Inspiring Leaders

What Inspiring Leaders does

Inspiring Leaders is a not-for-profit, sector-led partnership of multi-academy trusts (MATs) headquartered in Chilwell, Nottingham, England, founded in 2012 and operated through Inspiring Leaders Ltd (Companies House number 08134758). The organization serves executive leaders, CEOs, and senior teams of MATs primarily in the East Midlands, offering the Academy Trust Partnership (Full Membership at £5,500+VAT per MAT) which provides access to 16 professional leadership and learning communities, the annual residential Leadership Conference, Connect Days, school showcases, and supporting services including operational benchmarking, peer review, study tours, a procurement partnership with the Crescent Purchasing Consortium, and a fixed-price Academy Trustee Recruitment service. The partnership covers 22 MATs, approximately 300 schools, and around 126,000 pupils, with around 600 executive and middle leaders participating in learning communities.

The wholly owned Inspiring Leaders Teacher Training (SCITT) subsidiary delivers Ofsted 'Outstanding'-rated Initial Teacher Training for Primary and Secondary, graduating over 130 new teachers annually. The organization has no proprietary technology platform; it operates as a professional development and partnership network, although it extends its offering through partner technologies including Edu Intelligence (AI-powered analytics integrated with Arbor, SIMS, and Bromcom MIS systems), Welbee (AI and data analytics), and procurement frameworks via CPC. GTM is community-led and event-driven: MATs join through an application and induction process, with engagement anchored by Connect Days, the annual Leadership Conference (next scheduled 4-5 February 2027 at the Leicester Marriott Hotel), and Regional Open Conferences. Revenue is derived from MAT membership subscriptions, government-funded ITT (SCITT), and fee-based professional services (coaching, trustee recruitment, study tours). Leadership comprises Managing Director James Brown, Operations Director Ben Jordan, SCITT Director Dirk Smith, and Chair of Trustees Liz Anderson, with trustees drawn from current and former MAT leaders.

Name

Inspiring Leaders

Legal name

Inspiring Leaders Ltd

Website

https://inspiringleaderstoday.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Inspiring Leaders is a not-for-profit partnership of 22 East Midlands multi-academy trusts (300 schools, 126,000 pupils) providing a £5,500+VAT membership programme, professional development, leadership conferences, and an Ofsted Outstanding-rated SCITT training 130+ teachers annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Education Partnership Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Executive Leadership & C-Suite Development (EDABAAAA), Executive Leadership Summits (C-Suite, Board, Strategy Offsites) (THAHAMAA)

Keywords

• Academy trust partnership
• Teacher training programs
• Professional development education
• School improvement services
• Multi-academy trust support

Headquarters

HQ city

Chilwell, Nottingham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Academy Trust Partnership Membership: Full Membership at £5,500 + VAT provides unlimited access to 16 professional leadership and learning communities, access to the Leadership Conference, termly newsletters, website logo placement, use of organizational logo, and full access to online booking platform. Bespoke membership packages are also available for trusts requiring tailored services.
2. Professional Development Services: Coaching and mentoring services for school and MAT leaders, with bespoke and flexible delivery models. Programmes include coaching aligned to organizational needs, structured programmes with content input, reflective supervision, and guidance for difficult conversations. Options include one-on-one coaching, group sessions, or trust-wide programmes.
3. Academy Trustee Recruitment: Fixed-price services for academy trusts including governance needs assessment, trustee recruitment (proactive sourcing and evaluation), and onboarding support. Process typically takes 6-8 weeks.
4. Study Tours: Fees charged for UK and international study tours providing immersive professional development opportunities. UK tours visit schools delivering strong evidence-informed practice. International tours explore education in global contexts.
5. Teacher Training (SCITT): Inspiring Leaders Teacher Training provides Initial Teacher Training (ITT) for Primary and Secondary, rated 'Outstanding' by Ofsted. The SCITT trains over 130 new teachers annually and offers Assessment Only Route to QTS.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Inspiring Leaders is a not-for-profit partnership of multi-academy trusts that delivers an Academy Trust Partnership membership programme, professional development services for school leaders and staff, and a School-Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) programme. The organisation serves 22 MATs and 300 schools through collaborative peer-led support, training, and school improvement activities.

Product overview

Inspiring Leaders is a not-for-profit, sector-led partnership offering a portfolio of interconnected education services for multi-academy trusts and schools in the East Midlands. The core offerings include the Academy Trust Partnership (membership programme at £5,500 + VAT), Professional Development services (coaching, conferences, trustee recruitment), and the Ofsted Outstanding-rated Teacher Training (SCITT). Supporting services include the Leaders Learning Exchange, Study Tours, Operational Benchmarking, Peer Review, Procurement Partnership, School Showcases, and Leadership Conference. The Edu Intelligence platform partnership provides data integration with MIS systems (Arbor, SIMS, Bromcom) for AI-powered analytics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Academy Trust Partnership Membership Annual membership programme for multi-academy trusts providing access to the Inspiring Leaders partnership network, collaborative peer support, professional development opportunities, and shared school improvement resources. Priced at £5,500+VAT per year per trust.
• Professional Development Services Professional development programmes and events for academy trust leaders, headteachers, and school staff delivered through the Inspiring Leaders network to support leadership growth and school improvement capability.
• School-Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) School-Centred Initial Teacher Training programme rated Outstanding by Ofsted, providing an initial teacher training route for graduates and career changers based in member academy trust schools across England.

Quantifiable outcome

• 126,000 pupils benefiting from improved educational outcomes through member schools
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Community Inclusive TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Collaborative partner in RISE Universal Offer initiative. LEARN SEND Hub, part of Community Inclusive Trust, delivers Universal SEND Offer combining tailored reviews, action planning, and virtual professional development across the East Midlands.
• Learners' TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partner in RISE Universal Offer delivering Early Learners' Strategy focused on early years and high-quality Reception provision. Founded in Sheffield 2016, MAT of Primary and Special schools across South Yorkshire.
• CENTURY TechminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025AI-powered education technology provider. Sponsored AI in Schools & MATs Conference 2025, offering hands-on demonstrations of adaptive teaching and data-informed planning tools.
• The Education ShowroomcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAward-winning organizational partner connecting school and MAT leaders with industry-leading education suppliers. Provides free online service helping leaders discover school improvement solutions matched to their needs, with recommendations from fellow leaders. Helps schools generate additional funding and achieve cost savings on essential products and services.
• PropelocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNationwide provider of specialist support services to education sector with over a decade of experience. Offers joined-up service spanning consultants, school leaders, recruiters, SEND specialists, behaviour professionals, curriculum experts, project managers and finance. Has worked with Discovery Trust and Flying High Partnership at operational and strategic levels.
• Jigsaw Education GroupcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLeading provider of spiral PSHE and RE programmes for schools, supporting over 6,500 schools and 3.5 million pupils across 65 territories. Provides expert training, evidence-based learning combined with mindfulness, and holistic approach to emotional regulation. Supports whole-school approach to embedding PSHE and RE into culture.
• Edu IntelligencecoreTechnology or IntegrationData intelligence platform replacing multiple tools with single secure system integrating stakeholder feedback, MIS data, documents and policies. Provides AI-powered automated analysis, benchmarking, and bespoke recommendations. Reduces manual reporting time by over 90%. Integrates with MIS systems including Arbor, SIMS, Bromcom.
• Crescent Purchasing Consortium (CPC)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEducation procurement consortium providing 86 compliant procurement frameworks. Through the Procurement Partnership, CPC helps trusts achieve better value for money, streamline contracts, and access trusted suppliers aligned to sector needs. Supports compliance with Public Sector Procurement Act.
• Nottingham Business SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in educational leadership development and professional learning. Collaboration supports MBA Senior Leader apprenticeship and wider leadership programmes.
• Department for EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment department partnership for education policy implementation. Collaboration includes Midlands ITT group chaired by Dirk Smith, RISE Universal Offer projects, and support for national education initiatives.
• Browne JacobsonminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLegal and professional services firm providing guidance on AI vendor due diligence and sector-specific compliance. Supports trust governance and operational risk management.
• Global Action PlanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental charity focused on sustainability and social action in schools. Partnership supports whole-school approach to environmental education and pupil engagement.
• EMC-DNL (New Member)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation partner providing support and resources to member MATs. New organizational partner as of June 2025.
• MarComEdminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMarketing and communications education specialist. Partnership supports parent communications and community engagement strategies for MATs.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Teach First: Large-scale teacher training and leadership development charity operating across England. Comparable in the teacher training (SCITT-like) and leadership development spaces, though with a much broader national remit and significantly larger scale.
• Education Development Trust: International education services organisation providing school improvement, leadership development, and teacher training. Comparable in the school improvement and educator development space but at significantly larger scale and with global reach.
• ASCL (Association of School and College Leaders): UK professional association and union for school and college leaders. Comparable as a membership organization providing leadership CPD, conferences, and advocacy for headteachers and senior educators across England.

Direct peers

• Best Practice Network: UK provider of teacher training, CPD, and school improvement programmes including NPQs and ITT. Comparable as a teacher training and educator development specialist serving MATs and schools with structured programmes.
• Whole Education: Network of schools and trusts working on whole-school approaches to curriculum and leadership. Comparable as a sector-led network convening schools/MATs for shared learning and collaboration, though operating nationally.
• Confederation of School Trusts: National membership body representing multi-academy trusts across England. Directly comparable as a MAT-focused membership/partnership organization providing leadership development, advocacy, and convening services, though operating at national rather than regional scale.
• National Governance Association (NGA): Membership organisation for school governors and trustees in England. Directly comparable as it addresses trustee recruitment, governance strengthening, and training — overlapping with Inspiring Leaders' Academy Trustee Recruitment service.
• Ambition Institute: UK provider of teacher and school leadership development programmes including NPQs and early-career training. Comparable as a leadership and educator development specialist serving schools and trusts with structured programmes and evidence-informed practice.

Regional players

• Schools NorthEast: Regional schools partnership for North East England providing similar MAT and school leader convening, advocacy, and collaboration services. Closely comparable model to Inspiring Leaders' East Midlands partnership but in a different region.

Emerging players

• School Development Support Agency (SDSA): UK non-profit supporting school-to-school collaboration and improvement partnerships. Comparable in the school improvement partnership model though focused more narrowly on peer review and trust-to-trust support.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCyouth
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/inspiring-leaders-today

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Inspiring Leaders