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Virtual IT Education

About

Empathetically Solving The Challenges Of Schools And MATs, Using The Power of Technology

  • 33+ Years of Service
  • 85,000 Improved Pupil Outcomes
  • 300+ Schools & MATs Supported

Securing, Supporting And Transforming Schools and MATs

Combining the forces of Virtual IT, JSPC and Computer Talk into one cohesive team, vision and strategy for the education sector, VIT Education was born from the belief that schools deserve the very best support in a challenging environment.

With our deep experience in supporting the needs of local schools everyday, combined with our wide ranging IT expertise and experience in digital transformation, we offer schools and MATs the best of both worlds as they navigate the complexities of digital change in today's world.

Virtual IT, Real Differences

As schools and trusts face fragmented technology, legacy systems, budgetary pressure, and an evolving IT and compliance landscape, we're here to show them the art of the possible, offering hands-on and strategic support with all things-IT. With specialist teams across Essex, Sussex and London, we help schools to focus on teaching, not troubleshooting, while empowering them to digitally innovate to drive real life school improvements.

More than managed IT service providers, we're strategic but empathetic partners that help schools and MATs to meet their evolving IT needs and to achieve their goals, with highly secure, proven, and tailored IT solutions.

Our Approach

Digital Innovation for Real School Life: Combining IT veterans with digital strategists, we focus on deeply understanding your challenges and transforming them into a practical path to digital innovation.

Meeting DfE Guidance with Clarity: We're simplify compliance with DfE guidelines. We provide efficient, cost-effective support, drawing on experience and best practice to ensure that you meet requirements confidently.

Cyber Security-First: We collaborate with industry leaders like Cybersmart and NCSC, to give schools enterprise-grade protection, so you can concentrate on what you do best with cyber-secure and compliant IT solutions in place.

Teaching, Not Troubleshooting: We help schools to provide uninterrupted learning with reliable and fast technology powered by 24/7 monitoring tools.

Investors in People Certified: We nurture our people and they stay with us for the long haul, meaning you'll be consistently connected with familiar and experienced experts dedicated to supporting your school to excel.

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Our Team

David Somen (He/Him)

Managing Director

James Stoner (He/Him)

Business Development Director

Maggie Fidler (She/Her)

Strategic Key Accounts Manager

Joe Sheehan (He/Him)

Technical Support Services Manager Essex

Dan Welsh (He/Him)

Branch Manager Sussex

Graham

Graham Bignell (He/Him)

Project Technician (Education)

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Our Cyber Security First - Approach

At Virtual IT Education we deeply prioritise cyber security, creating secure-by-design solutions for schools and MATs. The reputation and compliance of schools are crucial, but we also see it as an opportunity. A valuable form of social proof, we help schools and MATs to secure and consolidate their reputation as a secure learning provider in a world where learning is happening more digitally than ever before. Virtual IT Education is committed to empowering excellence with the power of technology, whilst doing our utmost to ensure that your team, systems, clients and partners are able to work together securely. 

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Investors In People Certified

We are passionate about empowering our people to reach their potential and we are always developing ourselves to deliver excellence for our clients. In 2014 we became an Investor In People business.

We feel our commitment to our people explains why our staff have an average tenure of nearly five years at Virtual IT Education, which is considerably above the industry standard. We’re proud of the difference that our investment and commitment to people has made over the years and look forward to investing more into our people and relationships amd developing the skillsets of our existing workforce and recruiting top talent in the education technology space

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Certificate No: 257472021 / Certificate No: 309762019 / Certificate No: 468792024

ISO certifications

Aligning and centralising technology across your MAT

Rigorous and detailed planning and execution are at the heart of our IT solutions for schools and MATs. One way that we enshrine our commitment to security, quality and safety is through our certification under the international ISO 27001, ISO 9001 and ISO 45001 standards. 

Partners & Accreditation

We back our depth of expertise with a wide range of top accreditations and rich partnerships with leading vendors throughout the world of IT solutions, including vendors that specialise in the education sector. We're constantly exploring and deepening our partnerships so that we can deliver the most cutting-edge, secure and proven solutions to our clients.

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With a passion for great service and experience in the IT and Communications sectors, David founded Virtual IT in 2001 to better serve the needs of businesses across London and the wider-South East with a broad range of technology solutions. In recent years, that same passion and excitement has been expanded to the education sector, where his vision is to support schools and MATs with cybersecurity solutions and cloud-first digital transformation strategies.

David’s work experience started at McKinsey & Co following which he has been a co founder and CEO / senior executive of three technology businesses in telecom, internet and IT. David serves on a number of boards in various areas including financial services, health and beauty, game conservation and an international hypertension charity

James is an education technology veteran with 25 years and counting in the arena. Throughout
his time as founder at JSPC, he oversaw the IT direction of 200 schools whilst building
strategic partnerships with key EdTech vendors. Since the merger with Virtual IT, James has
been responsible for advising on the day-to-day management and vision of our larger schools
and trusts with a particular focus on assisting schools with their digital transformation , as well
as continuing broad and deep relationships with many long standing clients.


James’ endless enthusiasm and knowledge for improving educational outcomes through
better technology are appreciated by the senior management team of Virtual IT and the many
educational establishments with whom he has built lasting relationships.

Maggie, a former secondary teacher and school leader joins us in January with 16 years of secondary education experience. Maggie too joins us from Arbor Education, where she worked with some of their largest key accounts across the Southwest. In 2023, she gained her ITIL and coaching qualifications in order to better support her schools and MATs. Known for her ‘Magspy’ talents, she is always searching for the latest innovations and best practices to better the quality of teaching and learning in schools.

Joe has worked in the education sphere for over 12 years, starting off as an onsite Network Engineer for Caterham High School before transitioning into a technician role at Computer Talk in 2015. Joe now leads the helpdesk as Help Desk Manager and is responsible for 4 helpdesk technicians, 2 field technicians and 11 managed service technicians (who are based onsite with 5 of our biggest customers). This team are responsible for making sure customers can get the help and support they need with all things IT related, from PCs and Desktops, to VOIP phones, Broadband filtering and Building Management in terms of door access, CCTV and more.

Having joined the Education Sector in 2006, Dan has a wealth of experience and expertise for schools and how best to manage their IT. Dan has worked his way up through the business like many senior Virtual personnel, having been a technician working directly in schools and then progressing through the company to become a senior technician. After becoming part of Virtual IT Dan was promoted to a managerial position within the overall educational team. Dan is the Branch Manager at Virtual IT Education in Sussex and is working hard to enhance our operations and customer support for more than 200 schools. He is also focused on streamlining processes, boosting team morale and enhancing customer satisfaction.

Dan is a massive fan of Formula 1 and Chelsea. He also enjoys eating…

Graham has spent over 22 years providing IT support and services to the education sector, after beginning his journey with what has become Virtual IT as a 17-year-old.  

Starting out with no knowledge in IT, Graham has worked through all levels as a technician. For the last 10 years Graham has led on the projects for our education customers. 

Graham has a great fondness for the technology industry, where there are constant innovations that demand keeping up with the latest developments. Graham delights in constantly learning and being a part of Virtual IT, working alongside 100s of different customers; some of which he has worked with for longer than he’s had any facial hair to speak of!