Partner Article

Getting to know... Emma Garrick

We know you as the founder of Ignite UK and a member of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum, but who is the person behind the title? Tell us a little about what makes you tick…

Behind the title, I’m someone who genuinely believes education changes lives, but only when it’s done properly. 

I also don’t like standing still. Whether it’s improving achievement rates, developing better training models, or helping an apprentice who’s struggling turn a corner, I’m motivated by growth; mine and everyone else’s.

I have a wider mission to improve teacher training for technical skills, which is a current side project, as I care deeply about standards. I’ve seen what happens when training is done badly, and I’ve made it my mission to prove it can be done better. 

At heart, I’m a builder. Not just of programmes, but of people, confidence, and opportunities. I absolutely love seeing people succeed.

 
Did you always want to work in your industry?

No, not in this exact form. I didn’t grow up thinking I’d found a training organisation. But I’ve always been drawn to improvement and impact. I’ve always wanted to make things better than I found them, and have worked in education since graduating from university at 21 with an early years degree.

Working in plumbing, gas, and renewables training wasn’t some grand childhood plan. It evolved from experience and marrying a gas engineer! 
Seeing the gaps through our other business, Ignite Gas Training. Seeing learners need more, and seeing employers frustrated. Ignite Training was born from wanting to raise the bar.

 
What’s the best bit about your job? And the worst?

The best part? Watching apprentices succeed. Especially the ones who doubted themselves at the start or have had a tough ride prior. Seeing someone go from unsure to confident, skilled, and employable is powerful.

I also love building something that genuinely performs. With strong achievement rates, high standards, and a respected reputation. That matters.

The hardest part? Responsibility. When you’re accountable for staff, learners, employers, quality, and a changing landscape, the weight sits with you, and I'm a perfectionist, so I struggle to switch off. The education sector is heavily regulated and constantly changing, and that pressure doesn’t switch off. But if it were easy, everyone would do it.

 
What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?

Building Ignite into a provider that outperforms national averages while maintaining integrity. Not cutting corners. Not chasing numbers for the sake of growth. And personally? Balancing ambition with family. That’s something I’m proud of, and I hope it sets an example to my three children.

 
How do you relax outside of work?

Honestly, very normally. Meals out, exercise, church on a Sunday, football matches (HWTL), a few drinks in my local in Whitley Bay with friends, live music (especially in an Irish bar), dog walks, getting the stove on when home, and watching a good series. Nothing glamorous.

Family is a huge part of my life. Between my two sisters and me, we have 11 children, so there’s always something going on, whether that's birthdays, Sunday dinners, Saturday curry nights. Most weeks involve some sort of gathering.

I also genuinely enjoy planning. Home improvements, summer holidays, new directions for the business. I like having something to build towards. I’m probably at my happiest when there’s a plan in motion.

What makes the North East such a great place to live and work?

It's the people. There’s grit here. Loyalty. Straight talking. Hard work without ego. The North East is a region that supports its own, and that matters when you’re building something. The business community is collaborative rather than cut-throat. People want to see each other do well.

There’s a real opportunity here too, particularly in skilled trades and renewables. The North East has huge potential, and I’m proud to be building something here.

But beyond business, it’s the warmth. People talk. You can go almost anywhere and strike up a conversation and find common ground. There’s an openness that makes you feel connected. And when you go somewhere else, people love that you’re a Geordie. There’s a reputation for friendliness and honesty, and I think that’s well earned.

Tell us something about you we didn’t know…

I’m a bit of a tech geek at heart. I’m constantly exploring how digital systems and integration can improve performance, from business efficiency to learner outcomes. If there’s a smarter way to do something, I want to find it.

Every learner who starts with us is provided with a Chromebook or tablet to support their studies. We show them how to use the technology that’s available to them, much of it free, to improve how they learn and organise themselves.

Tools like NotebookLM are a current focus for us. It’s an incredible resource, and it’s opening up new ways for learners to engage with technical content and support inclusivity.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Entrepreneurs' Forum .