A new kind of online maths tuition business has engaged 8,000 Scottish students after the business owner received expert guidance from Business Gateway, Scotland’s national business advisory service.
Created by Diane Duguid, an experienced maths teacher, Aberdeen-based Intelligent Learning Solutions provides an original way to deliver online support to support senior school students in their learning and preparation for the Higher Maths exam in Scotland.
Having taught maths in schools in Aberdeen for over ten years, Diane transitioned to the oil and gas industry in 2014, creating specialist training on simulators, both online and in the classroom. It was during this time Diane gained insights that helped her to develop an innovative approach to helping others learn.
Armed with years of experience in teaching and making the complex appear easy, coupled with a passion for learning, Diane soon identified an opportunity for an online platform to help students in Scotland access a professional and more affordable alternative to a tutor. She approached Business Gateway back in 2018 to help turn her vision into a reality.
Through Business Gateway, Diane benefitted from one-to-one support from a dedicated business adviser, as well as advice on marketing, which helped provide Diane with a clear strategy focused on how to progress. Advice from Business Gateway also helped to develop the business’ online profile, with a presence on LinkedIn, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube.
In 2022, Diane accessed the Early Stage Growth Programme, which helped to fast-track Intelligent Learning Solutions’ overall business development, as well as overhaul the business’ website. This support was instrumental to help Diane increase awareness of her brand and expand her customer base across Scotland.
Intelligent Learning Solutions has seen great demand since its initial launch and now offers over 30 learning resources online, which have received glowing customer feedback. Diane has recently started to share videos explaining mathematical theories and practices on YouTube and LinkedIn, with her YouTube channel seeing over 500 hits within four weeks of its initial launch.
Keith Smith, Business Gateway Adviser, said: “It has been fantastic to support a business that makes a real difference to our young people. Intelligent Learning Solutions offers a service which is genuinely unique and will make tutoring more accessible to students across Scotland.”
Diane Duguid, Company Director, Intelligent Learning Solutions, said: “Although I had years of experience in teaching maths, I hadn’t ever run a business, and needed the practical knowledge to take Intelligent Learning Solutions to the next level. All of this would not have been achieved without the phenomenal support I have had through everyone at Business Gateway. I can’t thank them enough.”
To find out more about how Business Gateway could help your business, visit https://bgateway.com.