Stoke-on-Trent based V-Prep IT Ltd creates airline training videos for the most popular narrow body aircraft in operation.

With a vision to make training a more immersive, inclusive experience and responding to the demand for thousands more pilots over the next decade, the company has partnered with Staffordshire University on innovative VR software to cut down on costly resources such as simulator time – allowing pilots the ability to train away from the conventional classroom setting.

Longton-based V-Prep IT Ltd has been making training videos for the Boeing 737NG and the Airbus A320 since it was established by Training Captain James Feeney in 2016.

The team of eight staff includes animators, videographers, editors and sound technicians to enable all content to be produced in house.

Their aim is to replicate the VR training platform for different aircraft and to adapt to the needs of different airlines.

V-Prep IT Ltd’s business development manager, Nicky Reeves, said: “It would give us the ultimate pride to receive the award for Small Business of the Year. The previous three years have been extremely disruptive for businesses, the aviation industry being one of the hardest hit.

“Through this time, although having a dramatic effect on the production outcome and the overall volume of sales, we have been able to survive and also able to provide pilots internationally with the ability to keep up to speed and refreshed with their training – minimising skill fade through our online platforms.

“We have been also able to retain staff throughout a global pandemic whilst maintaining our enthusiasm to provide and develop quality visual training packages for pilots worldwide, even gaining the custom of some actual airline training centres.”

V-Prep IT Ltd has entered the Small Business of the Year category of the Staffordshire University Business Awards.