Overcoming barriers to learning: Nisai Group

There’s an immense unmet need in the world of education: that of learning outside the conventional school setting. Pupils all over the world face a range of obstacles, including special needs, illness, anxiety and other mental health difficulties – or simply a geographical location that makes learning a challenge.

Now in its 26th year and growing rapidly, Nisai Group is meeting this need with remote teaching, conducted via audio and with a virtual whiteboard in classes of 15, organised by ability level rather than age. The company also provides learning mentors who visit pupils at home to help them in person, providing personalised learning.

Dhruv Patel, the company’s Chief Executive and Founder, started the business in the UK after he identified a gap in the provision for remote learning for children within a local authority he worked with. “They gave me the teachers and the platform to reach the children at home but the teachers were doing the same thing as they did in the classroom. We realised there was no engagement, so we decided to do it ourselves.”

The company developed the software to deliver tailored learning and began hiring its own dedicated teachers; now, in the UK, the company is Section 41 approved, which means local authorities are required to offer its services. It now works with more than 500 UK schools across 95 local authorities.

The company branched out into overseas markets with the Nisai Group three years ago, and is experiencing high demand, serving students in 50 countries, either working with schools or privately, and offering both full-time and hybrid education offering a holistic learning environment “It is very much personalised to the child’s needs,” says Dhruv.

It runs its Asian operations from its teaching centre in Brunei, where it employs 20 staff. Business picked up during the pandemic, particularly so in Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines. Students overseas now number 700, and Nisai Group’s overseas team has grown from three to 68 since 2019. Overseas revenues now account for around 20 per cent of sales.

Ongoing growth is rapid. Annual revenues are growing by around 30–40 per cent in the UK, and by 100 per cent overseas. New and upcoming markets include Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Türkiye, as well as 10 African countries, including Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco. “There is much further to grow from here,” says Dhruv. “We feel we have just started.”

Nisai Group’s previous bank lacked the global reach to facilitate their expansion overseas, hence the move to HSBC UK. Having HSBC offices across Asia, says Dhuv, means, “We can manage all our business from the UK: cash flow, treasury, everything is managed from here apart from Japan. It has helped us to grow faster.”

Dhruv, a chartered accountant by background, will fund further growth with a mixture of the cash the business generates, as well as some debt. Nisai Group borrowed £650,000 to fund its growth in the UK but has so far self-funded its overseas expansion.

The group has been run from the UK but is developing operations abilities across Asia, including in Vietnam, where accounting operations are being established, and Malaysia, where sales support will be run for the region. Further centres of excellence will be set up as the business grows. Further out, the Asian operations will become semi-independent of the UK. “We are evolving the model,” says Dhruv. “We’ve got a really good team in Asia.” Its Canadian operations, meanwhile, will serve as a springboard for growth into North America.

The relationship with HSBC UK is key to enabling all this, Dhruv says. “Given the way we have set up operations, having the HSBC network is very useful for us. It’s fundamental to how we operate. It gives us control and transparency over the funding coming into the organisation on a daily basis.”

Likewise, local knowledge in banking is valuable. “Local HSBC managers can tell you what happens in the region.” With banking needs met, Dhruv is free to focus on his mission to continue growing to help learners everywhere. “I love what I am doing – using technology to make a bigger impact.”

Facilitating transformative progress in individuals is the most important measure of success for Dhruv. Like helping a young person too anxious to leave the house or even be in the same room as their mentor, finally to open their door and gain the confidence to come out for the first time. “That is when the magic happens. That is when I win the lottery.”

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