Employer profile: Yipiyap, the UK's leading tutoring company

Working one to one with young people to support their learning can be a really rewarding experience. Here, you'll learn what it takes to work with Yipiyap, a UK-based tutoring company.

What does the company do?

Yipiyap trains gap year students to become tutors, and places them in schools and colleges across the UK. We believe that working in small groups with a relatable peer tutor inspires students to engage with their education and reach their full potential.

The majority of Yipiyaps tutor maths, English, or science in secondary schools and colleges. But we’ve worked with schools needing support in all areas, from primary years and students with special education needs and disabilities (SEND), to economics, computing, geography, and even Welsh language!

You don’t need any tutoring experience to work with Yipiyap as we provide full training, and you don’t need to be an aspiring teacher. Young people applying to competitive courses like medicine and dentistry, or competitive unis like Oxbridge and those from the Russell Group, choose a Yipiyap gap year to grow their skills, resit, and reapply to uni and apprenticeships. Or you might apply simply to figure out your next steps.

Once you’ve tutored with Yipiyap, you can use your experience in personal statements, applications for competitive apprenticeships, and job interviews. And with over 50% of our Leadership Team being former tutors, there’s space to progress your career if you decide to stay with us beyond your gap year. 

Where do your employees work and what’s your work environment like? 

Most of our Yipiyaps will work onsite at school or college, although some schools and colleges make use of video tutoring or a hybrid of the two.

You’ll work closely alongside teachers at school or college and become part of their team. You’ll usually start working alongside them in the classroom, and transition to supporting small groups on your own as you settle in.

Every school works differently, so you’ll support students however best meets their needs – schools are often amazed by what a difference Yipiyaps can make in connecting with disengaged learners!

And, of course, you have the team at Yipiyap by your side all the way. You’ll be coached by a Regional Director – a former tutor who’s there to support you and your school. We have a values-led company culture that emphasises autonomy, nurture and challenge, and collaboration.

How can students get involved in your company?

You can apply to work with us on your gap year via our website – see ‘Good stuff from elsewhere’ further down the page.

You’ll need to have finished school to work with us, but you can apply any time in Year 12 or Year 13. Some areas can be competitive, so the earlier you apply, the better your chance of a placement. We’ll interview you twice: once when you apply, and again early on in Year 13. If you’re successful, we’ll let you know about your offer from December onwards.

If you accept, you’ll start working with us the following September. Don’t worry, though – if you’re not sure what the next year holds for you yet, we can put your offer on hold until you’ve decided on your next steps.

The ideal candidate will be an academically confident Year 12 or Year 13 who embodies Yipiyap values. Each learner will respond to different ways of tutoring, so you’ll need a ‘whatever it takes’ approach to help everyone reach their potential. 

You’ll also need to be a warm and friendly communicator to reach reluctant learners – but that doesn’t just mean extroverts.

Finally, you’ll need good subject knowledge in maths, English, or science to GCSE level.

Good stuff from elsewhere