Abigail Summer Reception

We’re Proud to Celebrate our Co-Founder and Executive Director, Abigail Shapiro, on receiving an MBE!

We are proud to share that our Co-Founder and Executive Director, Abigail Shapiro, has been awarded an MBE for services to education, recognising her significant contributions to tackling educational inequalities and the difference Tutor Trust is making in improving outcomes for young people.

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Everyone at Tutor Trust is delighted to celebrate the news that our Co‑Founder and Executive Director, Abigail Shapiro, has been awarded an MBE in HM The King’s Birthday Honours List for Services to Education.

Abigail has led Tutor Trust from its very beginning, shaping it into an organisation that supports schools and pupils across the North of England. That journey has been driven by Abigail’s determination, vision, and unwavering commitment.

Her dedication to tackling educational inequality extends far beyond Tutor Trust. Abigail has served on the General Assembly of the University of Manchester since 2016 and as a Governor of King David’s School since 2014. In February 2024, she was awarded the University of Manchester’s prestigious Medal of Honour in recognition of her contribution to both the university and the wider city.

During the Covid‑19 pandemic, Abigail’s leadership proved more vital than ever. Working alongside sister charities and Government partners, she was a key figure in the launch and delivery of the National Tutoring Programme. During this period, Tutor Trust trebled in size, enabling many more disadvantaged pupils to receive the academic support they needed at a critical moment in their education.

Ed Marsh, Tutor Trust CEO comments

A relentless focus on quality and impact has always been at the heart of Tutor Trust’s work, values set by Abigail from the outset. Her confidence in the organisation’s ability to deliver real change underpinned Tutor Trust’s participation in repeated independent trials. As a result, Tutor Trust is now unique in the education sector, holding gold‑standard evidence of impact from the Education Endowment Foundation.”
Ed Marsh

Pete McIntyre, Chair of Trustees from the outset, comments

Today, Abigail continues to champion our mission with the same energy and passion that inspired the charity’s creation. Her leadership has transformed opportunities for tens of thousands of young people, and everyone at Tutor Trust is delighted to see her contribution recognised in this way.”
Pete McIntyre

We are also thrilled that our Co‑Founder Nick Bent, now CEO at social mobility charity upReach, has been awarded an MBE for Services to Education at the same time.

Congratulations, Abigail and Nick, on this well deserved honour.