The Challenge
EdStart needed an advisory-board framework to guide their market entry and build trust with UK independent schools. As an Australian company entering the UK, EdStart was looking for deep connections within the UK private-education sector and needed credible advisors with school-governance and financial-operations experience.
Where Think & Grow Came In
- Advisory Board Framework: designed an optimal member structure with clear roles, meeting cadence, and appropriate remuneration models.
- Executive Search & Mapping: sourced and vetted candidates against benchmark profiles, focusing on school governors, bursars, and education-finance leaders.
- Candidate Engagement: secured exceptional advisors with complementary expertise across regulation, school finance, EdTech and associations.
The Results
- Pipeline of advisors – high-calibre candidates sourced and vetted.
- Board secured – advisors with complementary expertise.
- Credibility – immediate market credibility (ISBA & GSA experience) plus strategic market-entry guidance.
About EdStart
A fintech offering comprehensive fee solutions that enable schools to increase payment flexibility for families without the added complexity and workload.
The Impact

High-calibre candidates sourced and vetted

Advisors secured with complementary expertise

Immediate market credibility + strategic market-entry guidance
The team behind this

Simon Robinson

Jonathan Jeffries (JJ)

Vicky Klonaridis
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