Our Story

Our story begins in 1997 when Pippa Hughes, then the Registrar at Cheltenham College, saw the need for a different kind of Guardianship service. Four Thai girls were the first to experience the pioneering blend of high-quality care, personal attention and family values that have since become familiar to many students from around the world.

These days, Pippa’s son, Ben Hughes, is at the helm. We look after more students around the UK now, and have more staff than ever catering to their needs, but the fundamentals remain constant. We are still driven by Pippa’s desire to provide the best possible service, and our family of staff share her founding values and passion for going the extra mile.

We run things like a family


We are a family business. Like all good families, a good family business has relationships, communication and shared values at its heart. Our family of staff share our values and passion for the Guardianship service we provide. And, as in any loyal family, important guiding principles are carried from one generation to the next. This means that students join an established, close-knit, welcoming and supportive community, committed to building strong relationships.

We are rooted in quality


When Pippa started Pippa’s Guardians, her aim was to offer a best-in-sector Guardianship service. This desire to offer the broadest service with unparalleled depth of care and communication still informs everything we do. And it always will.

We run things like a family


We are a family business. Like all good families, a good family business has relationships, communication and shared values at its heart. Our family of staff share our values and passion for the Guardianship service we provide. And, as in any loyal family, important guiding principles are carried from one generation to the next. This means that students join an established, close-knit, welcoming and supportive community, committed to building strong relationships.

We are rooted in quality


When Pippa started Pippa’s Guardians, her aim was to offer a best-in-sector Guardianship service. This desire to offer the broadest service with unparalleled depth of care and communication still informs everything we do. And it always will.

The Pippa’s Family


Our Head office is based in Malvern and it is from this hub that Pippa’s Guardians is run by Ben, supported by a team responsible for ensuring that the logistics of travel arrangements, organising mobile phone top up and so on run smoothly.

The Pippa’s Family


Our Head office is based in Malvern and it is from this hub that Pippa’s Guardians is run by Ben, supported by a team responsible for ensuring that the logistics of travel arrangements, organising mobile phone top up and so on run smoothly.

We believe in the power of the personal touch


Sometimes, it’s the small things that make a big difference. That’s why we value the personal touches: emailing you a picture of your son enjoying a milkshake at a café during that day’s School visit; ensuring that your young daughter always has the same driver; reporting back on parents’ meetings & academic success; replacing broken badminton racquets in time for that all important fixture… the details matter to us as much they do to you.

We believe in the power of the personal touch


Sometimes, it’s the small things that make a big difference. That’s why we set such store by the personal touches: emailing you a picture of your son enjoying a milkshake at a café during that day’s School visit; ensuring that your young daughter always has the same driver; reporting back on parents’ meetings & academic success; replacing broken badminton racquets in time for that all important fixture… the details matter to us as much they do to you.

Our dedicated and experienced Area Managers are spread out across the country to be located near to your child’s school and on hand to offer continuous support for your child from the moment they start their education here in the UK.

Area Managers


Our Area Managers have a genuine interest in the academic and personal development of your child and will visit them regularly, acting as mentor and advocate for your child, in your absence. Your Area Manager will have personal knowledge of the school your child is attending and will liaise with the school and host families on your behalf.

You will receive regular reports and updates from your Area Manager and they are contactable by email or phone at any time, all of which ensures your child is getting the very best out of their experience of studying in the UK.

Area Managers


Our Area Managers have a genuine interest in the academic and personal development of your child and will visit them regularly, acting as mentor and advocate for your child, in your absence. Your Area Manager will have personal knowledge of the school your child is attending and will liaise with the school and host families on your behalf.

You will receive regular reports and updates from your Area Manager and they are contactable by email or phone at any time, all of which ensures your child is getting the very best out of their experience of studying in the UK.

Pippa’s Guardian’s Head Office is based in Malvern, Worcestershire, the team
provide a friendly and professional support network between you, the school, your child and the host family.