The Music Partnership

Name

The Music Partnership

Legal name

The Music Partnership

Website

https://themusicpartnership.org.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Music Education Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Music Instruction (Instrumental & Vocal) (EDAMAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC)

Keywords

• Music education services
• Whole class ensemble teaching
• Peripatetic music lessons
• School music programmes
• Music curriculum delivery

Headquarters

HQ city

Stafford

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: The Music Partnership receives funding from the Department of Education via Arts Council England to deliver The National Plan for Music Education. This is the primary funding mechanism enabling free and subsidised music education services across the region.
2. School Membership and Buy-in: Schools and academies engage with one of the three music services (Shropshire, Staffordshire via Entrust, Stoke-on-Trent) or Telford & Wrekin music service. Whole Class Ensemble Teaching is provided as curriculum time provision at no cost to parents.
3. Donations, Sponsorship and Legacy: The organisation accepts donations, sponsorships and legacy gifts from local trusts, businesses, and individuals to support music-making for children and young people, including fully funded tickets to events like Hallé Orchestra 'Come & Play' concerts.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Music Partnership delivers government-funded music education services across four English local authority areas (Shropshire, Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Telford & Wrekin) through specialist visiting teachers and partner music organisations. Core services include Whole Class Ensemble Teaching, peripatetic instrumental/vocal lessons, specialist curriculum teaching, music groups and ensembles, and progression programmes from Early Years through Secondary, supported by instrument loan, bursaries, and CPD for teachers.

Product overview

The Music Partnership is a regional music education hub covering Shropshire, Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent and Telford & Wrekin, delivering the National Plan for Music Education through four local authority music services and approximately 40 partner organisations. The core offering centres on Whole Class Ensemble Teaching (WCET) as a fully inclusive curriculum programme, supported by peripatetic music lessons, curriculum teaching, and music groups/ensembles. These primary services are supplemented by a Singing Strategy, Soundpots Early Years programme, Arts Award and Artsmark qualification support, Continuing Professional Development for teachers, Music Audit benchmarking, bursaries/financial support, and Quality Assurance frameworks. The partnership publishes termly newsletters and provides a Young Sounds Connector service to link families with musical opportunities. The portfolio is funded by the Department for Education via Arts Council England and engages approximately 40,000 children weekly across 727 schools.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Whole Class Ensemble Teaching (WCET) A fully inclusive curriculum-based music programme where visiting music teachers deliver whole class lessons using orchestral, band, rock, pop and world music instruments, providing pupils with foundational skills for instrumental and vocal learning. Targeted at schools and the pupils within them.
• Peripatetic Music Lessons Affordable peripatetic instrumental and vocal lessons delivered by experienced, highly trained music teachers, with instruments and resources provided at low or no cost to schools and parents. For pupils seeking individual or small-group instrumental/vocal tuition.
• Music Curriculum Teaching Specialist music curriculum delivery across all phases and key stages, supporting school colleagues to develop their knowledge, skills and confidence through on-site expert assistance. For school leaders and curriculum coordinators.
• Music Groups and Ensembles Weekly ensemble and choir opportunities across regional music centres, enabling pupils to play with other musicians, access world-class orchestral partnerships (Hallé Orchestra, Manchester Camerata), and participate in performances. For pupils progressing beyond classroom music.
• Singing Strategy Regional strategy ensuring every pupil sings regularly, with choirs and vocal ensembles available, delivered through CPD opportunities and quality performance events. For schools and pupils across all phases.
• Soundpots Early Years Music Programme Ambitious Early Years music delivery and training programme for 0–5 year olds in nurseries and community venues, supporting wider development, language, communication skills and practitioner confidence. For nurseries, childminders, and early-years practitioners.
• Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Comprehensive annual training programme including curriculum network meetings, Charanga digital training, inclusion training, vocal training, bespoke INSET sessions, music health checks, mentoring and an annual Music Summit. For school teachers, music leads, and practitioners.
• Music Audit Fully funded music provision benchmarking service enabling schools to assess and develop their music provision, working towards Certificates in Music Excellence. For schools and headteachers.
• Arts Award Accredited arts award programme at five levels, helping young people grow their arts and leadership talents through creative, accessible learning. For children and young people across the partnership region.
• Artsmark Support Support for schools achieving Arts Council England's Artsmark creative quality standard, contributing through excellence awards, music support meetings, annual summits, audits, concerts and Charanga licensing. For schools pursuing Artsmark accreditation.
• Bursaries and Financial Support Range of bursaries, remissions and inclusion programmes across the partnership including FOSYM (Friends of Staffordshire's Young Musicians), Friends of Stoke-on-Trent City Music Service, and Young Sounds UK. For children and families facing financial or other barriers to music-making.
• Funding Opportunities Guidance for Schools

Quantifiable outcome

• 40,000 children supported each week through lessons, ensembles and curriculum provision
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Shropshire Music ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four core music services within The Music Partnership covering the Shropshire local authority area. Provides peripatetic teaching, ensemble provision, and curriculum support to schools across Shropshire.
• Entrust Music Service (Staffordshire)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEntrust Support Services Ltd. operates the Staffordshire Music Service and serves as Hub Lead Organisation for The Music Partnership. Located at Riverway Centre, Stafford.
• Stoke-on-Trent City Music ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four core music services covering the Stoke-on-Trent local authority area. Operates The Bridge Centre as a music venue and provides music education services.
• Telford & Wrekin Music ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four core music services covering the Telford & Wrekin local authority area. Provides music education delivery including Soundpots Early Years programme.
• Hallé OrchestraflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld-class orchestra partner that delivers 'Come & Play' concerts allowing pupils from across the partnership to access fully funded tickets to see and play alongside Hallé musicians. The Music Partnership and Hallé Orchestra co-host these events.
• Manchester CamerataflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelivers annual creative composition projects involving schools across the partnership in training, creative composition and joint performance. Example project: Camerata in the Community: Shakespeare Project working with Staffordshire Music Hub.
• In Harmony (National Programme)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational programme part-funded by The Music Partnership that aims to inspire and transform the lives of children in deprived communities using the power and disciplines of ensemble music-making.
• Music MarkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMusic education charity. The Music Partnership references Music Mark for job advertising and aligns with their resources including the 10 reasons for music education and Whole Class Ensemble Teaching research.
• Arts ConnectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal Bridge organisation that The Music Partnership refers schools to for Artsmark support and guidance on arts and cultural education.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Birmingham Music Education Partnership: Music Education Hub serving Birmingham and the surrounding West Midlands area. Operates an overlapping regional footprint with The Music Partnership and shares a similar urban/rural mix of schools and children.
• Greater Manchester Music Education Hub: The Music Education Hub for Greater Manchester, also partnered with the Hallé Orchestra. Provides a directly comparable hub model and shares the Hallé Orchestra partnership, but operates in a different geographic region.

Broad incumbents

• Entrust Support Services Ltd. The Hub Lead Organisation for The Music Partnership, providing broader education support services to schools and local authorities. Relevant as the parent entity and as a comparator for outsourced school services business models.

Emerging players

• In Harmony: National programme using ensemble music-making to support children in deprived communities. The Music Partnership is a delivery partner for In Harmony, and it provides a comparable model for community-embedded music education.

Direct peers

• Berkshire Maestros: Music education hub covering Berkshire, providing school-based music lessons, ensembles, and progression pathways. Operates on a similar charitable model with Arts Council England funding and serves as a directly comparable UK music education hub.
• Hertfordshire Music Service: A county-level music education service serving Hertfordshire schools, providing Whole Class Ensemble Teaching, peripatetic instrumental lessons, ensembles, and curriculum support. Most directly comparable as a UK Music Education Hub delivering the National Plan for Music Education.
• Kent Music: Music education hub for Kent, delivering government-funded music education to schools, including WCET, peripatetic lessons, ensembles and CPD. Operates as a charitable/social enterprise with a comparable service mix and government funding model.

Others

• Youth Music: National charity funding music-making projects for children and young people experiencing challenging circumstances. Comparable as a parallel funding body and ecosystem partner for inclusive music education provision.
• Charanga: Digital music education platform used by schools across the UK. The Music Partnership offers discounted Charanga licences as part of its CPD offering, making it a directly relevant technology partner in the music education ecosystem.
• Music Mark: UK subject association for music education, supporting Music Education Hubs and school music provision. Relevant as the closest industry body and network partner for the partnership's hub operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/tmpartnership

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 The Music Partnership