Founded in 2026 by Caroline Wheeler, Shift Learning is a specialist research consultancy for the education sector. Built on a long history of experience in education market research, we help organisations understand their audiences, develop stronger propositions and turn insight into practical action.
Shift Learning carries forward the legacy of Shift Insight, originally founded in 2002 by Jane Powell. That legacy is rooted in rigorous research, thoughtful interpretation and a deep understanding of the challenges facing education providers, awarding organisations, publishers, professional bodies and membership organisations.
Research grounded in real sector experience
Our work is shaped by years of hands-on research with some of the best-known organisations in education and training, including leading awarding organisations, educational publishers and professional membership bodies. We use qualitative and mixed-method approaches to explore needs, motivations and behaviours, helping clients make confident decisions about products, services, communications and stakeholder engagement.
A career built around education insight
Before founding Shift Learning, Caroline Wheeler was an Associate Director at Shift Insight, where she specialised in qualitative and mixed-method research projects. Drawing on this experience, Caroline is personally involved in every Shift Learning project from start to finish. She works across the full project life cycle, from interpreting the brief and designing the research, to overseeing recruitment and fieldwork, analysing findings, and producing reports that turn insight into action.
Over the years, Caroline’s clients have included organisations across education, from primary through to secondary, further education (post-16), higher education and English language learning (ELL). Past clients include numerous Higher Education institutions, UK awarding organisations such as AQA, Pearson, Cambridge OCR, City & Guilds and Gateway Qualifications, educational publishers including Oxford University Press, Macmillan Learning , Cengage and Cengage National Geographic Learning and professional bodies such as the Association of Project Management.
Before joining Shift Insight, Caroline spent a decade working as both a client-side and independent researcher for organisations including City & Guilds and Pearson. Caroline is a member of the Market Research Society and holds the MRS Advanced Certificate in Market and Social Research.