Peterborough couple celebrates a decade of helping young people thrive

A Peterborough education business is marking its 10th anniversary after helping more than 1,000 young people navigate challenges at school and reach their potential.

Piyush Gupta launched Tutor Doctor Peterborough in 2016 and has since overseen more than 100,000 hours of tuition. His wife, Smita, joined five years later, bringing more than 20 years of experience in primary education. Together, they work with families, schools and local authorities to help children with a wide range of educational needs.

Reflecting on the milestone, Piyush said moving into education changed how he viewed the value of his work. “Before this, I worked as an accountant, where success was measured in financial figures. Now, those numbers are replaced by student outcomes and the difference we’re making to young people’s lives.”

Working with children who often struggle in mainstream education, including those with special educational needs, mental health difficulties or face challenges attending school, academic improvement isn’t solely the goal.

“I can remember one student who was selective mute – especially in school and education-based environments,” added Piyush. “At the start, they found it a challenge communicating with their tutor. After several months, they gradually began talking to their peers and became more comfortable around our team and even volunteered to welcome new students.

“It’s immensely rewarding - knowing we’re playing a role helping those young people and their families makes all the hard work worthwhile. They even came back for a great catchup during a leavers celebration we had – their whole transformation is exactly why we do what we do.”

Smita said joining the business had allowed her to bring her own educational experience in a new way. “I’ve never seen Piyush happier in his work, and I’ve learnt so much from him too. It’s been lovely to bring my expertise into the business in order for us to support even more local students.

Both the couple’s sons have also been involved in the business, with the eldest now working full-time, making it a true family effort. “All the relationships we’ve built over the years have been amazing,” added Smita. “Our staff and tutors have been especially important for us, and we couldn’t have achieved what we have done without them.

“We’re delighted to have created such an environment where everyone feels valued and enjoys working together – it is one massive family.”

As Piyush looks back on the last decade, he is incredibly proud of what has grown from those early beginnings. “To see where we started, the thought of not being involved anymore is difficult to imagine. The journey over the past 10 years has been truly amazing!

“Education is continuously changing, so there’s always something new to learn and work on. We want to keep giving local students and families what they need, and that’s what we’ll continue working towards.”