BBC Maestro Secures Significant Funding for Growth

BBC Maestro, the online education platform providing access to expert masterclasses with the likes of David Walliams, Marco Pierre White and Mark Ronson, has completed a multi-million-pound funding round to facilitate market growth.

The substantial investment was led by growth capital investor BGF which has invested £3 billion in over 450 fast-growth businesses in the UK and Ireland since 2011. Existing investor Downing Ventures also contributed.

The funding raised will be used to further enhance the platform and deliver additional content production, as well as increase the team in key areas and expand into new territories.

BBC Maestro offers a variety of celebrity-taught online courses from some of the greatest experts in their field. The platform was launched in 2020 with courses ranging from 3-star cooking at home with Marco Pierre White, to writing children’s books with David Walliams and Julia Donaldson, to learning the Toolkit for Business Success with Peter Jones.

Online education is a highly profitable growth area, both pre-COVID and increasingly so since, with the overall market expected to grow to over £49bn by 2027. This, alongside significant growth in a variety of subscription-based entertainment services.

Dennis Atkinson, investor at BGF, commented: “BBC Maestro represents a hugely exciting opportunity for BGF to invest in a next generation EdTech platform that is supported by world class talent, the highest quality content, and an experienced & impressive management team.”

Michael Levine, managing director of BBC Maestro, added: “We are thrilled to have the support of BGF for this next phase of BBC Maestro’s growth. This is a pivotal moment for online learning and BGF’s investment will allow us to become a true game changer in the world of high-engagement online learning.”

Richard Lewis, Partner at Downing Ventures, commented: “This funding round and investment from BGF is a pivotal moment for the business and will fund the next wave of world class courses and the expansion of the platform technologically and internationally.”