Helen Lami, CEO, Academic Summer

Helen Lami is the inspirational leader of Academic Summer Limited. She founded the company more than 15 years ago and as CEO oversees an international team. She is a highly connected role model in the industry and is affectionately known as ‘the Queen of British Summer Schools‘.

Helen is an innovative entrepreneur who is passionate about education and has a vision to lead with integrity and empathy. Although based in Devon, she loves to do business globally, flying the flag for the Southwest where possible. She and her husband Turi live in Tiverton although they are constantly travelling. She is a committed Christian and wants to make a difference in all she does, providing exceptional value for money.

“We’ve been established since 2008 and we work with boarding schools in the UK and Canada to run summer camps,” says Helen. “People ask what I do the rest of the year and that’s often travelling to recruit students as well as over 100 staff per year. So if you know of any young people who would like an interesting summer job, we are looking for camp counselors and also subject teachers in a range of different subjects.

“We are at Queens College in Taunton, Sidcot near Bristol airport, and in two London boarding schools as well as New Brunswick in Canada. I’m also looking for really interesting speakers because we ran a Career’s Pathway Programme in London in Engineering, Business, Medicine and Law. So if you fancy a day out doing a workshop with young people between 14 and 17 then please contact me.”

Helen Lami was the first to introduce multiple subjects in UK summer schools and under her guidance, Academic Summer Ltd embraces Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL). The company is on a steady growth path underlined by its BAC Accreditation and recognition by Quality Education.

Academic Summer offers a stimulating and motivating academic journey during the school holidays to help students feel exhilarated, inspired and ready for their next step. Students leave with a CPD qualification in leadership, improved language skills and a greater knowledge in their subject areas. For Helen and her team it is all about creating “a place where education and adventure meet and each student feels valued, safe and inspired.”