Founded by University of Staffordshire alumni, The Inspirational Learning Group has become one of the UK’s leading careers, enterprise and employability education providers.

From its base in Stafford it works with schools, colleges, employers and international partners to create meaningful opportunities for young people.

With projected turnover now exceeding £1.5 million and strong recurring revenues across education and corporate partnerships, the business has continued to grow despite challenging economic conditions and increasing pressure across the education sector.

Stoke-on-Trent born cousins Ben and Michael Dyer founded the business in 2013 while they were both still studying at University of Staffordshire.

From humble beginnings, working from a rented office on the University of Staffordshire campus, TILG has become a market-leader in the careers education sector, with its flagship The National Careers Challenge now the largest school enterprise competition in the UK.

The team supports thousands of students, teachers and employers each year through initiatives such as The National Careers Challenge, which has now reached more than 750,000 young people across the UK and internationally.

Ben said: “The team’s ability to deliver at this scale while maintaining quality, energy and strong customer relationships is what makes them exceptional. They work across live events, national finals, in-school delivery, digital platform management and employer partnerships, often balancing multiple major projects at once. Their commitment to customer service, innovation and educational impact consistently goes beyond expectation.

“Entrepreneurship sits at the centre of TILG’s story. Founded with a vision to transform careers education and bridge the gap between education and employment, the business has grown from a start-up into a nationally recognised organisation working with some of the biggest employers in the UK, including NatWest, British Airways, Air Products, Wickes, GE Vernova and AtkinsRéalis.

“This entrepreneurial journey has required resilience, risk-taking and constant innovation. From building The National Careers Challenge into the UK’s largest enterprise competition, to launching the Lightbulb platform and leading new work around Equalex and Modern Work Experience, TILG has consistently stayed ahead of policy change and market demand rather than reacting to it.

“The business is now helping shape how schools and employers approach the Government’s 10-day work experience guarantee, positioning itself as a true market leader in this space.”

He added: “Most importantly, TILG creates genuine change. It helps young people build confidence, develop employability skills and connect with real employers and real opportunities. It supports schools in delivering meaningful careers education at scale and helps employers engage with future talent in a way that creates measurable social value.

“What makes TILG stand out is the combination of exceptional teamwork, entrepreneurial leadership, commercial resilience and long-term purpose. It is not simply a successful business it  is a business making a meaningful difference.”

The Inspirational Learning Group has entered the Team of the Year and Small Business of the Year categories of University of Staffordshire Business Awards. Ben and Michael Dyer have entered the Entrepreneur of the Year, Alumni Business Person of the Year and Young Business Person of the Year categories.