Shows
Upgrade Your Education Business165 Hugh Viney: Building A Business That Doesn't Need You (And Other Lessons Learnt)This is one of the most powerful discussions I've had on the podcast.Hugh Viney, CEO of Minerva Tutors and Minerva Virtual Academy, shares his honest methods that helped him:Create a tuition business that didn't need himCreate an online school using a £50k loan from his tuition businessMy favourite thing about this conversation is how Hugh breaks down all of his decisions making it accessible to anyone aspiring to take their businesses to new heights.Enjoy :-) SumanthaAbout Hugh Viney:Over the last e...2025-06-301h 02
RECAP The PodcastS4:EP6 Hugh Viney - Minerva Virtual Academy🎙️Welcome to the RECAP podcast! 👋Today we welcome the wonderful Hugh Viney from Minerva Virtual Academy.Over the last eleven years since founding Minerva Tutors, Hugh's leadership and dedication have enabled thousands of students, overlooked by the traditional system, to receive the education and qualifications they deserve. He founded Minerva Virtual Academy in 2021, a multi-award-winning online school for students aged 11-18 and the UK’s fastest-growing school, having grown to 1100 full-time students (and counting) in 4 years. It is also the largest online school of its kind to be accredi...2025-05-311h 02
Joining the DotsEpisode 13 with Hugh VineyIn this episode, Matt Jessop and Al Kingsley sit down with Hugh Viney, founder and CEO of Minerva’s Virtual Academy (MVA) — one of the UK’s fastest-growing online schools. From launching with just four students in 2021 to educating over 1,100 full-time learners globally, Hugh shares MVA’s unique hybrid model blending 60% asynchronous and 40% synchronous learning.
💡 Topics include:
The founding vision of MVA and its rapid growth
Supporting neurodivergent learners and those with mental health challenges
The power of mentoring and building real community in a virtual setting
Redefining the role of tea...2025-05-0943 min
The Futures Project PodcastThe Future of Education: Why I Set Up An Online SchoolThis episode we welcome Hugh Viney, CEO and founder of Minerva Virtual Academy. We caught up the start of the year to have a brilliant conversation about how Minerva is offering parents and young people an alternative approach to the mainstream education system. We cover mental health, tech, alternative provision, the future of education, and how you create communities online when you have 1000 students on roll. You can find out more about Minerva Virtual Academy and contact Hugh on these links: www.linkedin.com/in/hugh-viney | www.instagram.com/hughviney | www.tiktok.com/@hu...2025-04-0230 min
The International ClassroomRedefining Online Education: Hugh Viney on Minerva’s Virtual Academy and Building Happy SchoolsIn this episode of The International Classroom, we sit down with Hugh Viney, founder of Minerva’s Virtual Academy, to explore how his innovative online school is redefining education for students aged 11 to 18. Hugh shares the inspiring journey of growing Minerva from a small group of students to a thriving community of 1,000 learners across 50 countries.
We dive deep into Minerva’s unique approach, from their pioneering mentor program and personalised pastoral care to their flexible flipped learning model that combines asynchronous and live teaching. Hugh also sheds light on the school's commitment to fostering student happiness, the impo...2024-12-2846 min
EdufuturistsEdufuturists #270 Brilliant Snippets of the Future of EducationIn this episode of the podcast, it's a mashup of our conversations from the Brilliant Festival in Liverpool back in October. Our live interview on the main stage with Nachelle Crowther, Hugh Viney and Tom Rogerson has already gone out (check that out here). This one is from our little booth at the show where we got to chat with some incredible guests and speakers. (Don't judge Ben for being on his phone - he is sharing on social media live from the show!)
Chapters
00:00 Introductions
02:20 James Fraser-Murison
15:14 Matthew Wemyss
28:10 Lauren Walker & Sam D
42:24 Simone Roche
55:32 Steve Baker & Matt...2024-12-181h 09EdufuturistsEdufuturists #266 The Future of Education: Weak Signals for What's Coming - A Brilliant ConversationIn this episode of the podcast, which is audio only, we showcase the incredible panel from Brilliant Festival in Liverpool on 15th October 2024. Ben & Steve are joined by Hugh Viney, Founder and CEO of Minerva Virtual Academy, Nachelle Crowther, Founder of Evolve Generation and Tom Rogerson, Headmaster of Cottesmore School on the keynote stage at Brilliant.
The conversation explores the future of education, focusing on emerging trends such as holistic education, the importance of culture in educational settings, the necessity of lifelong learning, and the role of community collaboration in overcoming barriers to education. The panelists share insights from...2024-11-1130 min
The Graduate GuideHugh Viney, Founder @ Minerva's Virtual AcademyHave you ever questioned the efficiency of traditional educational systems? In this episode, Hugh Viney talks us through his highly successful and innovative schooling model. Prioritising online, adapted learning for students from all backgrounds, he has successfully built communities all over the world, giving children and parents an improved educational experience and love for learning. If this innovative approach peaks your interest, give this episode a listen!
2024-11-0445 min
MVPMVP - Everything we know about... EurovisionThis is a special bonus episode as part of our Eurovision takeover here at MVA...
Our CEO Hugh Viney sits down with none other than Greek Eurovision entry (and MVA student) Victor Vernicos!
They discuss all things Eurovision; from how you get selected to represent your country to how you balance the competition in the middle of your GCSEs!
For all enquiries email: podcast@minervavirtual.com or follow our incredible online school: @minerva_virtual on instagram and TikTok.
Read more about his journey here: http://news.minervavirtual.com/blog/meet-victor-vernicos-the-16-year-old-pop-sensation-balancing-eurovision-stardom-and-gcses...2023-05-0923 min
The Rogue Monkey PodcastE92: Hugh Viney and Minerva Virtual Academy. Exploring the founders journey and the changing face of the education sectorIn the second part of a 2-part special, we speak to Hugh Viney, the founder of Minerva Virtual Academy. Hugh’s reflections on his experiences are captivating from the off and we know you’ll take lots of great insights from our discussion today. Through the highs, the lows, the wins and the failures, Hugh really does open the box of a founders journey for everyone to learn from.
You can find out more about Minerva here: https://reimagine.minervavirtual.com/ap-race
You can follow Hugh on Linked-in: https://www.linkedin.com/in...2023-05-0555 min
I'd Rather be at the Beach💻 Online education - starting a business with Hugh Viney#23 - Welcome back to ‘I’d Rather be at the Beach’, brought to you by The Bonjour Agency. If you work in an independent school then this is the podcast for you BUT we don’t talk about work here. Why not? Well, because you’re probably too busy to listen to a podcast when you’re at work and when you’re not at work (you’re walking the dog, you’re in the gym, you’re driving back from dropping your kid at university) then let’s face it, you don’t want to listen to something that’s too worky worky.2023-03-0333 min
The EduvatorsHugh Viney, Founder and CEO at Minerva's Virtual AcademyS3:E1 - Welcome to this episode of Eduvators, hosted by Angela Fairs, founder of Full Circle Educational Consultancy with over 20 years experience in schools around the world with a focus of strategic consultancy for innovative schools preparing for the 21st century. In this episode Angela talks to Hugh Viney, Founder and CEO at Minerva's Virtual Academy. A unique, online independent school for 12-18 year old's. They'll discuss the challenges faced in online learning environments, the positives of attending a virtual school and how Minerva goes above and beyond to create a community focused learning environment from...2022-03-1427 min