Commando Joe's on march with £1m contract

AN Oldham businessman's army-style education company has received a £1 million government contract to mobilise school pupils.

Mike Hamilton's Commando Joe's operation has been handed the Department for Education funding to improve children's achievement, attendance, behaviour and health.

Commando Joe's provides programmes delivered by ex-troops to support teachers in motivating pupils.

The company was founded by Mr Hamilton, who is from Failsworth and spent eight years in the British Army.

A former bomb disposal expert, he served in Iraq and Afghanistan and set up Commando Joe's in his back bedroom in 2009.

The funding recognises the proven success that Commando Joe's' activities have brought to young people, the Department for Education (DfE) said.

The firm enjoyed a £600,000 boost in 2012 from Education Secretary Michael Gove and the latest £1 million contract is an endorsement of the "outstanding results" the company's methods are producing in schools across the country, officials said.

DfE spokesman David Fugurally said: "We are extremely pleased to announce this extra funding for Commando Joe's, which has shown impressive results over the last year across its partner schools.

Thrilled
"We're confident that this increase in funding will allow the company to help even more children to get the most from their education."

Mr Hamilton said: "We're thrilled to receive this extra funding, as it means we can take Commando Joe's to the next level.

"We've been based mainly in the North-West but can now expand across the country.

"The money will go on recruiting more staff, improving our equipment and upgrading our transport, ultimately helping thousands more pupils to benefit from our highly effective programme."

Mr Hamilton launched Commando Joe's in 2011 after appearing on BBC TV's "Dragons' Den".

Using an ethos of "no child left behind", he aims to tackle obesity and inactivity and encourage leadership, communication, respect, assertiveness and fun.

It was originally based at the Falcon Business Centre, in Chadderton, and earned financial backing from former Grasscroft entrepreneur Terry Flanagan.

Backed by the Department for Education, the company has enjoyed success in more than 50 North-West primary and secondary schools. It now has over 20 instructors and relocated to a larger unit in Leigh in 2012.