Stan Neal
Sector Principal - Education
It’s not just the diverse and interesting work that makes our partnerships in education so rewarding. It’s knowing we can play our own small part in supporting some of the world’s most influential organisations. Places that pioneer world-leading research, whilst helping generations of students to fulfil their potential.
We have ‘real life’ experience
With a specialist focus on universities, we’ve been supporting clients across the education sector for decades. And although no-one knows your organisation quite like you do, our working knowledge of the HE sector means we benefit from a real insight into the challenges you face… not to mention the technology solutions that can help you to overcome them.
But our understanding extends beyond the typical challenges, operating models and critical processes in the sector. We can appreciate the many competing priorities in universities too; and have a proven record of delivering successful projects, whilst working carefully and considerately with an array of different stakeholders and differing motivations.
Our skills and solutions are as broad and diverse as the challenges facing your institution. How else could we provide the holistic, fully integrated and accountable solution you need? Data strategists, engineers, cyber consultants, network specialists and software consultants all pool their collective expertise to deliver the best possible service and solutions.
What our clients say
And with the unique support of our business consultants, change managers, trainers and project managers, we can ensure even the most large and fragmented organisations embrace lasting behavioural and cultural change at every level of the organisation, ensuring the long-term impact of your technology investment.
We know you like to share challenges and pool knowledge amongst your peers. We do too. That’s why we host a range of seminars, webinars and coffee clubs – keeping in touch and keeping you informed of the latest trends and opportunities.
Leon
Leeds Beckett University
“Whenever we are most worried, wherever it's so complex we can't get to the bottom of it, wherever we need a partner we can trust, we use Waterstons”
Partners and accreditations
G-Cloud 13
Digital Outcomes and Specialists 6 - Lot 1
Cyber Security Services 3
London Universities Purchasing Consortium (LUPC)
Scottish Digital Technology and Cyber Services Dynamic Purchasing System
Future-focused digital strategy
“We've developed a clear, future-focused digital strategy that not only aligns with our institutional priorities, but enforces our commitment to delivering an outstanding experience for students and staff. Waterstons continuing expertise and support is invaluable to us as we continue to deliver our digital priorities.”
Minesh Tailor Chief Information Officer University of Bedfordshire
Read case studyHRUC's AI Strategy and Vision to 2030 – In partnership with Waterstons
“Partnering with Waterstons enabled us to translate ambition into a practical AI strategy that is already enhancing the student and staff experience at HRUC. Waterstons blend of sector expertise and technical rigour made them a true partner rather than a supplier”.
Alex Denley Chief Technology Officer, HRUC HRUC
Read case studyPredicting and preventing learner dropout with AI
Learning Curve Group (LCG) supports around 40,000 learners through its eAssessorPro platform, but too many were disengaging before tutors could step in. Waterstons built a machine learning solution that scores each learner's dropout risk at key points in their course and automatically triggers personalised WhatsApp outreach, cutting non-completion by around 4% and freeing tutors to focus on teaching.
Learning Curve Group
Read case studyCreating a platform for stellar performance
A Star Attendance helps schools monitor pupil attendance, but its original system relied on heavy manual input, limiting growth. Waterstons built an automated, Azure-based platform giving schools real-time data on any device, helping staff spot issues earlier. It's now used by 52 schools to monitor over 37,885 pupils daily.
A Star Attendance
Read case studyISO 27001:2022
“Our ISO 27001:2022 journey has been efficient, well-governed and highly effective resulting in Queen Mary University achieving certification which has added real, measurable value to the University. Waterstons' structured approach helped us embed consistent ways of working across ITS, and certification has given us greater assurance and confidence in the strength of our information security management.”
Rachel Bence Chief Information Officer Queen Mary University of London
Read case studyDegrees of development
The University of Central Lancashire is an international, multi-campus university that can trace its roots back to 1828. The institution leads the way in modern learning offering a range of Higher and Degree Apprenticeships, allowing learners to gain an academic qualification and a degree whilst they work, alongside undergraduate and postgraduate degree courses.
University of Central Lancashire
Read case studyFAQs
Here are some of our most asked questions from the sector...
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How can college and university digital transformation programmes actually improve research and teaching?
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A successful digital transformation project aligns initiatives with institutional leadership and strategic priorities, building clear priorities and a roadmap for digital learning, investing in robust infrastructure while simplifying IT estates, and focusing on the student experience. Empowering staff with the right digital skills ensures they can confidently adopt and maximise the benefits of new technologies.
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How do we keep students and staff safe from AI threats and risks?
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To keep students and staff safe from AI-related risks, institutions need to establish strong foundations of data governance, ensuring their data is well-prepared for AI use while also maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements and ethical standards. Alongside this, it’s vital to educate and empower both staff and students so they understand how to use AI responsibly and can recognise potential risks, helping to create a culture of awareness and resilience.
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What practical steps can colleges and universities take to protect themselves from cyber risks?
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Practical protection from growing cyber threats to the education sector requires a mix of strong technical controls and human awareness. Institutions should invest in educating staff and students to become part of the 'human firewall', while also implementing robust monitoring and 24/7 SOC support to detect and respond to incidents. Achieving recognised accreditations such as ISO and Cyber Essentials further strengthens security, providing assurance that best practices are in place.
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How can colleges and universities use technology to save costs?
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By rationalising applications and carefully selecting the right systems, institutions can eliminate redundancies and ensure their IT environment supports value for learners. Automation can reduce wasted time by streamlining or removing repetitive tasks. Co-delivering IT support with trusted partners allows internal teams to concentrate on high-value activities that directly impact the student experience.
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How do we identify the right AI use cases and automations to deliver value?
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Identifying the right AI use cases means moving beyond hype to focus on real-world applications that deliver measurable value. Institutions can achieve this by developing AI strategies that tie directly to their core goals, piloting initiatives that are high-impact but low-risk, and running workshops to build confidence and capability across all levels of maturity. This ensures AI adoption remains purposeful, practical, and aligned with long-term institutional priorities.
Our services
Ready to reimagine your business?
We’re with you.
Stan Neal
Sector Principal - Education