02/10/2026
A MESSAGE FROM VINNEY’S DTS
I’ve always believed that running a small business comes down to a few very simple principles: turn up, do what you say you’re going to do, treat people properly, and pay for the service you receive.
Most of my pupils and their families are absolutely brilliant, and I’m genuinely grateful for that. But occasionally you come across behaviour that leaves you wondering where basic respect, responsibility and accountability have disappeared to.
If you receive hundreds of pounds worth of professional tuition from a small, self-employed business, then deciding to simply stop communicating when payment becomes due isn’t acceptable.
If you’re struggling financially, talk to me. I have always been prepared to listen, discuss circumstances and, where appropriate, agree a sensible way forward. What I won’t accept is being ignored and left to repeatedly chase money that is legitimately owed.
Being unable to pay immediately is one thing. Refusing to communicate is another.
And there’s a wider point here.
We quite rightly expect people in positions of responsibility and trust to demonstrate honesty, integrity and accountability in their professional lives. Those standards shouldn’t suddenly disappear when someone steps outside the workplace.
I won’t name individuals, identify workplaces or conduct personal disputes through social media. That’s not how I run my business.
But I will say this:
Respect works both ways.
Honesty works both ways.
And if you expect people to provide a professional service to you, you should have the decency to deal with them professionally in return.
I’m proud of the standards I set for myself and for my pupils.
We don’t let people down. And we don’t expect people to let us down either.
— Vinney’s DTS