Greater Manchester peer learning organisation Yipiyap has appointed Jess Shepherd to the role of Company Operations Manager, six years after she joined the company as a peer tutor herself.
In her new role, which starts this Summer, Jess will be overseeing and supporting the team of regional directors as they provide peer tutors to schools and colleges all over the UK, while seeking to expand the business into new areas and build its franchise offering.
Yipiyap, based in Altrincham, harnesses the talent of high-achieving school leavers and places them with schools for a unique gap year. They provide support to teaching staff and help students achieve better understanding and results in the core subjects of English, maths and science. Being close in age, they are relatable to the younger pupils and have proven results in raising grades, supporting GCSE resits and managing online learning.
Says Jess: “I first joined Yipiyap after completing my A Levels at Loreto Grammar School and when the opportunity came up to join the company straight afterwards, I jumped at the chance. I have loved helping to recruit and train other peer tutors and see them help more young people achieve their potential: so many of our tutors change their plans and end up working in some sort of educational role, as it’s so satisfying. Those that don’t still go on to further education or employment with an amazing new set of skills, thanks to the experience.”
Founder and former teacher Anne Morris says: “Jess joined us six years ago and was a fantastic peer tutor, providing support across three schools in Greater Manchester. As Regional Director and Senior Regional Director she has been pivotal in our growth and has helped us expand fourfold since 2015. We now have tutors all over the UK and Jess’s insights and experience make her the perfect person to take the company even further, benefitting more young people than ever.”
