John spent 3 years as a Quality Engineer in the electronics industry before becoming a maths teacher, more years ago than are polite to print. He became a Staff Tutor in Microcomputer Development, then Consultant for Special Projects in Glasgow Education Department, before taking up post as Adviser in Educational Computing with Strathclyde Regional Council, followed by South Lanarkshire Council. This was a period of evangelism and growth in Educational ICT which John, with other Scottish enthusiasts, helped to bring to prominence in schools.
He left the schools education sector to start EdICT Training Ltd in 1999, where he is joint owner and Managing Director. John is still passionate about the enormous impact ICT has had on education and society over the last 30 years, and is continuing to make in the 21st century.
When not managing the business, John enjoys music and a busy social life with family and friends.
About EdICT
Staff Profile
John Izat – Managing Director
Liz Izat – Director/Company Secretary
After a long, happy and successful career as a primary teacher, Liz trained as a relationship counsellor, then moved to the voluntary sector as a counsellor, counselling supervisor and manager.
In 2007, Liz joined the EdICT board to implement new quality management and HR systems to meet international regulatory requirements, successfully gaining ISO9001:2008 in 2009.
Liz is a 50% shareholder in the business and is committed to ensuring the highest quality of service and support for customers and staff.
Liz enjoys writing poetry, going to the theatre and has a very active social life with family and friends.
Tricia McKeating – Contracts Manager
After studying Physics and Electronics at Glasgow Caledonian University, Tricia graduated from St Andrews College of Education in 1984. Clutching her Dip Ed. she spent a few years teaching Physics in and around the Glasgow area. After a period of time working for IBM Education she joined Glasgow University as a Faculty IT Manager and in 1998 was awarded a Masters Degree in IT with distinction which she studied on a part-time basis while working at Glasgow.
She joined EdICT in 2001 to manage the New Opportunities Funded training programme before moving into a Contracts Manager role in 2005 where she is responsible for overseeing all training contracts within the Company. As most of our contracts run under Prince 2 methodologies, she became a Prince 2 practitioner in 2007.
On a personal front Tricia likes to spend time with family and friends (in particular her daughter who takes up quite a bit of her time and her disposable income!). She would like to say at this point that she keeps fit with running and swimming but closer to the truth is her main exercise is using the scroll wheel on her very busy mouse.
Stewart Elder – Sales Manager
Stewart enjoyed a successful career in industrial equipment rental spending 10 years as UK operations manager with Aggreko where he helped build sales and profitability to record levels.
An attractive opportunity arose to start an IT Supplies business in 1996, which he developed successfully and sold in 2007.
Stewart joined EdICT as Sales Manager in November 2007 to promote EdICT throughout the UK and abroad.
He is an enthusiastic, if incompetent golfer and skier, and enjoys walking, cycling and travelling. He is married to Caroline and has two daughters who are both married and living in Edinburgh.
Martin O'Callaghan – Training Adviser
He was educated in Glasgow and qualified as a primary teacher in 1978. He served as a teacher in both Port Glasgow and in the City of Glasgow itself. His teaching career spanned some 23 years and he fulfilled a number of posts during this time including that of a senior manager.
Throughout his teaching career he has always been interested in the adoption of new technologies to support the curriculum. He was asked to fulfil the role of ICT Support Tutor to support his colleagues throughout the city. It was in part due to this experience, that he was approached by EdICT Training Ltd in 2000 to assist in the deployment of Europe’s largest educational managed service in Glasgow.
He formally joined the EdICT team in September 2002 and is currently responsible for EdICT’s Pre 12 training contract which, in partnership with the Dell Corporation, provides a comprehensive ICT training support programme for all staff in primary and nursery establishments within Glasgow. He also spends some of his time developing new material to support staff in the use of ever changing technology.
On a more personal note, he is married with two children and is an avid , if not necessarily always successful , golfing fanatic who is more than happy to accept all invitations to play.
Miriam Duffin – Training Adviser
Having worked with teenagers in a List D environment for several years, Miriam went on to St Andrew's College of Education, where she graduated with a Second Class Honours Degree (2:1) and also won the IT Award for that year.
She went on to work as a primary teacher in London and Glasgow before being seconded to work for EdICT for 3 months as a Training Adviser on the New Opportunities Fund - NOF - programme. After that, EdICT ‘made her an offer she couldn't refuse’ and is still working with the team more than 10 years later!
Her role as Training Adviser has developed over the years. She is one of a small number of people in Scotland to be a recognised SMART Certified Master Trainer, is responsible for the running of EdICT's ICT Mentor program, which has mentors in Glasgow and Derbyshire. She works alongside Glasgow's Probationer Teacher Support Officer to help develop the NQT Curriculum for Excellence project and also has the added responsibility of looking after and maintaining EdICT’s Distance Learning opportunities.
Although Miriam's job involves travel, from Derbyshire to more recently, Dubai, she is a family person at heart. Along with her husband to look after, she has two twenty-something daughters who control their mothers’ fitness regime of… washing, ironing, cooking, cleaning, taxi service etc!
She is also the proud owner of a set of golf clubs – brand new, never been used – any offers??
Kevin Rickis – Web Developer
Graduated from Napier with a Degree in Computer Science and worked for seven years at George Watson's College in technical support before joining EdICT in 2001. In his student years he also worked with the Lothian Region Advisory Service IT section during the introduction of computers to the schools and with Dumfries and Galloway Regional Council's ICT Department.
Since joining EdICT he has been responsible for development of EdICT's major web based systems.
In his personal life he likes to read and write . He is currently studying with the Open University with the aim of gaining a BA (Honours) Literature. On the activity front he runs several 10 kilometre races each year and last year succeed in his long held aim by breaking the hour mark, this year he hopes to break 55 minutes.
Origins...
EdICT was set up by a team of educational ICT consultants in 1999 to advise on the ICT requirements of Glasgow's Secondary Schools Project 2002. In 2001, we won contracts for the New Opportunities Funded teacher training programme; and ICT consultancy and training for the Glasgow primary 12 estate. In 2003, we expanded into educational ICT equipment supply and its installation in schools, colleges and universities. EdICT now also provides a complete electrical, data and multimedia installation service to commercial clients.
Educational ICT Consultancy...
EdICT offers advice and consultancy to education bodies and companies contracting with education, and ICT consultancy in support of national education policy and frameworks.
Training and CPD...
EdICT is contracted to train and support Glasgow’s teachers and other education support staff in the use of ICT for learning and teaching, personal productivity, and effective management using ICT until 2012. EdICT works closely with many council education management teams, school staffs, and other partners and providers to support Continuing Professional Development (CPD) of staff, school and EA plans.
Educational ICT Technical Solutions...
EdICT supplies educational computer and multimedia solutions to schools and education authorities including the supply and installation of multimedia and other ICT equipment.
Call us on 0141 582 0551 or email us
Achievement System
Testimonials
Cardinal Newman High School was keen to recognise and celebrate the 'hidden' curriculum for all our students. Employers and FE/ HE establishments can see from SQA certification how well individuals perform in respect of academia however, what these certificates do not show is all of the other...
The step by step instructions were easy to follow.
Really enjoyed completing this opportunity. Instructions were easy to follow.
I discussed my skills profile with a member of staff, after carrying out assessments of my skills in subject classes and out of class activities. It was very accurate and gave a good picture of what I am good at. I am now confident about talking to other people about the skills that I’ve got,...
We have worked with EdICT to produce a database that provides accurate and vital information on young people which records and reports every skill they develop in school. We can see what activity the young person did to develop a specific skill and see clearly where that young person’s strengths...
Very impressed. I had a working knowledge of Excel but still learnt a few shortcuts.
One of the great strengths of this organisation is the closeness of the working team. They understand perfectly how their own particular work fits with that of the others to create a successful whole. They are proud of what they are achieving and see their service as providing a...
Do You Have...?
...a projector needing mounted on the ceiling, or a plasma screen to be installed in a hall?
If so, EdICT can arrange the installation for you!
Please call Colin on 0141 582 0551 or email: enquiries@edict.co.uk
For more information please visit our multimedia page.