United Kingdom · Compliance, quality and safety · C-Suite (20+ years)

VP, Global Quality & Compliance

Here is the whole job, in plain words. What it is, what you decide, how you're judged, how people get here and where they go next. Then the part no course gives you: twelve AI tutors who learn your work.

Free to start: a plan built for this role, and a Future Fluency module to try first. No card.

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One email: what AI is changing in this job, and where to start free. With a link back here. Nothing else follows unless you confirm your address.

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  • Experience bandC-Suite (20+ years)
  • Direct reports25-100+ reports
  • Reports toChief Executive Officer (CEO) or Chief Operating Officer (COO)
  • UK framework levelUsually a director, accountable for a division and its numbers

Also advertised as Chief Quality Officer · Global Head of Quality Assurance · Chief Compliance & Quality Officer · Executive Director, Quality Systems

Built on 43,079 real UK job descriptions we analysed · grounded in qualifications employers recognise

1From this job to a course

The qualifications matched to this job

GQA Level 5 Diploma in the Practice of Process Safety Management GQA Qualifications Limited · Level 5 · covers 4 of 10 standards
CICM Level 5 Diploma in Credit and Collections Management Chartered Institute of Credit Management · Level 5 · covers 1 of 10 standards
FDQ Level 3 Certificate for Proficiency in Food Manufacturing Excellence FDQ Limited · Level 3 · covers 3 of 10 standards
FDQ Level 3 Diploma for Proficiency in Food Manufacturing Excellence FDQ Limited · Level 3 · covers 1 of 10 standards
GQA PAA\VQ-SET Level 3 Diploma for a Bulk Storage Operator (Technician) GQA Qualifications Limited · Level 3 · covers 1 of 10 standards

Matched from the standards this job is measured against: a suggestion, not an official ruling.

The units you would start with

Understand how to comply with the relevant Regulations, Industry Standards and Management Requirements for Process Safety GQA Level 5 Diploma in the Practice of Process Safety Management
Compliance with legal, regulatory, ethical and social requirements CICM Level 5 Diploma in Credit and Collections Management
Manage compliance to support achieving excellence in food operations FDQ Level 3 Certificate for Proficiency in Food Manufacturing Excellence
Principles of Safe Manufacture of Quality Medicines in the Pharmaceutical Environment Open Awards Level 3 Technical Occupational Entry in the Principles and Practice for Pharmacy Technicians (Diploma)
Comply with External and Internal Obligations within a Bulk Storage Operations Environment GQA PAA\VQ-SET Level 3 Diploma for a Bulk Storage Operator (Technician)

The future skills this job leans on

AI Fluency working with AI as a thinking partner
Data Fluency turning numbers into a decision
AI Governance Fluency using AI responsibly
Change Fluency taking people through change
Systems Fluency seeing the whole picture
Your Plan Illustration

Built for VP, Global Quality & Compliance

5 units that map to this job, from the qualifications that cover it.

  1. Understand how to comply with the relevant Regulations, Industry Standards and Management Requirements for Process Safety GQA Qualifications Limited · covers 4 of 10 standards Level 5
  2. Compliance with legal, regulatory, ethical and social requirements Chartered Institute of Credit Management · covers 1 of 10 standards Level 5
  3. Manage compliance to support achieving excellence in food operations FDQ Limited · covers 3 of 10 standards Level 3
  4. Principles of Safe Manufacture of Quality Medicines in the Pharmaceutical Environment Open Awards · covers 3 of 10 standards Level 3
  5. Comply with External and Internal Obligations within a Bulk Storage Operations Environment GQA Qualifications Limited · covers 1 of 10 standards Level 3
These are the real units behind this job, in the order they rank for it. Nothing here is marked done, because this plan has not been started by anyone yet. Yours would fill in as you go.

2AI and this work

Will AI change your work as a VP, Global Quality & Compliance?

Nobody can say exactly how. Here is what this job is being asked for next, and where to start.

The new skills this role is being asked for

  • AI Governance & Ethical AI in Quality
  • Digital Transformation Leadership for Quality
Why each one is rising

The future skills this job leans on

We'll only ever tell you what we can actually back up. No hype, no scare tactics.

What happens when you start

Next, a free account. We build your VP, Global Quality & Compliance plan as you set up, starting with a Future Fluency module on using AI in your job. No card.

Your first Future Fluency module is free. After that, your AI tutor is £70 a month.

3What this role really is

A VP of Global Quality and Compliance sets standards for quality and compliance across an entire organisation, protecting customers, brand and operations from regulatory risk.

4What you'd actually use

The tools this job runs on, and how well you'd need to know each one.

MasterControl / Veeva QualityDocs / ETQ Reliance (QMS) Strategic

Leading platform selection, migration, and integration with other enterprise systems (ERP, MES). Defining global data governance policies and ensuring QMS supports strategic quality objectives. This is about architecting the system for the entire company.

Minitab / JMP (SPC/Analytics) Strategic

Setting the enterprise strategy for statistical process control. Championing data-driven decision-making at the executive level. You're defining the analytical capabilities required, not running the individual analyses.

SAP S/4HANA (QM Module) / Oracle NetSuite (Quality Management) Architect

Defining the global template for the QM module. Approving major configuration changes and ensuring alignment with enterprise business strategy. You're the ultimate owner of how quality integrates into our core business systems.

ServiceNow GRC / Archer GRC Suite (GRC Platform) Strategic

Designing the enterprise-wide GRC framework for quality risk. Using the platform to provide consolidated, real-time risk reporting to the Board and regulators. This is about leveraging the platform for strategic oversight.

Tableau / Power BI (BI & Reporting) Strategic

Defining the global quality KPI framework. Using executive dashboards to communicate quality performance, risks, and strategic initiatives to the C-suite and Board. You're consuming and interpreting, not building the dashboards yourself.

Diligent Boards / Nasdaq Boardvantage (Board Reporting) Advanced

Preparing, reviewing, and uploading comprehensive board packs, including executive summaries of quality performance, strategic risk assessments, and updates on major quality initiatives. Ensuring all board-facing materials are impeccable.

5What you get to decide, and how that grows

Power in a job isn't your title. It's what you're allowed to decide. Here's how it grows as you move up.

The choiceComing in Where you are nowThe step above
Global Quality Policy & Strategy N/A N/A Defines and approves enterprise-wide quality policies and long-term strategic direction, with Board oversight.
Major Regulatory Response N/A N/A Approves and signs off on all critical regulatory responses, including those to major audit findings or product safety alerts.
Quality Budget Allocation N/A N/A Owns and allocates the global quality and compliance budget (typically £10M+), approving major investments in systems, personnel, and programmes.
Organisational Design & Key Hires N/A N/A Defines the organisational structure for the global quality function and approves all executive-level hires within the department.
Product Hold / Recall N/A N/A Makes the final decision on global product holds, withdrawals, or recalls, in consultation with the CEO and Legal.

6How you'll be judged

The scoreboard, and what is not on it. The hard targets, how often each is actually looked at, and the quiet signals that never reach a dashboard.

Global Regulatory Audit Outcomes
Number and severity of findings from major regulatory bodies across all global sites.
Target · Zero critical findings; <5 minor findings per year across the entire enterprise.

In 2023, we had zero critical FDA 483s or EMA major observations, and only 3 minor findings globally, all closed within 30 days. This demonstrates robust control.

Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ) as % of Revenue
Total financial cost of quality failures (scrap, rework, warranty claims, recalls, fines) relative to overall company revenue.
Target · Reduce COPQ from 3.5% to <2.5% of revenue over 3 years.

By implementing a new supplier quality programme, we cut raw material scrap by £2M in Q2, contributing to a 0.2% reduction in overall COPQ.

Global Quality System Effectiveness Score
A composite score reflecting the maturity and harmonisation of quality processes (e.g., CAPA, Deviation, Change Control) across all business units and regions.
Target · Improve overall score from 75% to 90% within 2 years, with no significant regional disparities.

Our CAPA effectiveness rate improved from 88% to 94% globally, indicating that our root cause analysis and corrective actions are genuinely preventing recurrence.

Product Release & Market Access Timeliness
The average time from product completion to regulatory approval and market release, reflecting efficiency of quality documentation and compliance processes.
Target · Reduce average time to market by 15% for new products, without compromising quality or compliance.

We launched our new medical device in 5 key markets 3 weeks ahead of schedule due to streamlined quality documentation and proactive regulatory engagement, saving £500K in deferred revenue.

Board and Executive Confidence
The degree to which the Board and CEO trust your strategic advice and the robustness of our quality and compliance framework.
  • You're proactively consulted on major strategic initiatives (M&A, new market entry). Your reports to the Board are clear, concise, and instil confidence. They don't second-guess your risk assessments. You're seen as a vital partner, not just a function head.
Regulatory Relationship Strength
The quality of our relationships with key global regulatory bodies.
  • Regulators view us as a transparent, reliable, and proactive organisation. They engage in constructive dialogue, and we receive early warnings on policy changes. There's a sense of partnership, not just oversight. You're invited to participate in industry working groups.
Enterprise Quality Culture
The pervasive mindset across the organisation that quality is everyone's responsibility, not just yours.
  • Quality metrics are routinely discussed in operational reviews, not just quality meetings. Employees at all levels proactively report potential issues. There's a genuine drive for continuous improvement, not just 'checking the box'. You see quality champions emerging organically in different departments.

7Would you like it

Both sides. What people enjoy, and what grinds them down.

What people enjoy
Shaping Enterprise Strategy & Culture

You'll spend your days in executive leadership meetings, board presentations, and strategic planning sessions, influencing the company's direction. You'll be defining the long-term vision for quality, not just executing it. This means setting the tone for how we operate globally.

Leading the integration of quality and compliance into the 5-year strategic plan, ensuring M&A targets are thoroughly vetted for quality risk, and embedding a proactive quality mindset into our leadership development programmes.

Protecting Brand & Shareholder Value

Your core mission is to safeguard the company's reputation and financial health. This means making tough calls that prevent catastrophic failures, managing complex regulatory relationships, and ensuring our products are safe and effective globally. You're the ultimate guardian.

Successfully navigating a complex regulatory inspection that could have resulted in a multi-million-pound fine, or proactively identifying a systemic issue that prevents a major product recall, saving the company millions and preserving customer trust.

Solving Complex, Multi-faceted Global Problems

You'll be tackling the most challenging, ambiguous quality and compliance issues that span multiple regions, product lines, and regulatory jurisdictions. These aren't simple fixes; they require deep strategic thinking, cross-functional collaboration at the highest levels, and innovative solutions.

Designing and implementing a harmonised global quality management system across 20+ sites, each with unique legacy systems and cultural practices, while simultaneously preparing for a major new regulatory framework coming into force.

What frustrates people
  • The immense pressure of board-level reporting and the constant need to justify investments in preventative quality measures when the 'crisis' hasn't happened yet.
  • Navigating conflicting regulatory requirements across different countries, often with ambiguous guidance, and having to make an executive judgment call.
  • Integrating the chaotic, often non-existent, quality 'systems' of newly acquired companies into our highly structured global framework—it's usually a long, painful process.
  • Managing 'audit fatigue' for your senior leaders, who are constantly preparing for, hosting, and responding to a never-ending stream of regulatory, customer, and internal audits.
  • The challenge of truly embedding a proactive, 'quality-first' culture across a large, diverse global organisation, especially in regions with different historical approaches to compliance.
  • Being the ultimate decision-maker on product holds or recalls, knowing the financial and reputational implications are enormous, but patient safety comes first.
What this role does not give you
  • A quiet, predictable routine; every day brings new, high-stakes challenges.
  • The luxury of always having 100% of the data before making a critical decision.
  • A role where you can avoid direct interaction with the Board or top-tier regulators.
  • A position where you're not ultimately accountable for the quality performance of the entire enterprise.

8Who you work with

This role has enterprise-wide impact, directly influencing revenue, profitability, market access, and shareholder value. It's about protecting our license to operate and ensuring sustainable growth. Your decisions will shape our global reputation, mitigate systemic risks, and drive a culture of quality that permeates every corner of the business. Frankly, you're a critical component of our long-term viability and success.

Inside the business
  • CEO and Executive Leadership Team
  • Board of Directors (especially Audit & Risk Committees)
  • General Counsel and Legal Department
  • Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
  • Heads of R&D, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Commercial
Outside the business
  • Major Regulatory Bodies (e.g., FDA, EMA, MHRA, TGA)
  • Industry Associations and Standard-Setting Bodies
  • Key Customers and Strategic Partners
  • External Auditors and Consultants
  • Investors and Analysts

9What you need before you start

Not a wish list. The things you would be expected to already have.

  • 20+ years of progressive experience in quality and compliance roles within a highly regulated industry (e.g., medical devices, pharmaceuticals, aerospace, automotive).
  • At least 10 years in senior leadership positions, managing global teams and multi-million-pound budgets.
  • Proven track record of successfully leading major quality system transformations or integrations (e.g., post-M&A).
  • Extensive experience interacting directly with major regulatory bodies (e.g., FDA, EMA) during high-stakes inspections and audits.
  • Demonstrated ability to influence and gain alignment from C-suite executives and Board members on strategic quality initiatives.
  • Master Black Belt certification in Lean Six Sigma or equivalent demonstrated expertise in advanced process improvement methodologies.

10What to practise next

Where the job is going, and what to do about it starting this week.

Advanced Data Storytelling for Board Reporting

The Board and executive team are increasingly data-driven. You'll need to move beyond simply presenting data to crafting compelling narratives that highlight strategic quality insights, risks, and opportunities, influencing key decisions.

Visualisation best practices for executive audiences · Narrative structure for data-driven presentations · Translating technical metrics into business impact

  • This quarter: Seek feedback from the CEO/Board on your current reporting style and areas for improvement.
  • Next 6 months: Attend an executive-level course on data storytelling or advanced presentation skills.
  • Next 12 months: Redesign a key quarterly board report to incorporate enhanced data storytelling techniques.
  • Ongoing: Mentor your direct reports on how to effectively communicate data-driven insights to senior leadership.

Quick win: For your next executive update, focus on one key metric and build a concise, compelling narrative around its business impact.

11Staying current once you are in

What people here do to keep up
  • Active participation and leadership roles in relevant industry associations (e.g., RAPS, ASQ, MedTech Europe) to stay ahead of regulatory and industry trends.
  • Regular attendance at executive leadership development programmes, focusing on areas like global strategy, M&A integration, and board governance.
  • Mentoring emerging leaders within the quality and compliance function, sharing your extensive experience and knowledge.
  • Publishing thought leadership articles or speaking at major industry conferences on topics related to global quality and compliance.

12The rising capability

The rising capability

Zavmo analysis

What's rising in its place

This is where the work is heading, and the higher pay with it. Get fluent here and the shift stops being a threat and starts being your edge.

AI Governance & Ethical AI in Quality

AI is increasingly used in quality processes (e.g., predictive maintenance, automated inspection). Regulators are starting to scrutinise the validation, bias, and explainability of these AI systems. You'll need to define the ethical and compliant use of AI across our quality operations.

  • AI Act (EU) & similar global regulations
  • Explainable AI (XAI)
  • Bias detection and mitigation in AI models
  • Data integrity for AI training sets

Digital Transformation Leadership for Quality

The future of quality management is digital. You'll need to lead the strategic adoption of advanced digital tools (beyond just QMS) to create a truly integrated, intelligent quality ecosystem. This isn't just about implementing software; it's about fundamentally changing how we manage quality.

  • Industry 4.0 & Smart Manufacturing
  • Digital Thread & Digital Twin
  • Cybersecurity for Quality Systems
  • Data Lakes & Advanced Analytics for Quality

13What you’ll use

What you’ll use

Skills this role draws on

Technical

  • ISO Standards Implementation & Governance
  • Lean Six Sigma (Master Black Belt Level)
  • CAPA & Advanced Root Cause Analysis (RCA) Governance
  • Good Manufacturing/Clinical/Lab Practices (GxP) Architecture
  • Global Supplier Quality Assurance (SQA) Strategy
  • Validation & Qualification (IQ/OQ/PQ) Oversight

14The pathway

The pathway

How you actually get there, here

How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.

  1. 1

    VP, Quality (Large Global Business Unit)

    3-5 years in previous role

    Skills to master

    • Driving quality strategy for a significant P&L, managing a large regional or business unit team, extensive interaction with business unit leadership and regional regulators.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Successfully led a major quality system overhaul for a business unit, resulting in measurable improvements.
    • Consistently achieved top-tier regulatory audit outcomes for your business unit.
    • Demonstrated ability to influence cross-functional VPs and Directors to adopt quality initiatives.
    • Proven track record of developing and mentoring senior quality leaders.
  2. 2

    Global Head of Compliance (Non-Quality Specific)

    4-6 years in previous role

    Skills to master

    • Broad understanding of enterprise-wide compliance (e.g., anti-bribery, data privacy, ethics), experience reporting to the Board on compliance risks, managing diverse compliance teams.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Successfully navigated complex multi-jurisdictional compliance challenges.
    • Built and maintained robust compliance programmes that withstood external scrutiny.
    • Demonstrated ability to translate complex legal and regulatory requirements into actionable business strategies.
    • Strong executive presence and communication skills, particularly with legal and external counsel.
  3. 3

    Chief Operating Officer (COO) of a Smaller, Highly Regulated Company

    5-7 years in previous role

    Skills to master

    • Full P&L responsibility, deep operational experience in a regulated environment, direct accountability for quality and compliance as part of overall operations, board interaction.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Successfully scaled a regulated business while maintaining impeccable quality and compliance.
    • Proven ability to integrate quality into all aspects of operational excellence.
    • Direct experience managing relationships with investors and the Board.
    • Demonstrated strategic leadership across multiple functions (e.g., manufacturing, supply chain, quality).

15Where this role leads

The long view: This work can lead to wider leadership roles such as chief risk officer, or even chief executive, drawing on skills in governance, risk and global oversight.

The ten Future Fluencies

Zavmo analysis

The credential is what you can do today. These are what keep you valuable.

A qualification proves you can do the job as it's defined today. These ten are what decide whether you're still the obvious person for it in five years. They're the capabilities employers are now writing into senior roles faster than people are learning them. Zavmo weaves them through whatever you study, so you come out with both: the credential and the fluency.

The highlighted ones are the Fluencies your role leans on hardest, from how VP, Global Quality & Compliance is actually changing.

How you would learn this

One to one, on the work you already do

A tutor sets the task against your own job and marks the reasoning, at your pace. There is no cohort to fall behind.

A lesson from Understand how to comply with the relevant Regulations, Industry Standards and Management Requirements for Process Safety, worked against VP, Global Quality & Compliance.

Understand how to comply with the relevant Regulations, Industry Standards and Management Requirements for Process Safety Level 5

Applied to your work in VP, Global Quality & Compliance

The objective of this unit is to provide learners with a comprehensive understanding of the regulations, industry standards, and management requirements for process safety. Learners will understand the role of the Process Safety Leadership Group, relevant frameworks, legal duties, and the role of the Competent Authority.

How the thinking builds
  1. 1 Remember
  2. 2 Understand
  3. 3 Apply
  4. 4 Analyse
  5. 5 Evaluate
  6. 6 Create
An illustration of a Zavmo lesson, built from this role’s own route. The unit, its objective and every criterion above are the awarding body’s own words, not an example.

It is £70 a month, billed monthly. Your free first module is Future Fluency, and you can cancel any time.

See Your Progress Grow Illustration
VP, Global Quality & Compliance
  • ISO Standards Implementation & Governance
  • Lean Six Sigma (Master Black Belt Level)
  • CAPA & Advanced Root Cause Analysis (RCA) Governance
  • Good Manufacturing/Clinical/Lab Practices (GxP) Architecture
  • Global Supplier Quality Assurance (SQA) Strategy
  • Validation & Qualification (IQ/OQ/PQ) Oversight
This is your Mind Palace on learn.zavmo.ai. Every skill above comes from this role's own record, not an example borrowed from another job. A node lights up when you evidence it, and what you build stays yours between jobs. That is the part a course cannot do.

16The detail, folded away

Everything else the record holds

The career branches in full, how AI is already showing up in the day-to-day, and the questions people ask about this job. Here when you want them, out of the way while you decide.

Where it leads next, rung by rung

Where it leads

The career path, and where it branches

VP, Global Quality & Compliance is a start, not a ceiling. Each step below asks for new skills and hands back more autonomy.

  1. Chief Operating Officer (COO)

    3-5 years in current role

    Lateral move or promotion to broader operational leadership

    • Advanced supply chain optimisation and logistics management.
    • Manufacturing strategy and automation (Industry 4.0).
    • Product development lifecycle management (from R&D to commercialisation).
    • Enterprise resource planning (ERP) system ownership and strategic deployment.
  2. Board Member / Non-Executive Director (NED)

    5-7 years in current role

    Transition to governance and strategic advisory

    • Financial literacy for board-level review and approval.
    • Legal and ethical governance frameworks for publicly traded companies.
    • Strategic M&A evaluation and due diligence at the board level.
    • Stakeholder engagement (investors, media, government) from a governance perspective.
Working with AI on the job

Working with AI

Where AI is starting to help

As VP, Global Quality & Compliance, your time is precious, and your decisions carry immense weight. Imagine if you could cut through the noise, synthesise vast amounts of global data, and draft critical communications in a fraction of the time. That's exactly what AI can do for you. We're not talking about replacing your strategic brain; we're talking about augmenting it, giving you superpowers to focus on what truly matters: safeguarding our enterprise.

The reality of executive leadership often involves sifting through mountains of information, preparing detailed board reports, and crafting nuanced communications. AI isn't just for junior analysts anymore; it's a strategic partner that can transform how you lead, govern, and communicate. We're committed to putting these tools in your hands, helping you gain unparalleled efficiency and insight.

Enterprise Quality Data Synthesis

Use advanced AI to automatically aggregate and synthesise quality data from all global QMS, ERP, and supplier systems. Get instant executive summaries of performance trends, emerging risks, and compliance status across the entire enterprise, eliminating hours of manual report compilation.

Strategic Risk Prediction & Mitigation

Deploy machine learning models that analyse internal quality data, external market signals, and regulatory trends to predict potential systemic quality failures, supply chain disruptions, or new regulatory enforcement risks before they become critical. Shift from reactive crisis management to proactive strategic mitigation.

Proactive Regulatory Foresight

An AI agent monitors hundreds of global regulatory bodies, legal journals, and industry publications in real-time. It then provides you with a concise, prioritised brief of upcoming regulatory changes, their potential impact on our specific products and markets, and recommended strategic responses. No more sifting through dense legal documents yourself.

Executive Briefing & Crisis Comms Support

Feed audit findings, incident reports, or complex regulatory inquiries into a Generative AI tool. It can then draft comprehensive first versions of board-level briefings, internal executive communications, or even initial public statements, ensuring consistency and accuracy under pressure. You'll refine, not write from scratch.

Common questions

Common questions

How do you become a VP, Global Quality & Compliance?

Common routes in include VP, Quality (Large Global Business Unit) (3-5 years in previous role), Global Head of Compliance (Non-Quality Specific) (4-6 years in previous role) and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of a Smaller, Highly Regulated Company (5-7 years in previous role). Times vary with prior experience.

Where can a VP, Global Quality & Compliance progress to?

This role can lead on to Chief Operating Officer (COO) (3-5 years in current role) and Board Member / Non-Executive Director (NED) (5-7 years in current role), depending on the skills you build.

What new skills matter most for a VP, Global Quality & Compliance?

Increasingly, AI Governance & Ethical AI in Quality and Digital Transformation Leadership for Quality. These are the skills our record of this role lists as growing.

Free tools

Want a read on where you stand?

Three free tools, no account needed. Each one ends with a role, a level and a way in.

17Where to go from here

Other roles at Level 7

Same depth of qualification, different job. Useful if the work appeals but this particular role does not.

More jobs in compliance, quality and safety

Stay in the field you know and move sideways rather than up.

If you leave this industry

Expertise in global quality and compliance carries across regulated industries. Pharmaceuticals, aerospace, automotive and regulated tech sectors all need the same rigour in quality governance.

This role profile is © 2026 Growth Engineering Technologies Ltd. Built from UK occupational standards and regulated qualification data, and written for Zavmo.

You're not behind. You're right on time. The shift is only just beginning. Your role won't look the same in two years. Be the one who leads the change, not the one it happens to. Start my VP, Global Quality & Compliance plan, free What happens next: a free account, then we build your plan as you set up. No card. Build your plan, see your roadmap and meet the twelve tutors matched to you. All free. When you're ready to start learning, it's £70 a month, billed monthly. Cancel any time and billing stops.