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Step Up Network

The grassroots network turned community interest company and social enterprise empowering educators to make the step up they wish to make.

The founder and volunteer CEO of the award-winning social enterprise, Step Up Network CIC is recognised for his contribution to education in a recent regional leadership awards ceremony.

Ben Hobbis, Founder and CEO of the Step Up Network CIC has been named as the Education Leader of the Year in the Leadership Awards West Midlands 2025 hosted by Business Desk.  The 29-year-old primary school teacher from North Warwickshire was named in the awards on the first occasion that the awarding body has accepted nominations within this category. He was shortlisted for Young Leader of the Year and Public Sector Leader of the Year also.

Ben was chosen from a strong field of nominations and was recognised primarily for his work in leading Step Up, which he founded two years ago. He set up the network initially as a social media handle after struggling to balance his work with the rest of his life working in a one-form entry primary school earlier in his career. Ben recognised the enjoyment and job satisfaction he gained from both being a class teacher but also a leader within a school. Upon reaching out to others, Ben found many other people in the same boat as him: Wishing to lead and contribute more widely to a school but also wanting to be the best educators and best people by prioritising their wellbeing. Since the initial launch event on 10^th June 2023, Step Up has gone from strength to strength; this has included: hosting multiple events with a one hundred percent satisfaction rate; developing partnerships with multiple national organisations; growing the organisation’s community and social media organically and being shortlisted for and winning many awards and accreditations. This has all been achieved with minimal funding and through a large volunteer team.

Ben, who currently works in a large Solihull primary school as a class teacher and senior middle leader with responsibility for curriculum, middle leadership, Skills Builder and coaching, as well as being a student teacher mentor, was also recognised in the nomination for his strong leadership within his day-to-day employment. He joined the school and quickly took on leadership of curriculum and middle leadership, which were identified as key actions by Ofsted. Recent visits from local authority advisors have confirmed that swift actions have been taken and improvements secured as a result of Ben’s leadership.

“I am delighted and shocked to receive the award,” states Ben, “This is a testament to the hard-work, dedication and support I personally have received in all aspects of my career, but particularly Step Up. We are so fortunate to have a fantastic team of network volunteers, as well as volunteer speakers and partner organisations.” “Without all of these people coming together, none of this would have been possible.” he concludes.

Notes for editors:

More details about the Leadership Awards by Business Desk are available here: https://leadershipawards.uk/

Further details regarding the award winners of the Leadership Awards West Midlands 2025: https://www.thebusinessdesk.com/westmidlands/news/2095673-winners-revealed-at-west-midlands-leadership-awards-2025

Further details about Ben Hobbis can be found on his website: https://www.benhobbis.co.uk/ and on the Step Up website: https://stepupnetwork.uk/our-founder/