Equal Education’s Recognition in the FT 1000: Europe’s Fastest Growing Companies - A Milestone for Tailored Educational Support for Children

Equal Education is honoured to be named in the Financial Times 1000: Europe’s Fastest Growing Companies. This incredible recognition highlights our commitment to providing specialist one-to-one tuition for under-resourced students, including Children Looked After (CLA), those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), and Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC).

This milestone also highlights the increasing demand for the important work Equal Education is doing to create meaningful learning opportunities for young people facing barriers to accessing education.

Equal Education’s CEO and Founder, Paul Singh shares his insights on what this recognition means for our organisation, the learners that we serve and the future of specialist 1:1 tuition as an effective intervention for improving educational outcomes for young people.

What does this recognition mean for Equal Education and the work that we do to support young people facing barriers to accessing quality education?

This recognition highlights the quality and importance of our mission at Equal Education. The growing impact we’re making in such a specialised space reflects the dedication, care, and expertise of our entire community — from our passionate tutors to our hardworking internal team.

Why is it important to recognise organisations like Equal Education and our role in delivering specialist one-to-one tuition as an effective intervention?

Equal Education is about people who truly care and take the time to connect, support, and uplift young people. Many of us remember that one teacher who inspired our journey and at Equal Education, we aim to build those kinds of meaningful relationships every day.

It’s important that the value and success of social interest companies and organisations are recognised alongside other traditional business models. We're proud to be placed on an equal footing as much larger, well-resourced organisations, proud to be seen, and proud of the impact our team is making.

How is Equal Education using innovation to tailor learning experiences for students facing the greatest barriers?

We recognise that the education system, and the staff working within it, are under increasing amounts of pressure and strain, and often not adequately resourced to meet the diverse learning needs of students. At Equal Education, our adaptive, personalised and flexible learning provision allows for each student to be taught in a way that is most accessible to them. This bespoke provision takes account of content, lesson length, delivery methods, use of resources and technology, and student empowerment in shaping learning, to overcome the barriers that often can’t be mitigated in the classroom. We are constantly reviewing developments in technology, neuroscience and pedagogical innovation, to ensure our trauma-informed practice is able to be accessed by our students, and equips them to learn, develop and succeed.

As an organisation dedicated to creating meaningful learning opportunities and closing the attainment gap, what role do you hope specialist 1:1 tuition will play in the future of education?

With the rapid rise of AI, attaining knowledge has grown more accessible but human connection has never been more important. For young people especially, it’s not just about information, it’s about inspiration, encouragement, and trust. That’s why the one-to-one relationship between a tutor and learner is so valuable it creates space for growth, confidence, and real collaboration.

How will this recognition help bring attention to the importance of equal access for every child, no matter their circumstances?

Personally, we are proud to see our approach to social and educational challenges recognised. We are committed to delivering services rooted in consistency, high standards, and excellence, that address the growing inequality in attainment, and pursue educational equity. Our clients trust us because we hold ourselves accountable to that every day.

This recognition not only shines a light on children with SEND, and CLA, but also on the power of specialist organisations like Equal Education. It opens the door for greater collaborative working, and continued growth in how we support and nurture young people.

At Equal Education, we believe every child deserves access to high-quality education, no matter their circumstances. We want to see a society where no young person is disadvantaged or disempowered by the circumstances of their upbringing. Our hope is that this recognition will amplify our joint efforts towards closing the attainment gap and enhance educational outcomes for young people.

Special thanks to our partners, commissioners, local authorities and community organisations who support our mission to break barriers and enable every learner with the opportunity to thrive.