Rags to riches entrepreneur Paul Rowlett becomes the star of Channel 4’s latest undercover feel-good show tonight.
The chief executive and founder of Leicester-based EverythingBranded.co.uk is appearing in the first episode of new series ‘The Secret Teacher’.
The four-part series – the first episode is at 9pm – sees four successful business people who all struggled at school go undercover in the classroom.
Paul will be helping students at Haileybury Turnford School in Cheshunt, Herts.
Only three members of staff, and none of the students, know that Paul is a successful entrepreneur.
The ex-Royal Navy serviceman knows about life struggles.
He left school with just one GCSE and became destitute nine years ago when his Leicester home was repossessed. He and his wife were forced to live with friends on benefits of £75 a week.
Using a cheap laptop and a mobile phones he started selling mugs, rosettes and key rings.
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His break came when Leicester City Council asked him to supply mugs for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee visit in 2012.
Everything Branded has now grown into a multi-million pound business, employing 130 people and expanding to far flung corners of the world.
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It operates under the parent company of Charles Alexander Distribution, and supplies promotional products to clients including Samsung, Tetley, Bisto, Asda, Greggs, Lufthansa, AA, ITV, the NHS, as well as several universities and councils.
It now has offices across the world, including Ireland, the US and Canada, with hopes to hit revenues of £29.8 million this year, more than £10 million up on 2018.
Paul said he immersed himself fully in the challenge as a school support worker for the show, tackling the nerves that come with stepping into a classroom, and identifying which students he wanted to help before revealing his true identity at the end.
“My school days weren’t happy ones. I came from a broken home and I wasn’t academic. I was destined to fail. I left at 16 with only one GCSE.
“However, returning to school, has been a positive experience for me. It was fantastic getting to know the kids, but heart-breaking hearing about their problems both in and out of school.
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“It is clear that things have never been tougher in our schools.
“I am full of admiration for Haileybury Turnford School. In spite of the enormous challenges they face day after day, the staff there are totally committed to the kids.
“Above all else, I am glad that I have been able to make a difference by getting to know the staff and the pupils there and in turn, providing much needed financial help to the school and those pupils who really stood out for me.”
He said the series puts a spotlight on the increasing challenges faced by the education system, with class sizes increasing, staff numbers falling, and budgets stretched.