The Education Space
The Education Space is a UK schools-owned not-for-profit, part of the NPW Group, delivering 17+ managed, consultancy and training services — HR, payroll, IT, MIS, safeguarding, governance, compliance and curriculum support — to 400+ schools and Multi-Academy Trusts across the south of England.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersLondon, England, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The Education Space does
The Education Space is a UK not-for-profit schools-owned company, founded in 2015 as a separate legal entity within the NPW Group (Newham Partnership Working, established 2012), headquartered in Stratford, London. It operates as a strategic operational partner to schools and Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs), delivering a comprehensive portfolio of 17+ services spanning the full back-office and compliance spectrum: HR & payroll, employee relations, senior recruitment, data protection, safeguarding, health & safety, governance, IT support, MIS (school management information system) support, training and CPD, procurement, plus a suite of independent audits (catering, cleaning, fire risk, radiation protection) and web/brand/social media services. Services are delivered by experienced system leaders and former school leaders through flexible engagement models — full outsourcing, hybrid alongside existing school teams, or specialist consultancy — to 400+ schools across the south of England.
The underlying technology stack is pragmatic and integrator-led rather than proprietary-AI-led. Core platforms include Google for Education (with a cloud-first strategy benchmarked against the Danish state-level rollout), Bromcom MIS, and an internal Automation Suite that handles repetitive administrative tasks such as leave management and purchase orders on preset rules. The company also delivers WCAG 2.2 AA web accessibility services and computing-curriculum support including VR and unplugged activities. The Automation Suite is explicitly positioned as distinct from AI, providing predictable rule-based automation without learning or evolution capabilities. No API, SDK, or AI/ML capabilities are disclosed.
The revenue model combines managed services (outsourced operational functions under SLAs), professional services (specialist consultancy engagements such as HR restructures and governance audits), and training/CPD services delivered through events and continuous professional development. Pricing is primarily quote-based, with one disclosed unit price of £149 per delegate (excluding VAT) for a leadership seminar event. Go-to-market is sales-led and direct, leveraging the credibility of former school leaders and an active thought-leadership presence across journals, social channels, and sector events including MAT Excellence Awards and Governors' and Trustees' conferences. The schools-owned mutual model reinvests surplus back into member schools, structurally constraining venture-style scaling.
The Education Space firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Education Space
- Legal name
- The Education Space
- Website
- https://theeducationspace.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Education Space is a UK schools-owned not-for-profit, part of the NPW Group, delivering 17+ managed, consultancy and training services — HR, payroll, IT, MIS, safeguarding, governance, compliance and curriculum support — to 400+ schools and Multi-Academy Trusts across the south of England.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Education Space industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Education Support Services
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (6117)
- SIC
- Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Facilities Operations Outsourcing (Integrated FM, Work Orders, Asset Mgmt) (EDAEALAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Instructional Delivery & Pedagogy (School-Led) (EDAJAFAB)
Keywords
Where The Education Space is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London, England
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Education Space business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Comprehensive School Support Services: Full spectrum of school operations management including technical services (IT, payroll) and compliance areas (safeguarding, health and safety). Schools can outsource all operational services or engage through a hybrid model alongside existing teams
- Specialist Consultancy Services: Specialist consultancy engagements such as HR restructures, governance audits, and specific operational support. Delivered through experienced system leaders and school leaders
- Training and CPD Services: Continuous professional development services covering all aspects of CPD and regulatory requirements for schools
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Leadership Seminar Event |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
The Education Space product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Education Space is a schools-owned, not-for-profit strategic operational partner that delivers a comprehensive suite of support services to UK schools. Its offering spans the full spectrum of school operations, including IT support, HR & payroll, MIS support, data compliance, safeguarding, health & safety, governor services, training/CPD, senior recruitment, procurement support, and independent audits (catering, cleaning, fire risk, radiation protection). Services are delivered through annual Service Level Agreements, bespoke project work, or hybrid models alongside existing in-school teams.
Product overview
The Education Space operates as a schools-owned strategic operational partner for schools, offering a comprehensive suite of over 17 support services spanning the full spectrum of school operations. The portfolio includes Training Services, IT Support Services, HR & Payroll Service, MIS Support Services, Data Compliance Service, Safeguarding Services, Health & Safety Support, Governor Services, Employee Relations Service, Senior Recruitment Service, Procurement & Contracting Support, and various audit services (Catering, Cleaning, Fire Risk, Radiation Protection). Services are delivered through bespoke project work, annual Service Level Agreements, or hybrid models depending on school needs. The company works with over 400 schools across the south of England and is part of the NPW Group.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Training Services
Quantifiable outcome
- One of the highest retention rates in the sector
Companies that use The Education Space
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
The Education Space technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
The Education Space partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- NPW Group (Newham Partnership Working)coreThe Education Space is part of the NPW Group, which comprises Newham Partnership Working (NPW) and The Education Space. Both companies run and commission education support services. Each company is a separate legal entity and jointly determine the purpose and means of processing personal data as joint controllers under GDPR. NPW has celebrated over 10 years of operation and continues to serve schools in Newham and surrounding areas.
- Google for EducationcoreGoogle for Education training and support is offered as part of the Computing Curriculum Support service. The company has implemented Google for Education platforms, having evaluated models like the Danish state-level rollout and developed a 'cloud-first' strategy for Newham schools.
- Votes for SchoolsminorJoint events with Votes for Schools to provide platforms for students to learn, debate, vote and express opinions on issues mattering to their communities. Topics have included knife crime awareness and youth voice in education.
- Optimus EducationminorThe Education Space sponsored the MAT Excellence Awards organized by Optimus Education, held in June 2023 at The Park Plaza, London. The awards recognize the work of multi-academy trusts across the country.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Education Space competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Sodexo Education: Global facilities management and education services provider active in UK schools (catering, cleaning, facilities). Overlaps with The Education Space's catering and cleaning audit services and broader facilities outsourcing.
- Capita (SIMS): Major UK outsourcer whose SIMS division is the dominant school MIS provider. Competes with The Education Space's MIS support services and adjacent managed services.
- RM plc: Long-established UK education technology and services provider selling IT infrastructure, MIS, and managed services to schools. A much larger incumbent with overlapping IT/MIS support offerings.
Direct peers
- Optimus Education: UK provider of CPD, training, and governance services to schools and MATs. Competitive in the training and consultancy categories and identified as a partner in the source data.
- Juniper Education: UK-based provider of education support services, MIS, and HR/payroll to schools and MATs. Direct competitor in the same schools-outsourcedservices space, with overlapping services and customer base.
- Strictly Education: UK HR, payroll, and recruitment specialist serving schools and MATs. Direct competitor in the specialist HR/people-services slice of The Education Space's portfolio.
- Bromcom: UK cloud-based school MIS provider and explicit technology partner of The Education Space. Strategically aligned through partnership but also a potential alternative source of MIS support for schools.
Emerging players
- Clever Touch (Zahara & Clever): UK-based education procurement and MI5 software provider used by schools and MATs. Overlaps with The Education Space's procurement/contracting support and broader operational services.
- Edukey Education: UK SaaS provider of safeguarding, MIS, and wellbeing tools to schools. Comparable as a niche UK education-support software and services vendor addressing the same buyer.
- ScholarPack: UK cloud MIS provider for primary and secondary schools. Smaller-scale MIS competitor addressing the same schools with overlapping MIS-support workflows.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Education Space social profiles
Digital presenceThe Education Space financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Education Space leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles17 records
The Education Space funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Education Space 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 Education Space
What does The Education Space do?
The Education Space is a schools-owned, not-for-profit strategic operational partner that delivers a comprehensive suite of support services to UK schools. Its offering spans the full spectrum of school operations, including IT support, HR & payroll, MIS support, data compliance, safeguarding, health & safety, governor services, training/CPD, senior recruitment, procurement support, and independent audits (catering, cleaning, fire risk, radiation protection). Services are delivered through annual Service Level Agreements, bespoke project work, or hybrid models alongside existing in-school teams.
Is The Education Space a public or private company?
The Education Space is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Education Space founded?
The Education Space was founded in 2012. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Education Space based?
The Education Space is headquartered in London, England, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does The Education Space make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Comprehensive School Support Services are the primary driver. The others are specialist Consultancy Services and training and CPD Services.
Who are The Education Space's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Sodexo Education, Capita (SIMS) and RM plc. Direct peers are Optimus Education, Juniper Education, Strictly Education and Bromcom. Emerging players are Clever Touch (Zahara & Clever), Edukey Education and ScholarPack.
Does The Education Space have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Education Space.
What industry is The Education Space in?
The Education Space's product category is Education Support Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAEALAF, Facilities Operations Outsourcing (Integrated FM, Work Orders, Asset Mgmt), with a secondary code of EDAJAFAB, Instructional Delivery & Pedagogy (School-Led). Its NAICS code is 611710 and its SIC code is 8744.