.

“My favourite part of the job is watching children grow in confidence and develop a real love of learning.”

Jaspreet, Chelmsford

“I love marketing Explore Learning to local schools and families; it’s not often you get to promote something you really believe in!”

“Being responsible for a large team of staff has given me the chance to develop management skills from the earliest stage of my career.”

Richard, Milton Keynes

Amy, Bristol

Graduate Opportunities

We recruit bright graduates who want to make an impact running our learning centres, and on the lives of the families who attend them. You will start with us as an Assistant Director. As part of the full-time management team you will learn to run one of our tuition centres; developing your management, leadership, marketing and teaching skills at the same time as working closely with children of all abilities. You will enjoy real job satisfaction and gain the skills to develop a business successfully.

Opportunities

Assistant Director

Management

Performance Management

Two things drive an Explore Learning centre’s performance: signing up new members and retaining existing members. As an Assistant Director you will have significant impact on both of these areas, and be responsible for

driving your centre’s growth.

Marketing & Sales

Teaching

You will be teaching, mentoring and creating learning pathways for children in your

centre. You will build strong bonds with the children and families in your centre, and provide detailed feedback on each child’s

progress. You will also be involved with local school events holding classroom workshops

and assemblies.

The role involves 4 key areas

You will gain real responsibility from day one. The role

involves business and people management. Your team will hold weekly and monthly

meetings to analyse your centre’s performance, set business targets, and create strategies to achieve them. The management of an Explore centre

requires problem solving, building and maintaining a great reputation,

and ensuring a high quality of customer service.

You will raise awareness of your centre, and build its reputation within the

local community. You must have the enthusiasm and confidence to promote your centre at every

opportunity, including engaging people on a Remote Marketing Unit, liaising with local press to build

your centre’s profile and holdingevents with libraries and

schools.

Career Pathways: Case StudiesAmal Hussein - Assistant Director

Sheryl Moore - Centre Director

I graduated with a degree in Law from the University of Kent. My passion for working with children began when I started volunteering for HSF (Help Somalia Foundation). I was able to experience the difference a nurturing environment makes to a child’s learning and development. I also worked alongside my secondary school encouraging children in their studies.

After graduating with a Psychology degree from Kingston University, I worked as a Financial Consultant in London, in a target driven commercial environment. I enjoyed the fast pace but missed the sense of satisfaction that comes from working with people. I wanted a job that gave me a high level of responsibility from an early stage, and the chance to cultivate skills I had learnt from my time at University.

I started with Explore Learning as a Tutor in the Merton centre. This gave me the opportunity to realise my passion for learning and it seemed a natural progression for me from tutor to Assistant Director. I have always been passionate about working with children and helping to shape the minds of the next generation. I love how truly unique Explore Learning is and how much of a difference it makes to the lives of the members. It is so rewarding to see the children develop and grow towards their potential and I am extremely proud to be a part of it all.

I applied to Explore as it gave me the perfect balance of driving a business and teaching children. Whilst completing my studies I gained management and business experience as a Sales Advisor, a Membership Advisor for a gym, and co-ordinated my peers as a Research Assistant. Explore has enabled me to develop and build upon these areas, all within an environment where I am completely supported, mentored and encouraged. I love being able to see the impact I have on my centre on a daily basis, and know that Explore will continue to challenge and develop me throughout my career.

Case Studies

Sarah Davy - Marketing Manager (Head Office)

I studied at Cardiff University and graduated in History before joining Explore Learning. I loved the role, training and company ethos. After a year and a half I became Centre Director in Bristol Emersons Green, which brought me new challenges and a greater level of responsibility.

Alastair Dawe - Regional Manager (Head Office)I graduated in Mathematical Physics from the University of Edinburgh. After my experience as Head Councillor at an American Summer Camp for four years, I hungered for a career that encompassed all of the elements I had cherished at camp, as well as the opportunity to use my skills in a commercial environment.

In that role, I discovered that marketing is something I have a flair for, and after proving myself as a Centre Director I was able to progress to my current position as Marketing Manager in Head Office. In this role I assist the centres with design requirements and marketing materials, whilst working closely with our Sales Team to enhance our performance and nurture a sales culture throughout the company.

Explore offers a dynamic and interactive environment where I can put real passion and enthusiasm into my work. After undergoing training to be an Assistant Director in Hampton I helped to launch a new centre in Camberley. I then became Centre Director, and went on to launch our centre in North Cheam. After helping two centres achieve rapid success, I was promoted to the position of Regional Manager. This role has allowed me to gain an understanding of the business world with a company whose product I truly believe in, and whose structure means that my input is valued at the very highest level. Explore has allowed me to thrive and progress my career in a short space of time. I get a real buzz from my job.

“Explore staff have such a positive attitude that you can’t help but have a smile on your face at work. It’s easy to get to know the other Assistant Directors and the events are a great way to meet everybody.” Adam, Hampton

We are a ‘people company’ and our strength comes from the graduates we recruit.

We are committed to giving you a rewarding career. You will get excellent training and development opportunities within a supportive and friendly atmosphere. Everybody at Explore Learning gets to know each other, professionally and socially. We meet regularly throughout the year for training, to share experiences, gather ideas and swap stories. We all meet as a whole company twice a year at the Explore Learning Summer and Christmas parties. Quarterly competitions also give your centre the chance to win experience days and holidays in the UK and abroad.

We are united by our passion, drive and vision to make Explore Learning the leading provider of after school tuition, and to benefit as many families as possible.

Our Values

Christmas PartyActivity Day

Christmas PartyChristmas Party

Summer Party

Training

CareerProgression

Explore Learning is committed to the learning and development of every employee.

You will receive training in a wide variety of education and business skills. Throughout your career you can track

your progress with your Professional Development Plan.

Induction Training for Assistant Directors includes an extensive centre-based programme, Head Office training and inter-centre exchanges. During your Induction Training you will take responsibility for your development and self study.

The next phase of your training is our Advanced Skills Training. This builds on your expertise in specific areas and prepares you for promotion to

Centre Director. Through training you will meet other Assistant Directors and strengthen your knowledge and understanding of

company operations.

Training

We aim to progress you to become Centre Director within

12-24 months. When you show commitment, competence and drive in all areas, you will be

invited to interview for the opportunity to be promoted to Centre Director.

As a Centre Director you will be provided with your own Induction Training and Advanced Training modules to further your development. Centre Directors take ultimate responsibility for their centre, develop

and manage staff and have the opportunity to lead national training days.

Centre Directors also receive enhanced benefits and join our pension

scheme.

Career development at Explore is very exciting.

Our Regional Management, Marketing, Sales, Training, Recruitment,

HR and Content and Curriculum departments are all run by people who started with us as Assistant

Directors.

• 2:1 or above in any degree discipline.• Grade B or above in maths and English GCSE (or equivalent).• Experience of working with children aged 5-14 in the last 5 years.

We are looking for exceptional graduates with:

You must be:• Highly motivated, enthusiastic and confident.• Professional, articulate and persuasive.• Passionate about helping children achieve their potential and able to build a strong rapport.• Ambitious to enhance your professional development and become a Centre Director.• Eligible to work in the UK.

Who we are looking for...

Benefits

• Starting salary of £21,000 p.a. (£22,000 p.a. within the M25)• Target-based bonus scheme of up to £2,880 p.a.• Rapid career progression. • Structured training and development programme. • Monthly and quarterly competitions based on sales and retention performance. • 2 extra days of holiday after 2 years of service, 3 extra days after 5 years of service. • Cycle to Work Scheme.• Interest free initial relocation/travel loan.

Staff Summer Party

Prize activity dayQuarterly prize trip to

New York

How

to apply

Please visit the careers section of our website: www.explorelearning.co.uk/careers

Our recruitment process and start dates run throughout the year. Opportunities arise in our new and existing centres, so please apply for any settings at any time. We recommend applying early, but also allow you to defer for up to 12 months from your job offer. Please visit our website for Case Studies, a Day in the Life of an Assistant Director and Frequently Asked Questions.

For any questions about the role, your eligibility, or to discuss the position, please e-mail careers@explorelearning.co.uk.

Our application form is available through our website and should be completed along with your Covering Letter and CV. Use the application form as an opportunity to really demonstrate your interests, experiences and transferable skills.

Telephone Interview: We conduct telephone interviews with a proportion of all applications that we receive. They take between 10-20 minutes and give us the chance to chat through your experiences as well as allow you to ask any questions that you might have.

Stage One: Our first round interviews take place in an Explore

Completing your

application

The interview process

How to apply

Learning centre; this gives you a great opportunity to meet a team and really experi-ence a centre in action. The interview lasts for approximately two hours and will involve talking about your application, as well as the different elements of the role. It gives us a chance to get to know you, and for you to discover more about us. At the end of the interview you will work with some of our members; where we can see you demonstrate your tutoring skills and confidence working with children, and you get to experience the centre atmosphere in full swing.

Stage Two: Our Assessment Days are held regularly throughout the year and give you the opportunity to meet some of our Head Office team, whilst also learning more about the company’s expansion plans and future ambitions. They are designed to evaluate your individual strengths and team working skills so that we can see how you would contribute towards driving a centre’s performance.

LocationsAltrinchamAshfordBeaconsfieldBedfordBirmingham*BorehamwoodBristol*BournemouthCamberleyChelmsfordCheltenham

Leicester*LeedsMaidenheadManchester*Milton KeynesNewcastleNorthamptonNorth CheamOldburyOxford Peterborough

ChesterCobhamCroydonGlasgow*Edinburgh*EpsomFarnhamHigh WycombeLakesideLondon*Leamington Spa

ReadingRedditch SheffieldSloughSouthboroughSt AlbansSwindonWalsallWalton on ThamesWarringtonWoking

* Locations with more than one Explore centre. Correct at time of going to press (Sept 2012). New centres open on a regular basis - please visit www.explorelearning.co.uk/careers for the most up-to-date information, or scan the QR Code opposite.

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