Contra - A professional network for the jobs and skills of the futureInnovative Education Partnership Model Generates £500k+ Revenue
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Zara Makinta
• Apr 24
Building a Scalable Education Partnership Model Driving £500k+ in Revenue
Overview
This project focused on designing and scaling a strategic partnership model within the education sector to create apprenticeship pathways while driving commercial growth.
The objective was to align educational institutions with a technology provider in a way that delivered long-term value for both parties, rather than a one-off transactional relationship.
The Challenge
Education institutions often face barriers when adopting new technologies, including cost, integration, and demonstrating long-term value.
At the same time, traditional sales approaches were not sufficient to drive adoption at scale. A more strategic, partnership-led model was required to:
Create meaningful value for institutions
Support skills development through apprenticeships
Enable sustainable commercial growth
Approach
I designed a partnership framework that aligned commercial, educational, and operational value.
This included:
-Structuring partnerships around apprenticeship opportunities, creating a clear and compelling entry point for institutions
-Positioning the offering as a long-term capability investment, not just a product sale
-Designing a repeatable partnership model that could be adapted across multiple institutions
-Tailoring each partnership to reflect the specific priorities and decision-making structures of each organisation
Execution
The model was initially implemented with Manchester College, where we:
-Established apprenticeship pathways linked to immersive technology
-Delivered a VR training environment, including hardware, learning modules, and accreditation
-Created a structured framework that balanced institutional needs with commercial outcomes
Following this, I refined and extended the model to:
-Regent’s College London
-Loughborough University
-Each partnership was adapted to suit the institution while maintaining a consistent underlying structure, enabling scalability without losing relevance.
Impact
-Contributed to over £500,000 in VR system sales across partner institutions
-Established long-term strategic partnerships rather than one-off transactions
-Created a repeatable model for future education partnerships
-Strengthened positioning within the education sector through value-led collaboration
Additional Notes
Due to client confidentiality and NDAs, detailed internal strategies and commercial agreements cannot be shared. This portfolio reflects my approach, structure, and key outcomes.
Business StrategyBusiness DevelopmentFreshworks
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