English In Action

What English In Action does

English in Action is a UK-based private education services company that delivers week-long, in-school English language immersion programmes to students across Europe. Founded in 1990 and registered as English in Action Limited (Company No. 03528553), the firm is headquartered in Kent and operates with a small core team of 11-50 employees. Its flagship offering, the English Project Week, places qualified native-level English teachers directly into partner schools for approximately 25 hours of communicative, speaking-focused tuition per week, with a methodology and curriculum developed in-house by a dedicated Academic Team since 1991. Supporting products include Teacher Books and lesson plans, Student Workbooks, Project and Show booklets, and an e-commerce shop at shop.englishinaction.com selling physical and digital teaching resources such as the Fifty Bright Ideas TEFL activity cards and EFL flashcards.

The company operates a professional services revenue model with multiple streams: schools pay programme fees for in-school English weeks, the firm earns revenue by recruiting and placing qualified EFL teachers on 1-8 week contracts (with flights, accommodation, travel and insurance included), it generates ancillary income from its online teaching resources shop, and it captures residential camp demand through a partnership with Stafford House Canterbury. Customer segments are predominantly secondary schools across 16+ European countries (Austria, Germany, Italy, Slovenia, Switzerland, Serbia, Poland, Belgium, Slovakia, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Hungary, Denmark and the UK) with additional exposure to primary schools, professional teachers via Teacher Development Courses, and international students visiting the UK.

Distribution is direct-to-school via an online booking form (and legacy PDF), supported by content marketing through a blog, monthly newsletter and active social channels (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram), and teacher acquisition routed through referral partnerships with CELTA training centres including ELTeach, Oxford TEFL, St Giles International, Swansea ELTS and CES Leeds. The firm has no proprietary technology platform, no AI/ML capabilities and no disclosed funding, operating as a bootstrapped, profitable niche specialist with a 33-year operating history and "hundreds" of school customers across Europe.

Name

English In Action

Legal name

English in Action Limited

Website

https://englishinaction.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

English in Action delivers week-long English language immersion programmes directly into schools across Europe, primarily serving secondary school students aged 10-16 with qualified native English teachers. Founded in 1990, the UK firm also offers teacher training and educational resources.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Language Education Services

NAICS

Language Schools (611630), Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

English Language Schools (ESL/EFL) (EDAIAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

ESL for Work & Workplace English (ESP) (EDAAACAC), Grammar, Vocabulary & Pronunciation Materials (EDAGAHAB), English Proficiency & International Admissions Exams (TOEFL/IELTS/PTE/Duolingo) Prep (EDANABAC), Teacher-Led Conversation Exchanges (Language Partner Matching & Facilitated) (EDAMAFAN)

Keywords

• EFL project weeks
• Language immersion courses
• Teacher professional development
• EFL teaching materials
• School-based English programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Kent

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. English Project Week Programmes: Schools and educational institutions pay for English project week programmes delivered by qualified native English teachers directly in their schools. These week-long immersive courses include approximately 25 hours of teaching from Monday to Friday.
2. Teacher Recruitment Services: The company recruits and places qualified EFL teachers for contracts ranging from 1-8 weeks, covering flights, accommodation, in-country travel, and insurance for teachers while earning revenue through programme fees from schools.
3. Educational Resources Shop: Sale of teaching resources including Fifty Bright Ideas TEFL activity cards, EFL flashcards, printable resources, and free worksheets distributed through shop.englishinaction.com.
4. Residential Camps and UK Language Weeks: Partnership with Stafford House in Canterbury for residential English programmes in the UK.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

English in Action delivers week-long English immersion programmes (approximately 25 hours of tuition) directly to schools across Europe and beyond, deploying qualified native-speaker teachers to provide communicative, speaking-focused English instruction. The company also operates a Shopify-based e-commerce shop selling EFL teaching resources such as activity cards and flashcards, and runs teacher training workshops through its Teacher Development Courses (TDP).

Product overview

English in Action is a provider of English language education services, specializing in short-term immersive English project weeks delivered directly in schools across Europe and beyond since 1990. The core offering consists of week-long English courses (approximately 25 hours) for students aged 10-16, featuring qualified native-speaker teachers and a communicative methodology emphasizing speaking fluency and British culture. Supporting the core program are curriculum materials including teacher books with lesson plans, student workbooks, and project/show booklets. The product portfolio also extends to a dedicated online shop selling physical and digital teaching resources such as Fifty Bright Ideas activity cards, EFL flashcards, and free downloadable worksheets. Additional offerings include exam preparation courses, young learners programs, residential camps in the UK, UK Language Weeks via partner institutions, and professional Teacher Development Courses (TDP) for educators.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Teacher Development Courses: Professional development courses for teachers of English featuring interactive workshops with seven optional modules covering themes such as Music, Travel, Work and Free Time, Britain and the British, Being Human, Around the World, and The House and Home.
• UK Language Weeks

Products and services

• English Project Weeks Week-long intensive English language courses (approximately 25 hours of tuition) delivered by qualified native-speaker teachers directly in students' own schools, focused on communicative speaking skills and British cultural immersion for students aged 10-16.
• General English Courses English language programmes for students of any age using communicative methods to develop speaking fluency, delivered by native-level teachers.
• Business English Courses Professional English language training focused on business communication skills and workplace vocabulary for adult learners.
• Young Learners Courses English programmes tailored for younger students, typically aged 10-16, using age-appropriate activities and materials to engage secondary-school learners.
• Exam Preparation Courses Courses designed to prepare students for standardised English language certifications including KET and other recognised exams.
• Residential Camps Immersive residential English programmes in the UK delivered at partner institutions such as Stafford House Canterbury, offering a traditional English school experience for international student groups.
• UK Language Weeks Short-term English programmes in the UK delivered through trusted partner institutions, designed for school groups planning educational trips to Britain.
• Teacher Development Courses (TDP) Professional development courses for teachers of English featuring seven optional day-long modules covering themed language skills and teaching techniques, delivered through interactive workshops.
• Fifty Bright Ideas TEFL Activity Cards A set of activity cards designed for TEFL teachers, providing creative classroom activity ideas available for purchase through the EiA shop.
• EFL Flashcards Printable and purchasable EFL flashcards sold in packs, covering various language topics for classroom use.

Quantifiable outcome

• Week-long courses with approximately 25 hours of English tuition
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• ELTeachminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOnline CELTA training provider specialising in teacher-training courses for global English teaching. EiA connects with trainees at ELTeach centres to recruit new teachers once they complete their CELTA qualification. ELTeach offers CELTA courses designed to be enjoyable experiences rather than intensive boot camps.
• Swansea ELTS (Swansea University)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwansea University's English Language Training Services offers English language improvement programmes for academic, professional, and personal enrichment purposes. EiA recruits from this centre for teacher positions, targeting trainees who have completed their CELTA qualification.
• Oxford TEFLminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOxford TEFL has trained over 5,000 teachers since 1998, specialising in Cambridge CELTA certifications - the most widely recognised qualifications for teaching English globally. Offers online CELTA courses with 9.4 average graduate recommendation rating. EiA recruits from this centre with a 10% discount code available (EIA50).
• CES LeedsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCES Leeds offers a wide range of English language courses providing cultural immersion and learning in the heart of northern England. EiA connects with trainees completing CELTA at this centre to recruit new teachers for their programmes.
• St Giles InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSt Giles has been training teachers for over 50 years with locations in London and Brighton. Their face-to-face CELTA courses offer comprehensive training with plenty of on-the-spot support from trainers. EiA recruits from this centre, with a 100% recommendation rate achieved over the last year.
• Stafford House CanterburycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTrusted partner for UK Language Weeks and residential English programmes. Stafford House Canterbury offers traditional English school experiences for international students visiting the UK. EiA refers students seeking UK-based English learning experiences to this partner programme.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• British Council: UK government-backed organization running English teaching programmes for schools and learners in 100+ countries. Comparable to EiA as a large-scale provider of English language education in overseas schools with teacher deployment.
• Kaplan International Languages: Large global English-language school operator (part of Kaplan) with year-round English courses, teacher training, and study-abroad programmes. Comparable to EiA on adult and young-learner English language tuition delivered internationally.
• EF Education First (English First): Global leader in language travel, English immersion, and academic programmes, operating schools in multiple countries. Comparable to EiA on in-country English immersion, teacher deployment, and English curriculum.
• International House London / IH World: Global network of independent English language schools and teacher training centres operating in 30+ countries. Comparable to EiA on English language tuition, CELTA teacher training, and the international teacher-placement network model.

Direct peers

• CES (Centre of English Studies) Leeds: UK English language school offering general English, teacher training (CELTA), and cultural programmes. Directly comparable to EiA on language-school curriculum, CELTA training, and CELTA centre recruitment partnerships.
• St Giles International: Long-established English language school group with centres in the UK and abroad, plus CELTA teacher training. Comparable to EiA in adult and young-learner English tuition plus teacher training, and is an active EiA CELTA partner.
• Stafford House International: UK-based English language school and teacher training provider offering residential programmes and CELTA courses. Directly comparable to EiA as a UK English-language school operator with overlapping residential offerings; currently also a channel partner of EiA.
• Oxford TEFL: Online CELTA and TEFL certification provider with a global graduate network. Comparable to EiA's teacher-training and CELTA-recruitment motion, and currently a CELTA recruitment partner of EiA.
• ELT (English Language Training) / ELTeach: Online CELTA and teacher-training provider specialising in global English teacher certification. Comparable to EiA on the CELTA training and teacher-supply side, and listed as an EiA recruitment partner.

Others

• Cambridge University Press & Assessment English: Provider of English proficiency exams (KET, PET, IELTS co-owner) and learning content, sitting at the centre of the English assessment ecosystem. Comparable to EiA via shared exam-preparation product line (EiA offers KET prep) and shared curriculum standards.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/eia_uk
• Facebookfacebook.com/eiauk
• Instagraminstagram.com/eia_uk

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about English In Action