A new professional organisation founded in the Highlands is taking the Scottish tutoring sector onto the international stage this month, with Tutors Alliance Scotland (TAS) Founder and President Karen Simpson travelling to Sydney as an invited guest to represent tutors from across Scotland.
Karen will attend the Australian Tutors Association’s Annual Conference in Sydney on Thursday 24 September, before presenting at an International Research Symposium on Friday 25 September.
Tutors Alliance Scotland was established in July 2025 as a not-for-profit professional membership organisation, created to raise standards within the tutoring sector in Scotland and provide tutors with a stronger collective voice.
The organisation promotes its STRIVE values of Standards, Trust, Recognition, Impact, Voice and Equity, with a particular focus on professional practice, safeguarding, data protection and ensuring that tutors are appropriately qualified.
The invitation to Sydney comes just months after TAS membership was launched and provides an opportunity for the organisation to share the Scottish perspective with an international audience, while also learning from developments in tutoring and education in other countries.
Karen, a former primary teacher with more than 20 years’ experience in Scottish education, founded her own tutoring business, My Primary and Secondary Tutor, after leaving teaching. The business has grown to a team of almost 30 tutors supporting pupils across the UK and internationally and has received a number of awards, including Business Woman of the Year and Best Training and Education Business.
Karen has also served on the board of Highland Business Women and is a member of Inverness Chamber of Commerce.
She believes that creating connections beyond Scotland will be important as TAS develops its work.
“Being invited to represent Scotland at an international conference so soon after launching TAS is a fantastic opportunity,” said Karen.
“I’m looking forward to sharing what we are doing in Scotland but just as importantly, listening and learning from organisations and researchers working in the tutoring sector internationally. I hope to bring some of those ideas and connections back to Scotland as we continue to develop Tutors Alliance Scotland.”
For Karen, the journey from building a tutoring business in the Highlands to presenting at an international research symposium is an example of how local businesses and organisations can create opportunities well beyond their immediate community.
The Australian conference will bring together professionals and organisations from across the tutoring sector, providing an opportunity to build international connections and explore the future of tutoring and education.