The Story of Rebel Business School

(and Why This September Could Change Your Life) 🚀

I nearly gave up on starting a business. Why? Because the system was broken, it tried to push me into debt.

It was late 2007, I had been fired from my job and I couldn’t find another job I wanted to do, or would have me. So I decided it was time to start a business. I googled how to start-up and found Business Link (the UK government support service, no longer exists).

I was full of hope as I filled out the form to apply. I wanted to build something that mattered and live life on my terms. They gave me three “free” workshops:

1. How to write a business plan — which, let’s be honest, is only really needed if you’re trying to borrow money… and it was super boring.
2. Business finance — code for funding and debt: where to borrow, how much to borrow, and how to structure the borrowing.
3. Marketing – where to print your flyers, business cards and letterheads. How to spend money to land business.
   

A entire curriculum built on the it takes money to make money belief.

That nearly killed my dream. I never wanted debt. My dad went bankrupt for £3.6 million in the 90s and gambled away our family home, which caused decades of financial struggle and pain. I was never going to repeat that story. Business Link tried to nudge me down that path and I was not having it.

I left feeling lost, angry, and ready to quit. I remember spending the next couple of weeks wondering what I was going to do, had my dream died, was there another way?

The Letter That Changed Everything ✍️

In desperation I wrote a three‑page handwritten letter to the government pouring my heart out:

“I feel completely lost. Your service isn’t helping. I need real support.”

Then the phone rang. It was Glen Atherfold, the guy that funded the Business Link project from Central Government. We talked for an hour. He asked questions listened, gave me some ideas and then said he would find someone to help me. He was a true gentleman.

Enter Simon Paine.

The Business Link South East CEO sent Simon on client recovery—translation: “Go fix Alan (he’s a problem).” Simon had read my letter and thought this would be the worst meeting of his career.

We met for coffee at Winchester Starbucks and instead of difficult it was electric. We ranted about how broken startup education was and I even asked Simon, “How can I help you?”—which shocked him. We left that meeting determined to build something better together.

That coffee was the spark that became Rebel Business School.

Simon Paine

I’ve been business partners with Simon for 11 years now and love him to bits. He cares deeply about helping people, making impact in the world and creating extraordinary things.

He is going to be the host of the September Rebel Business School, more on that shortly.

Why Rebel Exists (and Why It’s Free) 💡

Rebel started by reversing the standard playbook. Most startup guides say something like:

• Do (lots of) market research
• Write a business plan
• Get funding (debt or investment)
• Choose a location and structure
• Register, get tax IDs, permits, open a business bank account…
• Then (eventually) open your doors

Notice what’s missing? Sales. Nowhere does it say “go find a customer and make a sale today.”

We flipped it: Start with sales. Start with profit.

Validate by selling something real to a real person. Build from revenue, not from debt. Reduce risk, increase learning speed, and keep your options open.

Let’s be honest: the biggest providers of startup “support” are banks—and how do banks make money? Lending. Is it any wonder so much business education starts with borrowing? We wanted to break that cycle.

Why it’s free: I told Simon no one should have to pay for this education and Simon’s insight was simple and brilliant: get housing associations to fund the training. They had the reach into the community, they had money, they wanted to help their residents. Communities benefit, local economies grow, and entrepreneurs start without the anchor of debt.

It’s worked across the UK and beyond, with partners from local councils to national bodies, and even global names along the way. (See Rebel’s own story page and site for the model and mission.)

I Proved It to Myself First 💪

After that Starbucks moment, I went away and built my own business the Rebel way—profitable without debt. Those results made something crystal clear: the traditional approach is hurting people. It puts them in debt before they’ve made a single sale. I knew I had to change how entrepreneurship is taught.

That was the mission.

From One Coffee to a Global Movement 🌍

What started as two guys asking better questions has grown into a global movement:

• We run courses in English, Spanish, French, and Arabic—with dedicated sites and content to reach people where they are.
• We’ve taught thousands to start without debt or business plans, including during the pandemic when we pivoted online.
• In 2022 alone, we ran 72 events and supported 5,827 people globally; 694 people made a first sale during the course in the UK alone!
• Independent analysis of our five-year Barnet project found a £22 annual return for every £1 invested, with 94% of people reporting increased confidence.
• We were honoured with a Queen’s Award for Enterprise (Promoting Opportunity)—a huge validation for a free, debt‑free approach to entrepreneurship.
• Colombia milestone: our first Colombia event ran in November 2020, and five years on we’re celebrating the evolution of Rebel Colombia and its growing impact. 🎉 Dani who runs Rebel Colombia and the team there are incredible advocates of debt free entrepreneurship!

None of this happens without you—the doers, the tinkerers, the side‑hustlers, the quietly ambitious. You are the movement.

This was Simon and I with all the people that came to the first ever Rebel Business School in Weston Super Mare. Alliance Homes sponsored the event and we help 50 people to launch and build businesses over the two weeks the course ran.

The Rebel Business School has always been a 2 week in person course. Come and sit with us 10-4 every day and build your business. Until now…

And Now… Something We’ve NEVER Done Before 🔥

For the first time ever, our Course will be:

• Live on Monday nights (inspired by Rebel Finance School), and
• Available on catch‑up

This has never happened before—and who knows if it will ever happen again.

If you’re employed and thinking, “I need to increase my gap (income minus expenses), make more money, and feed my Freedom Fund,” this is your moment. We’ll show you how to start selling fast, avoid debt, and build a resilient income stream—the Rebel way.

📅 Starts September
🔗 Join here: https://therebelschool.com/sidehustle/

Why You Can't Miss This (Especially If You Don't Earn Much, Yet) 💥

• Speed to first sale: we focus on income‑first, not admin‑first.
• Risk reduction: no borrowing, no fancy overheads. Learn by doing with mini-experiments.
• Freedom Fund fuel: every pound of profit can go straight into your Freedom Fund, accelerating your path to independence. Katie and I are running the session on business finances on the course!
• Proven impact: our model has helped thousands make their first sales, build confidence, and create real businesses—without debt.

I went through years of painful lessons so you don't have to. If debt, business plans, and bureaucracy have held you back, Rebel is your antidote.

Let's do this—together.

This workshop is sponsored by some fabulous partners around the country. The following councils have sponsored the course so it is free for you. If you live in any of these areas click on their link to sign up, if you aren't sure then use the global link below!

• Brent
• Bridgend, Wales
• Camden
• Chorley
• South Ribble
• West Berkshire

Save your seat now → therebelschool.com/sidehustle/

Why We Ask for Your Data (and Why It Matters) 📊

Rebel Business School is a team of 10 incredible humans, all committed to the mission of helping people build businesses without debt. Unlike Katie and me, they’re not financially independent—yet. They have mortgages, bills, and families to feed. So, how do we pay them and keep the lights on?

Here’s how it works: Our courses are funded by councils, housing associations, and other partners who pay us so we can give the training away for free. But because this is public money, there’s a high bar for evidence. We have to prove we’re making an impact.

That means when you sign up for a course, you’ll see a lot of questions. The data isn’t for us—it’s for the local government partners who fund the program. Katie and I know it’s a bit much, but this is the price of a free course. Without it, we can’t get the funding to run these events and give them away globally.

So please, help us help more people:
✅ Fill out the forms.
✅ Share your wins.
✅ Be part of the proof that Rebel works.

This is very different from Rebel Finance School, where Katie and I and the Rebel Ninjas volunteer our time. No one gets paid for that course. We make a little from YouTube, but it doesn’t even cover the costs of ConvertKit, Zoom, hosting, and tech. The only reason we can loose money running RFS is because we invested first and bought our freedom.

Your data = more funding = more free courses for more people. Thank you for being part of this mission. ❤️

Numbers & Highlights (for the detail lovers) 📊

• Mission: Make starting a business achievable for anyone and everyone—free at the point of use.
• Scale: 45,000+ people supported globally, with hundreds of courses run across 11 countries.
• Impact study: £22:£1 annual return, 94% confidence increase, long‑term outcomes tracked across five years in Barnet.
• Confidence Boost: In Barnet’s 5-year study, 94% of attendees reported increased confidence, and 58% had never run a business before4.
• Inclusivity: Around 70% of attendees are female, and 40% are from BAME backgrounds3.
• Recognition: Queen’s Award for Enterprise (Promoting Opportunity).
• Languages: English, Español, Français, العربية (Arabic).
• Colombia: first event November 2020; celebrating five years of growth and community in 2025.

From One Rebel Movement to Another 🌍➡💰

I started a global movement in debt‑free entrepreneurship because I didn't like the way the system ran. I wanted to do things differently. I wanted a different life. I wanted a different future for Katie and me.

Then we discovered financial freedom and investing—and we did it for ourselves before starting another global movement to share what we'd learned. This year alone, Rebel Finance School has helped 26,000 people across 48 countries take control of their money and their future.

Along the way, we've learned a thing or two about:

• Making things happen
• Making money
• Investing wisely
• Growing businesses

And now we want to share that with you. Maybe we can inspire you to start something, change something, and—at the very least—make some money and have some fun.

Peace and Pineapples

Alan

P.S.

If you loved the Monday‑night magic of Rebel Finance School, you'll feel right at home. Same energy. Same community. Brand‑new money‑making skills.
Catch‑up means you'll never fall behind. But this format may never return. You just get Simon leading it not Katie and I!

👉 Join the Side Hustle Course (September): https://therebelschool.com/sidehustle/