Who we are

Oxford Computer Training is the specialist identity training company of Oxford Computer Group, a global family of companies.

Oxford Computer Training team
Jane, Andi, Susanna, Paul, Kathryn, Mark, Julie, Steve, James, Hugh, Moth

We offer industry-leading courses on Identity and Security technologies from the Microsoft identity stack including MIM and Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD).

With a track record dating back to 2002, we’ve equipped over 10,000 IT professionals on six continents with the skills they need to succeed.. We pride ourselves on the high quality of our courses and instructors, and the consistently excellent feedback we get from students.

We are based in Oxford, UK, and have a global reach. Wherever you are in the world we can train your IT professionals.

  • Join our live, instructor-led training from anywhere via Teams. Typically, it takes place in Central European time and US Eastern time.
  • Prefer to study online in your own time? Our MIM Foundation and MIM Advanced courses are available as self-paced courses.
  • Our courses and trainers can be exclusively yours! We will run a live, instructor-led private course (via Teams) for your IT team in any time zone.

History

Oxford Computer Group began as a training company in 1983 in Oxford, England. It soon grew to teaching IT professionals a whole range of technologies. And we’ve been doing it ever since.

Since 2002 we have focused predominantly on Microsoft identity and access products.

DCIM100GOPROGOPR0291.Hugh Simpson-Wells, founder and chief executive of OCG, pictured right, says:

“Personal computers were virtually unknown in those days. Businesses were only just waking up to the potential and power of IT within their organizations. To us it was very clear that IT would change entirely how business works and how we communicate with one another.

“We began by teaching some basic coding to kids. Now we teach some of the most complex technologies, giving people the power to link disparate systems across global enterprises and do business better and smarter, and communicate more effectively.”

Reputation

If you’re looking for the world’s finest training in Microsoft identity and access technologies, then you’ve just found it.

Oxford Computer Training’s reputation is based on exceptionally positive feedback from our customers, who include Microsoft themselves and our competitors. We were commissioned by Microsoft to write the Forefront Identity Manager (FIM) training courses and have since written the definitive MIM courses.

Part of a winning team

Oxford Computer Training is part of Oxford Computer Group, winners of the Microsoft Partner of the Year in 1991, 1993, 2000, 2008, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2018, and finalists in 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2023 and 2024

Excellent customer reviews

Our people

Hugh Simpson-Wells - Founder, Consultant and Trainer

Hugh Simpson-Wells - Founder, Consultant and Trainer

Hugh, who founded Oxford Computer Group in Oxford, England, in 1983, has lived and breathed IT for almost 40 years in technical, management, and board-level roles. In 2002 Hugh decided to focus Oxford Computer Group’s activities entirely on identity and access management. Currently, he is passionate about SoftwareIDM’s Identity Panel Suite, MIM, Microsoft Entra ID, and Microsoft Entra Connect.

He can communicate as effectively in the classroom and conference hall as he can in the boardroom or one-to-one. Hugh has been described as “a guy that everyone just wants to be around.” The loyalty of his staff and colleagues over four decades bears this out.

Connect with Hugh on LinkedIn

Andi Sheeka - Managing Director, Trainer

Andi Sheeka - Managing Director, Trainer

Andi is Managing Director and Technical Architect at Oxford Computer Group UK, where she oversees the organization’s technical infrastructure and helps shape its technology strategy. With many years’ experience as a consultant, trainer and course author, she has deep expertise in enterprise architecture, identity management, Microsoft Entra ID, Active Directory, MIM/FIM, cloud technologies, and SoftwareIDM’s Identity Panel Suite.

Known for her ability to translate complex technologies into practical, secure solutions, Andi plays a key role in delivering innovative identity and access management services to organizations worldwide.

Andi has never been one to sit still. Outside of work, she’s a keen skier and is always seeking out her next challenge. Recently, that meant taking on the ambitious task of managing the construction of her own home from the ground up – an experience she found both challenging and hugely rewarding.

James Cowling - Director, Trainer

James Cowling - Director, Trainer

James has more than 30 years of experience in IT consulting and management. He has a deep knowledge of the Microsoft identity management and access stack as it has evolved and a passion for all new technology. A co-founder of Oxford Computer Group, James co-wrote the training courses for MIIS, ILM and FIM. He is an authority in strategic planning architecture, MIM, Microsoft Entra ID, and Microsoft Entra Connect and has been involved in many complex implementations of these products, some involving more than 150,000 users.

He lives in Germany with his wife, three sons, and an office full of hardware that he can’t bring himself to part with.

 

Steve Mitchell - Technical Consultant

Steve Mitchell - Technical Consultant

Steve has worked in IT since his early teens in the 1970s when he helped University of Oxford professors develop biology tracking applications. For the last 45 years he has worked with a wide range of technology; developing encryption and network devices, getting patents for clients, and more recently developing most of the tools used by Oxford Computer Group, and providing identity consulting.  He is a guru in architecture facilitating heterogeneous environments and all things programming.

Steve is one of the founders of Oxford Computer Group.

Mark Forbes - Business Development Manager

Mark Forbes - Business Development Manager

With more than 13 years of experience in identity and access management, Mark helps organisations design, support and modernise their identity strategies. As a Business Development Manager at Oxford Computer Group UK and Oxford Computer Training, he works with organisations of all sizes—from global enterprises and government departments to businesses with complex identity requirements—helping them adopt modern Microsoft Entra ID solutions while protecting existing investments in Microsoft Identity Manager (MIM) and other on-premises technologies. Mark also works closely with customers to develop the right skills through industry-leading identity and security training, supporting thousands of IT professionals worldwide.

Connect with Mark on LinkedIn

Moth Clark - Course and Communications Administrator

Moth Clark - Course and Communications Administrator

Moth is the Course and Communications Administrator at Oxford Computer Training and Oxford Computer Group UK, supporting training delivery, customer communications, and day-to-day operations. With extensive experience in marketing communications, editorial, customer service, and administration, he combines exceptional organizational skills with a passion for clear, effective communication.
His expertise spans copywriting, brand guardianship, website content, information architecture, and customer engagement, ensuring every interaction and piece of content is accurate, accessible, and professional. Moth is known for his meticulous attention to detail, collaborative approach, and commitment to delivering an outstanding customer experience.

In his spare time Moth is a keen wildlife-watcher and photographer. He also loves listening to music and watching motor racing.

His exceptional photos can be seen on Twitter.  His name, by the way, is short for Timothy.

Kathryn Bailey - Finance Manager

Kathryn Bailey - Finance Manager

Kathryn is an AAT-qualified finance and operations professional with extensive experience across manufacturing, engineering, transport, IT and technology businesses. She first joined Oxford Computer Group in 2004 and returned full-time in 2024 after several years of part-time support for Oxford Computer Training. Kathryn manages finance operations, including audit, payroll and pension administration, as well as project scheduling, contract administration and business support, playing a key role in keeping the organization running smoothly. Outside work, she enjoys tending her allotment, reading, and spending time with her two rescue dogs.

Louise Ashton- Marketing Manager

Louise Ashton- Marketing Manager

Louise is responsible for the marketing at Oxford Computer Group UK, bringing more than 30 years of B2B technology marketing experience across cybersecurity, IT services, telecommunications and cloud technologies. She specialises in developing marketing strategies that translate complex identity and security solutions into compelling customer value, helping organisations understand the business benefits of modern identity management.

With extensive experience in channel marketing, content strategy, demand generation and partner programs, Louise works closely with the technical team to showcase Oxford Computer Group’s expertise and support the company’s continued growth in the identity and access management market.

Wherever you are in the world we can help you get the specialist Microsoft identity training you need.
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Oxford Computer Training and Oxford Computer Group UK are the official trading names of Oxford Computer Group Worldwide Ltd. The company is registered in England and Wales (company number: 09504108). Registered office: 264 Banbury Road, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, 0X2 7DY