What It’s Really Like Building an Online Learning Business

For years I’ve been sculpting and gently nurturing the idea of an online learning business fit for the new age. In August 2024, I finally took the plunge and launched The Block Coach – my consultancy and training company for the block management sector.

We’ve already delivered consultancy projects and run in-person and virtual training sessions, which I’ve thoroughly enjoyed. But what’s always fascinated me most is e-learning – the idea of harnessing modern tools and technology to create flexible, engaging training that actually works in practice. With the online learning market booming, I knew I wanted to build something meaningful in this space.

A Creative Challenge

I’ve always been a creative person at heart, so the chance to design and build something from scratch was hugely exciting. But I’ll be honest – I really underestimated what it would take.

The first course I’m building - New Block Manager: Career Jumpstart, has been a labour of love. I thought it might take three months. Then I thought six. In reality, it’s taken about 14 months to bring the content to life, from initial ideas and lesson plans through to full course modules.

The result is something I’m proud of: a programme that blends my 20 years in property management with the latest thinking from The Property Institute, RICS, and practical, on-the-ground experience. It’s full of the things I’ve always known new property managers miss out on in their early days – the essential skills and knowledge that can make the difference between floundering and flourishing.

Lessons Learned Along the Way

Building this business has been as much about my own learning as it has been about creating content for others. Some of the biggest takeaways for me have been:

• Accreditation matters – working with the CPD Certification Service has been an important part of ensuring everything stands up to scrutiny.

• Teachers make great teachers – I’ve learned a huge amount from professional educators and course creators about how to structure and deliver online training effectively.

• CPD is never done – as a Managing Director, you can become a bit removed from the technical side of the role. Developing this course has meant doubling down on my own CPD to refresh and deepen my knowledge.

Above all, it’s reminded me just how ambitious people in our industry are. At recent events like the packed-out Property Management Recruitment event for Block Management Chartered Surveyor students, we can all see how much appetite there is for progression. People want to take their careers as far as possible – and I want The Block Coach to be part of that journey.

Launching This October - Sign Up for the Discounted Waitlist!

And now, after all the preparation, the finish line is in sight. We’ve set the launch date for New Block Manager: Career Jumpstart: 6th October 2025.

I can’t wait to open the doors, start enrolling students, and see this course doing what it was designed to do – helping new and aspiring block managers bridge the gap between theory and practice.

So, watch this space. The Block Coach is ready to go live, and I couldn’t be more excited to see where this new chapter takes us – and the people who join us on the journey.

SIGN UP HERE:

https://www.theblockcoach.co.uk/register-your-interest-new-block-manager