Green Up

What Green Up does

Green Up Academy & Training (GUAT) is a UK-affiliated training organization founded in 2021 that delivers a fully funded, cohort-based Thailand Eco Education Programme for UK residents aged 18-30 seeking entry into environmental careers. The 7-11 week programme combines a 72-hour Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC), a Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Climate Change and Environmental Awareness, Thai language and culture sessions, professional development courses, and internship placements with partner organic farm organizations in Northeast Thailand (Buri Ram, Isaan). The curriculum is delivered through a structured 7-step application process (registration, main application, video interview, deposit, course enrollment, pre-departure, and feedback) and participants stay with local host families.

The company operates a single-program model under the brand Green Up, spun out from Gotoco's leadership team, which provides on-the-ground placement logistics through a core strategic partnership. All major participant costs (flights, accommodation, meals, transport, training, certification, in-country support) are funded by the UK Government's Turing Scheme, with additional widening participation grants of up to £500 available for eligible low-income, care-experienced, refugee, or carer participants. Applicants pay a £200 refundable deposit upon offer acceptance. Marketing is concentrated on the WordPress website, Instagram (@green_up_academy), and review platforms Trustpilot and GoOverseas. The organization's leadership includes Co-Founder Richard Lloyd plus team members Danny Parrott, Lisha Tang, and Lead Coordinator Charlie Smith.

As of February 2025, the programme was reported as paused after Turing Scheme funding was fully allocated, with a website notice dated 02/09/2025 announcing the suspension and redirecting prospective applicants to partner www.goto.co. The organization is private, has no disclosed institutional investors, and has not raised external funding rounds. It originally operated programmes in Guatemala before transitioning to Thailand in 2023-2024.

Name

Green Up

Legal name

Green Up Academy & Training

Website

https://green-up.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Green Up Academy & Training delivers a fully funded, 7-11 week Thailand Eco Education Programme for UK residents aged 18-30, combining Permaculture Design Certification, climate change certification, cultural immersion, and organic farm internships. The programme is grant-funded through the UK Turing Scheme and is currently paused.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Education and Training

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International Development & Donor-Funded Education Programs (EDADALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Private Pathway & Foundation Providers (EDAIAJAB), Excursions, Field Trips & Cultural Activities Logistics (EDAIANAJ), School Group & Curriculum-Led Trips (THAKAGAB)

Keywords

• Permaculture design training
• Environmental career programmes
• Cultural immersion education
• Professional development training
• Green skills education

Headquarters

HQ city

Buri Ram, Isaan

HQ country

Thailand

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government-Funded Programme (Turing Scheme): The programme is fully funded through the UK Government's Turing Scheme. Funding covers flight budget, Permaculture Design Certificate training and certification, internship placements, accommodation, three meals per day, in-country transport, webinars/lectures, Thai lessons, cultural activities, and full support from the Green Up team. Additional widening participation funding of up to £500 is available for eligible participants to cover pre-departure costs such as passports, visas, insurance, and vaccines.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Green Up Academy & Training (GUAT) runs a fully funded 11-week Thailand Eco Education Programme that combines Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) training, internship placements with organic farm partners in Northeast Thailand, Thai language and culture sessions, and professional development support. The programme is designed for UK-resident young adults aged 18-30 with no significant prior permaculture experience who are seeking entry into careers in the environmental sector. All core costs (flights, accommodation, meals, in-country transport, certification, Thai lessons, cultural activities, 24/7 support) are covered by the UK Government's Turing Scheme, with participants paying only a refundable £200 deposit and eligible individuals able to access up to £500 in widening participation funding.

Product overview

Green Up Academy & Training (GUAT) is a training organization that operates as a single unified programme offering - the Thailand Eco Education Programme. This fully funded 7-11 week development programme combines the Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) as its core educational component, along with a Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Climate Change and Environmental Awareness, internship placements, Thai language and culture sessions, and professional development courses. The programme is delivered through partnership with Gotoco for on-the-ground operations in Thailand and is funded through the UK Government's Turing Scheme.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Thailand Eco Education Programme A 7-11 week fully funded personal and professional development programme delivered in Northeast Thailand (Isaan, including Buri Ram) that combines Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) training, Thai language and culture sessions, internship placements with organic farm partners, professional development courses, and cultural excursions. It is targeted at UK-resident young adults aged 18-30 with no significant prior permaculture experience who are seeking entry into careers in the environmental sector, and is funded by the UK Government's Turing Scheme.

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• GotococoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGotoco is described as 'experts in delivering study and work placements in Thailand' and partnered with Green Up to deliver the Thailand Eco Education Programme. Green Up was started by Gotoco's leadership team following the success of a previous Eco Education programme in Guatemala. Gotoco handles the Thailand placement logistics and has extensive experience in overseas professional development programmes with over 10 years of combined experience.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Others

• British Council (Turing Scheme administrator): The British Council administers the UK Turing Scheme that funds Green Up's programme. While not a direct competitor, it is the funding mechanism that enables the entire business model and shapes eligibility criteria - making it a key ecosystem participant.

Direct peers

• Gotoco: Gotoco is the core strategic partner and founding organization behind Green Up - delivering study and work placements in Thailand with 10+ years of overseas programme experience. It operates the same overseas professional development category with Thailand-based offerings for young adults.
• Project Trust: Project Trust is an UK-based charity sending 18-25 year olds on structured overseas teaching and community development placements, often partially or fully funded. Comparable in funded international youth development programming targeting UK school-leavers and gap-year participants.
• Global Vision International (GVI): GVI runs international volunteering and internship programmes focused on wildlife conservation, marine conservation, and community development - with structured placements and certification. Directly comparable in environmental-focused international youth programmes.
• Raleigh International: Raleigh International runs fully-funded overseas volunteer programmes for young people aged 17-24, focused on sustainable development, environmental action, and cultural immersion. Directly comparable in mission, target demographic (UK young adults), and funded international programme model.
• Lattitude Global Volunteering: Lattitude runs international volunteering and gap-year programmes for 17-25 year olds with some bursary funding for disadvantaged participants. Comparable in international youth development programmes, UK base, and widening participation funding mechanisms.
• Frontier (Frontier Travel): Frontier runs overseas conservation, teaching, and community development programmes for gap-year students and young adults, with structured placements and sustainability themes. Directly comparable in the overseas conservation/sustainability programme category.
• The Leap (formerly Year Out Group): The Leap offers structured gap-year and overseas programme experiences for school-leavers, including conservation and sustainability tracks. Comparable in the structured gap-year / overseas youth programme category targeting UK 18-30 year olds.

Broad incumbents

• Projects Abroad: Projects Abroad is a large established provider of overseas volunteering, internship, and gap-year programmes for young adults across many countries and cause areas including environmental conservation. Comparable as a broader incumbent in international youth programmes.
• AIESEC: AIESEC is the world's largest youth-run organization offering international internships, volunteer experiences, and cultural exchange programmes for young adults. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the international youth development and professional exchange category.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/green_up_academy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/green-up-academy-and-training

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Green Up