Gaia Learning Co-Founder Kate Longworth has been named Great British Entrepreneur of the Year 2025 in the Tech – North West category. This prestigious national award recognizes Kate’s pioneering work in developing Bloom, Gaia Learning’s impact-tracking platform that transforms how learning activity and progression are understood for children with Special Educational Needs (SEN).
Kate’s win highlights her exceptional leadership in building technology that makes education more personalized, measurable, and equitable for diverse learners. She was selected from thousands of entrepreneurs across the UK for her breakthrough innovation for SEN learners.
Bloom, developed by Gaia Learning, captures, measures, and interprets the activity, engagement, and developmental progress of SEN learners in real-time. The platform empowers educators, families, and local authorities by offering clear visibility of learner activity and wellbeing trends, personalized progress data, early identification of emerging needs, evidence-based insights, and a holistic profile of each child.
Kate’s vision has been to ensure that every learner’s story is seen, heard, and understood, especially those whose progress is not always reflected through conventional systems. Under her direction, Gaia Learning has become a leader in digital, neurodiversity-affirming education. Bloom plays a vital role in ensuring learners who struggle with anxiety, autism, ADHD, trauma, school avoidance, or other complex needs can have their journey documented in a way that recognizes their strengths and supports their wellbeing.
The award judges praised Kate for her “innovative use of technology to solve real-world educational challenges” and her “unwavering commitment to improving outcomes for some of the UK’s most vulnerable learners.”
“This award is truly a celebration of our learners,” said Kate Longworth. “Gaia Learning exists because the education system wasn’t built to help SEN learners thrive and track their brilliance. Every child deserves to have their progress recognized in a way that reflects who they are, not who the system expects them to be. I’m honored to be part of the movement reshaping that story.”
Kate shares this achievement with the entire Gaia Learning team, the families who trust Gaia to support their children, and the local authorities and partners who champion innovative approaches to inclusion.
Kate’s recognition as Great British Entrepreneur of the Year 2025 underscores Gaia Learning’s growing influence in the UK’s education and EdTech sectors. With Bloom at the forefront, Gaia Learning continues to build tools and environments where every child can thrive, be understood, and feel safe to learn.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.