What a rollercoaster of a year it’s been. High highs, a few low lows, and plenty of moments in between that reminded me why I love what I do.
For Business Academy Online, it’s been another year of growth and proud milestones.
We retained our Centre of Excellence status again (which never gets less exciting), and we welcomed the brilliant Sarah Phillips as our Operations Manager. Honestly, I’m not sure how I ever survived without her.
On 1 December, we welcomed a new tutor superstar to the team, Sara Avent who is joining lessons and settling in really well!
Our students have absolutely smashed their exams, and we were thrilled to become the Examinations Pathway Provider for the NHS, a huge step that shows how far BAO has come. We’ve also seen our student numbers increase again this year, and we’ve made updates across the board: refreshed materials, improved Diamond lessons, and more behind-the-scenes tweaks than you’d probably believe. The drive to keep improving never really stops.
It’s also been a great year for our Birmingham Branch, where I stepped into the role of Chair for Birmingham & Coventry. We’ve had some brilliant events, including a summer social that I’m still smiling about.
On a personal note, there have been some big moments too. I finally made it to Canada for the first time, wandered through Christmas markets in Switzerland and France, and stood as Master of Ceremonies at this year’s CIPS graduation. I even managed to win Volunteer of the Year, which still feels surreal.
But it hasn’t all been easy. This summer, I lost my two cats of seventeen years, who’d been with me through so much. They were, in every way, my family. It’s been a hard adjustment, and I still miss them every day. Now it’s just Pepper, who, to be fair, seems rather delighted to have my undivided attention.
Looking back as I write this, I can see how incredible this year has been despite the challenges. I feel deeply grateful, for all the amazing students who put their trust in us, for the companies who continue to choose BAO, and for everyone who’s been part of our journey.
Here’s to 2026 bringing more learning, laughter and progress for all of us.
Whether you’re celebrating the holidays or simply taking a much-needed rest, I hope you have a wonderful time with the people you love.
See you in the new year!
BAO Elves