Celebrating Virtual College's 30th Birthday

This year, Virtual College turns 30 – and what a journey it’s been. From our very first steps into the world of digital learning way back in 1995, to the industry-leading solutions we deliver today, our story is one of growth and innovation, fuelled by a passion to make learning more accessible and effective for all.

Let’s take a stroll down memory lane and celebrate the story of Virtual College so far…

1995: Where it all started

The world of technology was a very different place when we launched in 1995. In the era of CD-ROMs and dial-up internet, traditional, classroom-based training was the norm – but we saw an opportunity to do things differently.

Our goal was simple, albeit ambitious: to make learning more accessible, more trackable, and more effective through digital technology.

2000: Making a name for ourselves

By the year 2000, we had carved out a strong reputation in compliance training. Safeguarding and Health & Safety became cornerstones of our offering, designed to help organisations keep their people safe and feel more confident in their roles.

Our early partners, including the NHS and Bradford College, saw the value of our scalable, cost-effective training long before digital learning became the norm, and their support helped us prove what was possible.

Expanding our horizons

As the workplace evolved, so did we. Compliance remained at our core, but our digital training began to serve broader business goals, helping develop leaders, retain talent, and bridge critical skills gaps.

We expanded our course catalogue, worked with subject matter experts, and designed solutions that helped organisations use learning as a catalyst for growth.

2014: Introducing bespoke learning solutions

2014 marked another huge turning point for us. We launched bespoke learning solutions, co-creating programmes tailored to the unique challenges and ambitions of our clients. From global brands like Adidas to charities like Mind, we focused on designing training experiences that weren’t just effective, but transformative.

Listening first and designing second became our mantra – a human-centred philosophy that still defines how we work today.

2025: The UK’s trusted compliance leader

Fast forward to 2025, and we’re proud to be the UK’s trusted leader in compliance training. Our courses are used across every sector, providing high-quality, engaging, and accessible digital learning that helps organisations grow and thrive.

As part of the Netex Group, we’re combining our compliance expertise with cutting-edge technology to support workforce transformation on a global scale. Today, training isn’t about ticking boxes – it’s about unlocking potential. Whether it’s onboarding, upskilling, communication, or regulatory excellence, our goal is to provide learning that drives real impact.

What’s next?

The next chapter of learning promises to be even smarter. We’re investing in personalisation, gamification, and adaptive content to ensure every learner has a relevant, engaging, and empowering experience, wherever and however they work.

We’ll be continuing to update our course catalogue regularly to guarantee we’re providing you with the most accurate and up-to-date training out there.

Thank you

As we celebrate 30 years, we want to say a huge thank you to all of our customers, learners, and employees. Your ambitions, your feedback, and your belief in what learning can achieve have shaped everything we’ve become.

Here’s to 30 years of progress – and to shaping the future of learning, together.