Best Startup
At Best Startup UK we track over 130,000 UK startups and over 500,000 people who hold key positions in these companies. We use this directory of startups to highlight top employees, founders and board members we think deserve more appreciation than they are currently getting.
This list showcases the top United Kingdom based Chairman operating in the Education space. If you think a Chairman is missing from this list, feel free to contact our editor on editor@beststartup.co.uk.
The individuals on this list have been included because of exceptional performance in one of the following categories:
- Innovation – Operating as a key part in an extremely innovative business or startup.
- Growth – Operating as a key figure in the growth and upscale of a market leading business or startup.
- Management – Showing exceptional management skills.
- Societal impact – Putting their business on the map for their positive societal or environmental impact.
Our Data – We source our data from OSINT (open source intelligence) and public directories such as Companies House UK, Crunchbase, SemRush and many more. The data from these sources should be treated with a degree of caution and verified yourself.
Brent Hoberman
Executive Chairman and Co-Founder of Founders Factory
Brent Hoberman is chairman and co-founder of Founders Factory, an ambitious corporate backed incubator/accelerator based in London, and also of Founders Forum, a series of intimate annual global events for the leading entrepreneurs of today and the rising stars of tomorrow. Brent is a co-founder and was founding chairman of Smartup, Grip & made.com, a leading European direct-from-factory consumer homewares retailer. Most recently, Brent co-founded Firstminute Capital, a London-based pan-European seed fund, backed by some of the world’s top entrepreneurs. Brent co-founded lastminute.comin April 1998, was CEO from its inception and sold it in 2005 to Sabre for $1.1bn. Technology businesses he has co-founded have raised over $500m. Brent sits on the Advisory board for LetterOne Technology (a $16bn investment fund), the Oxford Foundry and the UK Government Digital Advisory Board. He is a board member of The Economist, a YGL and one of the Prime Minister’s Business Trade Ambassadors. Brent was awarded a CBE for services to entrepreneurship in the 2015 New Year’s Honour’s List.
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About 01 Founders, AccelerateHER, Firstminute Capital, Founders Factory, Founders Forum, Founders Intelligence, Founders Keepers, Founders of the Future, Grip, Karakuri, MADE, SmartUp.io: Founders Factory is a global corporate-backed venture studio and accelerator.
Sir Robin Miller
Non Executive Chairman of Immotion Group plc
Robin has extensive PLC experience spanning many years, particularly in the media sector. He was formerly Chief Executive (1985-1998 and 2001-2003) and Chairman (1998-2001) of Emap plc, a leading international media group in consumer and trade publishing, commercial radio, music TV channels and events. Robin is currently Non-Executive Chairman of Edge VCT and social video company Brave Bison. Additionally he holds the role of Non-Executive Director of Premier Sports Holdings Plc, Gemini Network Media Ltd, Crash Media Group Ltd, Digital Group Ltd, Gruppo Media Ltd, Bikesportnews.com and a Trustee of the Golf Foundation.
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About Digitalbox: Immotion combine award-winning content & multi-directional motion platforms to deliver immersive VR solutions for high-traffic destinations.
Dame Shirley Porter
Chairman of Tel Aviv University’s Development Committee of Tel Aviv University
Background Dame Shirley Porter was born Shirley Cohen in the Upper Clapton district of London’s Borough of Hackney. Born in 1930, she is the daughter of Jacob Edward Cohen, the founder of Tesco, a British multinational grocery and merchandise retailer. She spent much of her childhood boarding at the Warren School for Girls, later spending a year studying in Switzerland before returning to London. At the age of eighteen she married Sir Leslie Porter. The couple had a son and daughter together. Entry into Politics Dame Shriley served as a magistrate before beginning her political career in local politics. This venture came to fruition when she was elected as a Conservative member of the Westminster City Council. She later became the Council’s leader, and eventually Lord Mayor of Westminster. Cleaning Things Up In more ways than one, Dame Shirley Porter set out to clean up Westminster. She began with anti-litter initiatives. Joining “Clean Up London,” she approached local businesses in order to encourage them to clean up the litter that negatively impacted their businesses. She further initiated several campaigns such as the “Cleaner City Initiative.” Dame Shirley organized regular trash collection, helped to distribute trash cans, and fought against budget cuts that would be detrimental to local cleanup efforts. Recognizing a growing problem with an upsurge of sex shops in the Soho area of Westminster, Dame Shirley set up several initiatives to reduce this trend. The Porter Foundation Dame Shirley Porter and her husband Sir Leslie established The Porter Foundation in 1970. Following in her parent’s footsteps, Dame Shirley shared a love for and dedication to Israel which is reflected in her numerous endeavors in that country. She continued her efforts to improve the environment in Israel by becoming involved with the Council for a Beautiful Israel and the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel. Her contributions to Israel’s environmental movement earned her the Green Globe award in 2009. Besides being directly involved in environmental projects, the Porter Foundation also helps to educate others. The Porter School of Environmental Studies (PSES) was established at Tel Aviv University in 2000. The graduate school focuses on the teaching of environmental studies, thereby sending its graduates into a world that they will help to improve. Other Philanthropic Endeavors The Porter Foundation makes numerous other contributions to Tel Aviv University such as the Porter Institute for Semiotics and Poetics, the School of Cultural Studies, the Porter Swimming Pool, and several scholarship programs. Dame Shirley Porter and her family commissioned the construction of the Daniel Amichai Center for Rowing and Nautical Studies. The center, named after her grandson who died tragically at the age of 21, assists disadvantaged children by exposing them to rowing and seamanship activities. The Porter Foundation’s contribution to the arts includes, but is not limited to, the establishment of the Porter Gallery in 2006 at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. The Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center, the Cameri Center in Tel Aviv and the Israeli Opera display translated subtitles at performances thanks to funding from the Porter Foundation. Dame Shirley Porter has also helped with initiatives to assist the elderly, such as the Lady Sarah Cohen Residential Home for Elderly in the UK, and by renovating the Shirene Home for Senior Citizens in Herzliya, which was built by her parents in 1965. She was given the title of Dame Commander of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II in 1991. She moved to Israel with her husband in 1993. Sir Leslie Porter passed away in 2005.
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About : Tel Aviv University offers higher education courses and research facilities in the fields of sciences, humanities, and the arts.
Farid Haque
Co-Founder ,CEO & Chairman of Erly Stage Studios
Farid Haque is the Co-Founder ,CEO & Chairman of Erly Stage Studios.He attended to the University of Toronto.
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About AssetVault, DataKiwi, Erly Stage Studios: An Education Venture Studio and digital publishing business, our mission is to make learning fun through engaging content and technology.
Sherry Coutu
Founder & Executive Chairman of Founders4Schools
Sherry Coutu is an angel investor and serves on the boards of companies, charities and universities.As an entrepreneur, Sherry established and successfully sold two businesses in the financial services industry. The first (acquired by Euromoney plc) has operations in more than 70 countries. The second was floated in 2000 on London and Nasdaq and the company was valued at more than $1 billion before being acquired (by AMP plc). Sherry is active in early stage investing and has raised several rounds of venture capital and public equity totaling more than $200 million. Sherry has decades of experience serving companies which range from fast growth private early stage to public and boards with turnover of more than £ 1 bn.She is a frequent public speaker, a national judge of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards, and presents regularly at the top business schools. She specialises in consumer, internet, information services and clean energy. Current university affiliations include Cambridge University and Harvard Business School. Charitable / Government affiliations include the Prince’s Trust, Cancer Research UK and NESTA.
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About Cambridge Angels group, Cambridge Assessment, Founders4Schools, London Stock Exchange, PrimeLocation.com, Raspberry Pi Foundation, Silicon Valley Comes to the UK, The Digital Property Group, University of Cambridge, Workfinder: Founders4Schools is a free service that enables teachers to invite founders of successful, businesses to visit schools, to inspire learners.
Martin Roots
Co-Founder & Chairman of Expede Group
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About Expede Group, Expede Group: Transforming universities for tomorrow
Mike Elms
Chairman & Co-Founder of Hotcourses Group
Mike founded the company in the belief that every student should be able to make the right education choice for their future and providing them with the best information to help them achieve this is at the heart of the Hotcourses Group mission.
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About Hotcourses Group: Hotcourses Group operates a program search Website.
David Hammond
Non Executive Chairman of Team Satchel
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About Team Satchel: Team Satchel develops a range of school software focusing on homework, behavior, classroom management, and teaching resources.
Brendan McNutt
Founder and Chairman of Bryn Melyn Care
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About Bryn Melyn Care: Bryn Melyn Care is a leading provider of therapeutic residential care, independent education, and integrated clinical services.
Adrian Eaglestone
Chairman of Learning Science
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About eFiling, Learning Science: Learning Science is the science and engineering learning technology partner.
Roger Wilson
Chairman and Founder of Adept Technology Group Plc
Roger has worked in telecommunications since 1993. In addition to being the first Managing Director for Telewest’s residential consumer business in the UK he spent 3 years in Poland successfully building a business for American investors. He was Managing Director of the European Competitive Telecommunications Association until January 2006.
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About Adept Technology Group Plc: Adept Technology Group is one of COMMS Integrators offering best-in-class breed solutions from any UK network, customized to your needs.
Ilse Howling
Chairman, of Education Development Trust
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About Education Development Trust: Education Development Trust delivers education services and consultancy.
Nadim Nsouli
Founder & Chairman of Inspired
Nadim M Nsouli founded Educas, an education investment firm in 2013 to make an investment in Reddam House, a leading group of schools in South Africa. Since then, Nadim founded Inspired and led the growth of the group globally. Prior to that, Nadim was a partner at Providence Equity Partners, a private equity firm with $40 billion under management. Nadim was also a member of Providence’s Global Investment Committee and led Providence’s Education investment efforts in Europe and the Middle East. Prior to joining Providence in 2006, Nadim was the European head of The Gores Group, a special situations private equity fund based in Los Angeles. Prior to Gores, he founded and managed Lago Ventures, a venture capital firm. Previously, Nadim was a member of the media and telecommunications investment banking teams of Morgan Stanley and J.P. Morgan in London. Nadim started his career in New York as a corporate lawyer at Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue. He received a Master of Business Administration from INSEAD with distinction, a Juris Doctor from New York University School of Law and a Bachelor of Science (magna cum laude) from Georgetown University.
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About Inspired: Inspired is a operator of premium schools in Europe, Australia and Africa.
Larry Hirst
Deputy Chairman of The Board Of Advisors of The Research Institute in Science of Cyber Security
Larry Hirst joined the Board in January 2011. He is the former Chairman of IBM Europe, Middle East and Africa. He retired from IBM in 2010 having previously held a wide range of senior positions since joining the company in 1977. He currently chairs the Imperial College Data Science Institute Advisory Board. He is the Senior Independent Director at MITIE Group plc and an Ambassador to Everywoman and Black British Business. Former roles include being a UK Business Ambassador, a Commissioner for the Commission for Employment and Skills, and Chair of e-skills UK (the UK Sector Skills Council for Business and Information Technology) and he was also on the International Advisory Board for British Airways. He was awarded a CBE in 2006.
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About The Research Institute in Science of Cyber Security: The Research Institute in Science of Cyber Security is a U.K.-based academic research institute.
Kevin Gibson
Chairman of Beanbag Learning
Kevin is founder and CEO of Jiva Technology Ltd, a builder of applications for the real time social web, based in Bristol, England. His other commitments include Ebooks Corporation — an Australia based world leader in digital book technology, where he is a leading shareholder and Chairman. Kevin sits on the Board of Hanzo Archives, a web archiving and e-discovery company, as well as Business Fitness, a provider of systems and services to the Australian accounting industry.
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About Beanbag Learning, Hanzo, Jiva Technology, Tutorhub: Beanbag Learning is a developer of Tutorhub, an online tutoring service with the largest selection of qualified & UK based online tutors.
Sir Peter Lampl
Founder & Chairman of The Sutton Trust
Sir Peter Lampl Chairman of the Sutton Trust and of the Education Endowment Foundation Sir Peter is the founder and chairman of the Sutton Trust which aims to improve social mobility through strategic philanthropy. It has funded and evaluated programmes which have helped hundreds of thousands of young people and published over 150 research studies. He is also chairman of the Education Endowment Foundation set up in 2011 by the Sutton Trust with support from Impetus Trust funded by an endowment of £135 million from Government to improve the performance of the poorest children in the most challenging schools. Before establishing the Sutton Trust in 1997, Peter was the founder and chairman of the Sutton Company, a Private Equity firm with offices in New York, London and Munich. Peter has a Bachelors and Masters Degree from Oxford and an MBA from the London Business School.
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About Education Endowment Foundation, The Sutton Trust: The Sutton Trust is an educational charity in the United Kingdom which aims to improve social mobility and address educational disadvantage.
Julia Hobsbawm
Founder & Chairman Of The Board of Editorial Intelligence
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About Editorial Intelligence: Knowledge Networking, Thought Leadership
Adil Abrar
Founder and Chairman of Mastered
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About Mastered: Launching and accelerating the careers of creators since 2015
