Ultra Education CIC is a social enterprise founded by Julian Hall, with a mission to increase the life chances of children and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds through entrepreneurship. Based in London and operating nationally, Ultra Education delivers programmes in financial literacy and entrepreneurial skills across over 150 schools, reaching hundreds of young people weekly. Their work is supported by partnerships with organisations such as Innovate UK, Youth Futures Foundation, the Home Office, and various corporates including British Airways, Visa, and Warner Brothers. Their flagship events include youth business fairs, with the largest held at Wembley Stadium.
With the Growth Impact Fund's investment, we've been able to expand our entrepreneurship programs to 50 additional schools in underserved areas, reaching thousands more young people with the tools to create their own opportunities.
Challenge
Ultra Education CIC’s mission is to empower disadvantaged children and young people from disadvantaged communities to create their own opportunities and improve their life chances. Whilst they believe that talent exists in every community, they recognise that access to opportunity does not. Which is what led them to develop entrepreneurial education that is relevant, inclusive, and engaging for young people who are often excluded by traditional systems.
Despite their success, Ultra Education faced challenges in scaling their impact and strengthening their business model. Julian Hall recognised that while the organisation was mission-driven and impactful, it needed strategic investment to grow its trading income and build internal capacity. The initial attempt to secure social investment in 2018 was unsuccessful, but it highlighted areas for improvement, particularly in sales strategy and social impact measurement. Rather than seeing the rejection as a setback, Julian used it as a learning opportunity to refine the organisation’s structure and approach.
Solution
Social investment proved transformative for Ultra Education. After refining their business model with the help of consultants, they secured £60,000 from UnLtd, which enabled them to hire a Chief Operating Officer (COO). This hire doubled the team size within 18 months and helped the organisation scale through the pandemic and grow considerably. In 2024, Ultra Education raised £300,000 through the Growth Impact Fund. The due diligence process was rigorous but ultimately strengthened the organisation’s strategy, financial modelling, and operational resilience.
Revenue
Ultra Education generates revenue through a mix of trading income and commissioned programmes. Their services are delivered in schools and community settings, often funded by public bodies or corporate partners. The organisation also benefits from strategic collaborations and sponsorships for events like youth business fairs. Social investment has helped them optimise their revenue streams and expand their reach nationally.
Impact
The social investment enabled the organisation to scale operations, improve internal governance, and enhance programme delivery. The investment also allowed them to reach more young people, expand their team, and strengthen their financial sustainability. The rigorous preparation for investment also created a bank of documentation that has been repurposed for other funding opportunities, further supporting their growth.
With Ultra Education, it feels like a true partnership. Julian and the team are open to accepting strategic and operational support in relation to strengthening governance, clarifying their growth strategy, and to more rigorously measuring and communicating their impact. That growth mindset is what makes them stand out and successfully scale.