By Billy Smith Introduction: It’s Not About Features—It’s About Fit Selecting a learning platform—whether you call it an LMS (Learning Management System) or VLE (Virtual Learning Environment)—can feel overwhelming. Every provider promises streamlined delivery, better engagement, seamless integration, and improved outcomes. But here’s the hard truth: the best learning platform is the one your team actually uses . “I’ve worked with brilliant schools and businesses using free to

By Billy Smith Introduction: CPD Is Not a PowerPoint and a Quiz Professional development too often feels like a one-off event—a day of slides, a few handouts, and a feedback form at the end. But that’s not development. That’s delivery . CPD (Continuing Professional Development) should be ongoing, personalised, and actionable . And with the right learning technology, it can be. “When we stop thinking of CPD as a box to tick and start treating it as a journey to support, learni

By Billy Smith Introduction: It’s Not Just Gmail and Docs For many schools, colleges, and businesses, Google Workspace is seen as a default platform—a handy set of tools to send emails, write documents, and maybe share a Drive folder or two. But used strategically, Google Workspace is so much more. It’s a powerful ecosystem that can streamline collaboration , automate admin , and build a culture of digital confidence —without the cost or complexity of other systems. In this b

By Billy Smith Introduction: Calendar Chaos Is Optional We’ve all felt it: endless meetings, overlapping appointments, reminders that ding too late (or too often), and that creeping feeling that your day is managing you—not the other way around. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Google Calendar, when used intentionally, becomes a powerful tool for clarity, control, and collaboration. Whether you're leading a busy college department, managing a project team, or balancing hyb