Push

What Push does

Push (Cherry Publishing LTD) is a UK not-for-profit careers education organization founded in 1992, based in Brighton, that delivers interactive, comedy-based outreach sessions to secondary school pupils (Years 7-13), parents, and educators across England. The organization's core product is hour-long live sessions delivered by professional comedians and actors, covering post-16 pathways, university applications, learning skills, money management, and wellbeing. Sessions are built on a proprietary Laddered Framework, a progressive methodology that builds on prior sessions year-on-year from Year 9 through Year 13, grounded in academic research and spanning a content library of 20+ session topics. Supporting products include DIY Toolkits (PowerPoint with scripts), a free monthly Push Post newsletter, a Student Zone online resource hub, and 90-second YouTube video guides, allowing schools to extend the branded methodology beyond live delivery.

Push's business model is designed to cover costs rather than maximize surplus, consistent with its not-for-profit status. Revenue is generated across four customer segments: schools and colleges (~£640 per session, pay-as-you-go), universities (Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, Manchester, Essex, Birmingham City, Hull) that sponsor outreach delivery, employers (KPMG, CGI, Lloyds) that fund themed campaigns, and government-funded NCOP/Uni Connect programmes delivered through partnerships with multiple regional hubs (FORCE, HEPPSY+, Next Steps South West, etc.). The company operates with a small team of 1-10 employees and has reached millions of students since 1993.

Name

Push

Legal name

Cherry Publishing LTD

Website

https://push.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Push is a UK not-for-profit founded in 1992 that delivers interactive, comedy-based sessions to secondary school pupils (Years 7-13) on pathways, employability, learning, money, and wellbeing, serving schools, universities, employers, and NCOP outreach hubs across England.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Careers Education Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills) (EDAAAFAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Electives & Enrichment Curriculum (Arts, Music, PE, CTE Exploratories) (EDAGAAAG), Workforce & Career Transition Noncredit Programs (EDAAAEAC)

Keywords

• Careers education
• Student outreach
• Higher education guidance
• Employability workshops
• Widening participation

Headquarters

HQ city

London

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Session Fees (Schools & Colleges): Push charges schools and colleges a fee for delivered sessions. The standard fee is £640 per hour-long session. Fees vary based on session length, materials, number of presenters, number of students, and travel expenses. Push is a not-for-profit and prices sessions to cover delivery costs only.
2. University Sponsorship & Outreach Partnerships: Universities sponsor Push to support their widening participation and outreach initiatives. Push delivers impartial sessions on higher education pathways and hands over student data (with consent) to university recruitment teams.
3. Employer Outreach Campaigns: Employers (such as KPMG, CGI, Lloyds) engage Push to reach students for apprenticeship schemes, graduate recruitment, and sponsored degree programmes. Push helps employers communicate their opportunities to students in an engaging way.
4. NCOP / Uni Connect Funded Sessions: Push delivers fully-funded sessions to schools in NCOP target areas through Uni Connect outreach hub funding. Schools in eligible low-participation areas receive sessions at no cost, funded by the Office for Students programme.
5. Affiliate Sponsorship & Featured Content: Occasional affiliate arrangements where third-party companies pay for featured articles, page sponsorship, or ad banners. Revenue is reinvested into Push's charitable mission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Push delivers live, interactive careers education and outreach sessions to UK secondary schools, colleges, universities, and employers. Sessions are facilitated by professional comedians and actors and cover four pillars — Pathways (university choices and alternatives), Employability (skills, applications, interviews), Learning & Study Skills (memory, exams, revision), and Wellbeing (stress, failure, confidence). Supporting products include DIY Toolkits for teacher self-delivery, the Push Post monthly newsletter, the Student Zone online resource hub, and 90-second YouTube video guides.

Product overview

Push is a not-for-profit careers education and outreach organization delivering interactive sessions to students (Years 7-13), parents, and educators across the UK. The core offering consists of live presentations and workshops delivered by professional comedians and performers, covering four main frameworks: Pathways (choosing universities, alternatives to higher education), Employability (understanding skills, applications, interviews), Learning (study skills, memory techniques, exam preparation), and Wellbeing (stress management, confidence building). Sessions are available as in-school presentations, webinars, pre-recorded videos, and DIY toolkits for teacher delivery. Supporting services include the free monthly Push Post newsletter, the Student Zone online resource hub, and 90-second video guides. The organization collaborates with universities, employers, and Uni Connect outreach programs to reach students, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, helping them make informed decisions about their futures.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pathways Sessions Live, comedy-driven sessions for UK secondary school and college students covering higher education pathways and alternatives. Includes Choosing a University, Options at 18 (Stand Up For HE), Getting into University (UCAS navigation), and The University Experience (My Uni Journey) sessions. Delivered by professional comedians and actors either in-school, via webinar, or as pre-recorded content.
• Employability Sessions Live interactive sessions helping students understand and build employability. Includes A Fulfilling Career, What Makes Employability, Understanding Employability (Do What You Love), Application and Interview Skills, Transferable Skills (Simply Skilled), and Public Speaking Skills. Delivered in schools by professional performers.
• Learning & Study Skills Sessions Research-led sessions on learning methodology, exam preparation, and memory techniques. Includes Exam Preparation (Exam Whizzes), Learning Methodology (Unchain Your Brain), Marginal Gains to Boost Your Learning, and Enhancing Home Learning (for parents/guardians). Delivered in schools and via webinar.
• Wellbeing Sessions Interactive sessions supporting student mental health and resilience. Includes Understanding Failure and Building Confidence (Failing for Fuel), Stress Management, and Opening a Positive Dialogue on Learning. Delivered in schools and via webinar.
• DIY Toolkits Pre-packaged PowerPoint presentations, toolkit instruction sheets, and delivery scripts that allow teachers to deliver Push-style sessions independently. Each toolkit includes a session overview, learning objectives, delivery script, and adaptation advice.
• Push Post Newsletter Free monthly email newsletter providing independent careers and post-18 choice information, reinforcing key dates and deadlines, with helpful articles covering A Levels, apprenticeships, UCAS, finance, and wellbeing.
• Student Zone Online resource hub on the Push website covering university, gap years, apprenticeships, jobs, and other post-16/18 options, with advice and guidance articles for students.
• 90 Second Video Guides Short YouTube video guides (around 90 seconds each) on hot topics including careers and student life, session footage, promotional videos, and Future Talks event recordings.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 85% of students rated Push sessions 5/5 or 4/5; over 80% stated they felt better informed after sessions (across FORCE NCOP programme)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FORCE (Force Higher)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPush has delivered inspirational sessions to thousands of young people in association with FORCE (a NCOP/Uni Connect consortium covering Humberside and parts of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire). Sessions covered Choosing a Uni, Why Go to Uni, Options at 18, and Employability at 25 different schools and colleges.
• Next Steps South West (NCOP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPush collaborates with Next Steps South West on events including Future Talks at the Eden Project and 'Love What You Do' events at St Cuthbert Mayne. Push hosts panel Q&As and delivers interactive workshops on careers and higher education.
• HEPPSY+ (South Yorkshire Uni Connect)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPush delivers sessions as part of the HEPPSY+ collaborative outreach programme across South Yorkshire. Outwood Academies Carlton & Shafton have provided testimonials praising Push's energy and comedy-backed delivery.
• Uni4MecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPush is one of 50 founding partners of Uni4Me, an online hub for events, activities, and resources from UK higher education organisations that support learning and help teachers and students discover future opportunities.
• HEAT (Higher Education Access Team)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as a NCOP/Uni Connect hub that Push works with to deliver outreach sessions.
• LinchigherminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as a NCOP/Uni Connect hub that Push works with to deliver outreach sessions.
• Higher HorizonsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as a NCOP/Uni Connect hub that Push works with to deliver outreach sessions.
• GROWSminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as a NCOP/Uni Connect hub that Push works with to deliver outreach sessions.
• Study HigherminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as a NCOP/Uni Connect hub that Push works with to deliver outreach sessions.
• FutureMe.ac.ukminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPush delivered sessions supported by FutureMe.ac.uk at Bedlington & Ashington Academies.
• University of HullcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPush collaborates with the University of Hull through FORCE (NCOP) to reach targeted local schools. Sessions help raise aspirations and encourage informed higher education choices.
• Birmingham City UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPush ran a comedy careers day for Birmingham City University students, combining comedy and careers sessions in the student union bar. Feedback averaged 4½ out of 5. Push also visited 15 schools on behalf of UWE.
• KPMGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKPMG has worked with Push on employer outreach, using Push's engaging delivery style to inform and excite young people about career and apprenticeship opportunities at KPMG.
• CGI (formerly Logica)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCGI has engaged Push for employer outreach campaigns to reach students for graduate and apprenticeship recruitment.
• Lloyds Banking GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLloyds has partnered with Push for employer outreach, using Push's sessions to engage young people about financial sector career pathways and opportunities.
• Truro & Penwith CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTruro & Penwith College participated in the Eden Project event alongside Push and Next Steps South West, introducing students to higher education options.
• Cornwall CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCornwall College was a partner in the Eden Project event with Push and Next Steps South West, introducing students to higher education and career pathways.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• The Prince's Trust: Large UK youth charity delivering employability, education, and wellbeing programmes for 11-30 year-olds. Much broader portfolio than Push but overlapping on the employability, life skills, and disengaged-young-person missions.

Direct peers

• iCould: UK careers inspiration platform producing video career stories and classroom resources for secondary students. Same end buyer (schools) and similar content-led delivery, but with a digital-first rather than live-performer model.
• MyKindaFuture: UK platform connecting students with employers through programmes, events, and content. Directly comparable employer outreach and school buyer, with overlapping apprenticeship and graduate recruitment positioning.
• Speakers for Schools: UK charity providing free, high-profile speaker sessions in state schools on careers, pathways, and employability. Closest direct peer — offers live in-school sessions to secondary schools as a free service, overlapping Push's core delivery model.
• Inspiring the Future: UK volunteer-based charity connecting state school students with professionals for career insights. Closely comparable model for delivering employer-led careers inspiration to secondary schools in the UK.
• Career Ready: UK charity running employer-led mentoring, internships, and masterclasses for 14-19 year-olds. Directly overlaps with Push's employer outreach and employability offering, serving the same school and employer buyer.
• Brightside (The Brightside Trust): UK charity supporting young people from disadvantaged backgrounds into higher education and careers through online mentoring and structured content. Similar widening participation focus and reliance on university/employer funding.
• The Brilliant Club: UK widening participation charity placing PhD researchers into state schools to deliver university-access programmes. Comparable mission and school buyer, with similar reliance on Uni Connect/NCOP funding and a focus on disadvantaged cohorts.

Emerging players

• Debate Mate: UK charity delivering debating and public speaking programmes to state schools. Tangential overlap with Push's public speaking and confidence-building content, using a similar in-school, near-peer delivery model.
• Speakers Trust: UK charity building public speaking and communication skills in young people. Overlaps with Push's Public Speaking Skills session and the broader learning/skills pillar, though narrower in scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCM2HCN2EEhCB78Qnhr4tnLg
• Facebookfacebook.com/pushcouk
• Xx.com/pushtalks
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/push-co-uk

Compliance1 record

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 Push