Northeast business owner honoured with national franchise award

Hexham-based Neil Watson, co-founder of local tutoring business, Tutor Doctor Newcastle-upon-Tyne, has received national recognition at the 2025 BFA HSBC British Franchise Awards, where he and his late wife Melodie Watson were named winners of the Dynamic Duo award.

The award celebrates outstanding entrepreneurial partnerships built on collaboration, trust and community impact – all defining features of Neil and Melodie’s work across the Northeast. Melodie sadly and unexpectedly passed earlier this year, leaving a huge hole in the lives of her family and the large community she’d built around them and their tutoring business.

“This recognition means the world to me,” said Neil. “It honours everything Melodie brought to our work – her empathy, her strength, her belief that every young person deserves to be seen and supported. This award is for her.”

Neil and Melodie launched Tutor Doctor Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 2022, united by a vision to build a successful business that changed lives in their local area. In just 18 months, the couple grew their operation from three to 10 territories across the Northeast – now supporting more than 750 local students with personalised one-to-one tuition. Their tutors work closely with over 30 schools and three local education authorities, ensuring young people from Newcastle to Northumberland receive the support they need to thrive.

Melodie’s background in education and safeguarding was at the heart of their success. She was particularly passionate about helping children across the region who face barriers to learning or sit outside of mainstream education.

For Neil, “Without her knowledge and experience of schools and authorities in our area I’m not sure we’d have been as successful as we’re fortunate to have been – she was instrumental in what we’ve achieved and this award is testament to her legacy.”

Her compassionate, professional approach shaped every part of the business – from tutor training to student welfare.

“Melodie created a culture that put people first,” added Neil. “Her influence runs through everything we do – from how we train tutors to how we measure success. She changed lives, and her impact will continue for years to come.”

Today, Neil and the rest of Tutor Doctor Newcastle-upon-Tyne’s team continue to grow the business they built together, delivering over 1,300 hours of tuition every month while keeping Melodie’s vision of inclusive, life-changing education alive.

“Melodie believed education could change everything,” concluded Neil. “We’ll keep building on that belief for her, and for the young people she cared about so much.”