We Chat to Ethical Online Spanish Language School

by Startacus Admin
Oh, how we love it when good business and social responsibility come together.
Phiroza Marker is a Member of our community and is also the co-founder of Spanish Marks, an ethical online Spanish language school which connects tutors and students via online classrooms from anywhere in the world.
It is an ethically-focused enterprise which helps to support tutor's communities in Guatemala, with a portion of the profits promised to go towards creating and supporting social projects. We had a chat with Phiroza to learn a little more about what she is up to.
Hi Phiroza, first off tell us a bit about yourself?
I have always wanted to set up my own business. In 2014, I walked away from my job in financial advisory to set up Spanish Marks - a consciously-minded Spanish language school. The school is co-founded by myself and my brother, Rustom.
What exactly does Spanish Marks do?
We provide online Spanish language tuition to individuals and businesses. Students from the UK are connected to our native Spanish-speaking tutors in Guatemala via online classrooms. This is a disruptive approach to education since it challenges the traditional in-person tutor format. It offers students greater flexibility in terms of lesson location since they can be taken from anywhere with an internet connection. The absence of a physical classroom also means we can keep overheads low and pass on the benefits to students through low lesson prices.
Can you explain the ethical focus of Spanish Marks?
From the start we wanted to be an ethically focussed school which gives back to our teachers' communities in Guatemala. It is a country which is rich in culture but suffers from one of the highest malnutrition rates in the world. We use part of our profits from our Spanish lessons to set up projects in Guatemala which tackle these important issues.
These have included partnering with the charity, Asociacion Fatima to build a website so that they can recruit volunteers and grow organically. We have also partnered with local schools, running monthly writing competitions. We donate funds to the winning school, which is then used to purchase much-needed school equipment.
Over the course of creating the business what would you say has been your breakthrough moment?
Being signed onto the employees benefits platform of KPMG - a UK-based professional services firm with 11,652 employees. We started trading less than 2 years ago, and are already making a profit with an increasingly growing student base of both individuals and businesses seeking Spanish tuition.
Finally, what are your future plans for Spanish Marks?
Later this year will see the launch of our international work experience placements, which sends volunteers from the UK to charitable organisations in Guatemala. The placements will be tailored to the volunteer's interests and offered in the fields of human rights, health, education or environment. As a school, we would also include pre-departure Spanish lessons which
would be of great benefit since Guatemala is a Spanish-speaking country!
Thanks for the chat Phiroza and best of luck with Spanish Marks in the future!
If you’ve got a great startup that you would like to share with the world, why not become a member of the Startacus community, it’s totally free and gives you access to loads of exclusive benefits like business deals, and ticket giveaways for startup and technology events!
Subscribe to our newsletter
If you would like to receive our startup themed newsletter, full of the latest startup opportunities, events, news, stories, tips and advice, then sign up here.
The latest addition to the LEVELUP agenda is an online Speed Networking event, in partnership with Allstate NI and powered by Netminds. Come along and make new connections!

Digital DNA, leading lights in the NI Tech and Business community announced as media partners for the LEVELUP events at Derry & Strabane Enterprise Week

Kellie McCord from Toastmasters International shares some tips on a few of the key things you should consider to make sure that the online experience is inclusive and easier for more people

Thinking about embarking on currency trading? Here are some basic tips that will help you do just that...

Thinking of using email marketing to promote your startup? Here are a few of the key things to consider when doing just that...

The lowdown on Fleex, the startup that helps companies provide remote employees with all they need to make working from home more comfortable

Judging panel now revealed for the LEVELUP startup pitch comp for early stage NI startups taking place at Derry & Strabane Enterprise Week - entries open until 10th April

Key speakers, panelists and sponsors announced for the LEVELUP event, taking place on 21-22 April as part of Derry & Strabane Enterprise Week

As we slowly emerge from the pandemic, here is an overview of a few of the key things that you can do to help set the foundation for a stronger year ahead

The lowdown on Leaf Envy, the startup that wants to help us all become plant parents and grow our indoor jungle of dreams...
Published on: 26th July 2016
If you would like to enable commenting via your Startacus account, please enable Disqus functionality in your Account Settings.







- Startacus brings virtual speed networking to Derry & Strabane Enterprise Week 2021 12th Apr 2021 The latest addition to the LEVELUP agenda is an online Speed Networking event, in partnership with Allstate NI and powered by Netminds. Come along and make new connections!
- LEVELUP bags Digital DNA as media partners 12th Apr 2021 Digital DNA, leading lights in the NI Tech and Business community announced as media partners for the LEVELUP events at Derry & Strabane Enterprise Week
- Huge rise in dog weddings leads Feast It and Poppy’s Picnic to launch dog wedding planning service 31st Mar 2021 "Mutt-rimonials" are on the horizon thanks to Woof Weddings, the UK's first dedicated wedding planning service for dogs
- Manual, the innovative Men’s Health platform Raises $30M Series A 31st Mar 2021 Manual secures major investment to help with product development and international expansion and its overall mission to become the global destination for men’s health