The Teaching Awards Trust
The Teaching Awards Trust is a UK registered charity operating the Pearson National Teaching Awards, the Thank a Teacher e-card platform, and Education Insights regional events to celebrate and recognise educators across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What The Teaching Awards Trust does
The Teaching Awards Trust is a UK registered charity (No. 1074968) founded in 1998 by Lord David Puttnam to celebrate and raise the profile of the teaching profession. It operates three core campaign products as a unified portfolio: the Pearson National Teaching Awards (an annual awards programme with 16 categories covering primary, secondary and further education, televised by BBC The One Show), the Thank a Teacher Campaign (a digital e-card platform at thankateacher.co.uk enabling colleagues, parents and pupils to send personalised thank-you cards to UK educators, culminating in the annual National Thank a Teacher Day), and Education Insights (a series of regional professional development events exploring resilience, citizenship, future skills, creativity and metacognition, supported by Nord Anglia Education). Underlying technology is modest: a WordPress-hosted website, a free digital e-card platform, JustGiving donation checkout, and Google Analytics for measurement.
The Trust's business model is donation and sponsorship-led rather than transactional. Revenue is generated from corporate sponsorship packages (Pearson is the headline sponsor of the National Teaching Awards), trust benefactor contributions, and public donations via JustGiving. Entry to the National Teaching Awards, use of the e-card platform, and registration for Education Insights events are free to participants, making all three campaigns cost-free to educators, schools, and the public. The Trust is led by CEO Mary Palmer (since 2016) and a small team of approximately eight named staff, with governance provided by a board of trustees. It operates UK-wide across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, supported structurally by the Department for Education, Welsh Government, and Education Scotland.
The Teaching Awards Trust firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Teaching Awards Trust
- Legal name
- The Teaching Awards Trust
- Website
- https://teachingawardstrust.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Teaching Awards Trust is a UK registered charity operating the Pearson National Teaching Awards, the Thank a Teacher e-card platform, and Education Insights regional events to celebrate and recognise educators across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Teaching Awards Trust industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Education Recognition and Awards
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (6117)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Fundraising & Annual Giving (EDALAOAB), Grantmaking Agencies & Education Program Grants Administration (EDADAHAD)
Keywords
Where The Teaching Awards Trust is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Teaching Awards Trust business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Donations: Public donations through JustGiving platform to support the charity's mission of celebrating and valuing educators
- Corporate Sponsorship: Sponsorship packages from corporate partners including headline sponsorship (Pearson), educational supporters, and bespoke sponsorship arrangements
- Trust Benefactors: Individual benefactors who support efforts to encourage school communities to celebrate and inspire individuals to join the teaching profession
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Annual | Free awards entry |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels10 records
The Teaching Awards Trust product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Teaching Awards Trust is a UK registered charity that operates three flagship campaigns: the annual Pearson National Teaching Awards (16 categories recognising outstanding teachers, leaders and schools across primary, secondary and further education, televised on BBC), the Thank a Teacher campaign (a free digital e-card platform enabling colleagues, parents and pupils to send personalised thank you messages to educators year-round, culminating in National Thank a Teacher Day), and Education Insights (regional events bringing together educators and experts on topics such as resilience, citizenship and future skills).
Product overview
The Teaching Awards Trust operates three core campaign products as a unified charity portfolio: the Pearson National Teaching Awards (annual awards programme with 16 categories celebrating teachers across the UK, televised by BBC), Education Insights (regional professional development events for educators), and the Thank a Teacher Campaign (digital e-card platform for expressing gratitude to educators, culminating in annual National Thank a Teacher Day). The charity was established in 1998 by Lord David Puttnam.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Pearson National Teaching Awards: Annual celebration of education recognizing the incredible work of teaching communities across the UK with 16 award categories covering primary, secondary and further education sectors.
- Education Insights
- Thank a Teacher
Products and services
- Pearson National Teaching Awards Annual UK-wide teaching recognition programme with 16 award categories covering primary, secondary and further education sectors, open to state and independent schools and FE colleges across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Televised by BBC The One Show with surprise classroom visits for gold winners.
- Education Insights Regional Events Series of regional events bringing together educators, experts and keynote speakers to explore key issues shaping young people's lives, including topics such as resilience, citizenship, future skills, creativity and metacognition. Supported by Nord Anglia Education. Designed for teachers and education professionals with talks, panels and practical sessions.
- Thank a Teacher Campaign Year-round campaign and digital platform enabling colleagues, parents and pupils to send free personalised thank you e-cards to teaching and support staff in UK early years, schools and colleges. Culminates annually in National Thank a Teacher Day.
Companies that use The Teaching Awards Trust
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Teaching Awards Trust technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature1 record
The Teaching Awards Trust partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- PearsonflagshipHeadline sponsor of the Pearson National Teaching Awards. Pearson is the world's leading learning company and provides significant support for the annual awards ceremony and campaign activities.
- Nord Anglia EducationcoreSupports the Education Insights series of regional events that bring together educators, experts and keynote speakers to explore key issues shaping young people's lives.
- BBC The One ShowflagshipAnnual partnership for week-long coverage of Pearson National Teaching Awards gold winner reveals with surprise classroom visits broadcast nationally on BBC One.
- Department for EducationcoreGovernment department that champions and supports both the Pearson National Teaching Awards and the Thank a Teacher campaign.
- Hays EducationminorEducational recruitment specialist that supports the Teaching Awards Trust campaigns.
- PixlminorEducation partnership supporting Teaching Awards Trust campaigns.
- RandstadminorRecruitment company supporting Teaching Awards Trust campaigns.
- LogitechminorTechnology company supporting Teaching Awards Trust campaigns.
- Welsh GovernmentcoreSupports the Pearson National Teaching Awards and Thank a Teacher campaign in Wales.
- Education ScotlandcoreSupports campaigns in Scotland, helping extend reach of the Teaching Awards Trust across all UK nations.
- Educational Supporters NetworkcoreNetwork of over 40 educational organisations including ADCS, Ambition, Apps For Good, AOC, BAME Education, Birmingham Education Partnership, Challenge Partners, CST, Diverse Educators, EANI, Early Years Alliance, Education Development Trust, Education Forum, The Education People, ESPI, FE Week, Future First, HFL Education, Headteachers' Roundtable, Leadership Matters, Lincolnshire Learning Partnership, NAHT, NASUWT, National Day Nurseries Association, NGA, NCFE, NEU, NSPCC, Ofsted, ParentKind, Schools North East, SSAT, Stemettes, Teachers' Toolkit, Teach First, Church of England, Princes' Teaching Institute, Teaching Schools Council that share the vision and support the work of the Teaching Awards Trust.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Teaching Awards Trust competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Teach First: UK education charity focused on teacher recruitment and leadership development. Comparable as a high-profile UK education charity that convenes teachers, schools and corporate sponsors, though Teach First is more focused on training pipelines versus recognition.
- Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching: US-based education philanthropy with a long history of recognising and advancing the teaching profession. Comparable as a foundation-led, multi-decade effort to elevate teaching status globally.
- National Foundation for Educational Research: Long-established UK education research charity. Comparable as an established UK education charity with national reach and partnerships across schools and government, though focused on research rather than recognition.
Others
- NAHT (National Association of Head Teachers): UK professional association and union for school leaders. Comparable as a UK education membership body within TAT's Educational Supporters Network and a natural channel for engaging school leadership on award nominations.
- Ambition Institute: UK education charity focused on teacher and school leader development. Part of TAT's Educational Supporters Network and a related-mission organisation operating in the same UK teacher recognition and development space.
Regional players
- Education Development Trust: UK-headquartered international education charity operating teacher training and school improvement programmes. Comparable as a UK education charity within TAT's supporter network, with broader international programme delivery.
Direct peers
- Varkey Foundation: Runs the Global Teacher Prize, the most internationally recognised teacher recognition award. Most direct comparable as a philanthropy-driven organisation whose primary mission is to celebrate and elevate the status of teachers.
- SSAT (The Schools Network): UK education membership network for schools and teachers, working across the UK on school improvement. Comparable as a UK-wide teacher-and-school-facing organisation within TAT's Educational Supporters Network.
- Education Support Partnership: UK charity dedicated to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of education staff. Closely aligned mission of valuing and supporting teachers and school staff, sharing a UK education charity structure.
- Global Schools Forum: International coalition supporting education and teacher leadership in low- and middle-income countries. Comparable as a membership-based network that convenes education stakeholders around shared advocacy goals, similar in spirit to TAT's Educational Supporters Network.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Teaching Awards Trust social profiles
Digital presenceThe Teaching Awards Trust compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
The Teaching Awards Trust financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Teaching Awards Trust leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
The Teaching Awards Trust funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Teaching Awards Trust M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Teaching Awards Trust
What does The Teaching Awards Trust do?
The Teaching Awards Trust is a UK registered charity that operates three flagship campaigns: the annual Pearson National Teaching Awards (16 categories recognising outstanding teachers, leaders and schools across primary, secondary and further education, televised on BBC), the Thank a Teacher campaign (a free digital e-card platform enabling colleagues, parents and pupils to send personalised thank you messages to educators year-round, culminating in National Thank a Teacher Day), and Education Insights (regional events bringing together educators and experts on topics such as resilience, citizenship and future skills).
Is The Teaching Awards Trust a public or private company?
The Teaching Awards Trust is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Teaching Awards Trust founded?
The Teaching Awards Trust was founded in 1998. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Teaching Awards Trust based?
The Teaching Awards Trust is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does The Teaching Awards Trust make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Sponsorship and trust Benefactors.
Who are The Teaching Awards Trust's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Teach First, Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and National Foundation for Educational Research. Others are NAHT (National Association of Head Teachers) and Ambition Institute. Education Development Trust is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are Varkey Foundation, SSAT (The Schools Network), Education Support Partnership and Global Schools Forum.
Does The Teaching Awards Trust have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Teaching Awards Trust.
What industry is The Teaching Awards Trust in?
The Teaching Awards Trust's product category is Education Recognition and Awards. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAK, Education Grantmaking Foundations, with a secondary code of EDALAOAB, Fundraising & Annual Giving. Its NAICS code is 611710 and its SIC code is 8200.