Verbilly is a purpose-built platform for every stage of Initial Teacher Training. Delivering effective feedback in line with teacher standards is crucial for trainee teachers to achieve the desired requirements. Verbilly for ITT allows providers to easily manage their trainees and mentors, focusing on effective communication, verbal and written feedback and metric statistics. We caught up with Katie Bradley, Customer Success and Community Lead at Verbilly, to discuss their partnership with NASBTT and ITT providers.
How did Verbilly, and its distinctive multilingual recording assistant, come to market?
“Verbilly is a product developed by Prodeo, a company that builds a range of software solutions for schools, everything from data systems to wellbeing tools. Originally, Verbilly was designed for school leaders: a voice-powered tool that captures spoken input and automatically populates documents, saving a significant amount of time. At the time, I was working closely with a company on professional development tools. Through that work, I was in regular contact with school leaders involved in teacher training, particularly mentors and SCITT leaders, as there is often an overlap of roles. A consistent theme in those conversations was workload. Because Prodeo’s products are rooted in reducing workload – and many of the team are former teachers – it was clear there was a real opportunity to support ITT.”
Where did your discussions on ITT take you initially?
“I had strong relationships through previous work with several SCITT directors, so I reached out informally to Pippa Procter at Durham SCITT to float the idea of a voice-powered tool tailored to their challenges. She was incredibly supportive and open to it. That encouragement gave us the confidence to move forward. From there, I worked with our developers to adapt the original Verbilly concept specifically for ITT. While the core voice-capture functionality remained, we introduced features to track trainee progress, support mentor interactions and provide a cohort-level overview for providers. We then worked with a small group of pathfinders, and the platform grew from there.”
At what stage did your relationship with NASBTT begin?
“We first heard about NASBTT through Pippa once the platform was up and running. She suggested we get in touch, so I reached out to Emma Hollis. That led to a meeting with James Coleman, and it quickly became clear that our priorities were closely aligned. It was not really a traditional sales conversation – it was much more about impact and how we could genuinely support teachers and trainees. We are a consultative organisation, focused on solving real problems, and I know that really resonated with Emma and James. From there, the relationship developed naturally. In terms of timescales, we began development on Verbilly ITT in late 2024 and connected with NASBTT in early 2025, so whilst it is still a relatively new relationship we have already seen real impact, which is fantastic.”
Over that period, what specific impact has the partnership had on your organisation?
“Reputation has undoubtedly been a major factor. Launching a new product is always challenging, and early growth often relies on existing contacts at first, but having a body like NASBTT behind you makes such a difference. Their support has significantly amplified our reach. Opportunities such as webinars, newsletter features and general advocacy have really helped. We have increasingly had SCITTs approach us directly, having heard about Verbilly through NASBTT. The stand-out moment for us was the NASBTT Annual Conference in 2025 and we were really privileged to be there. It was an invaluable opportunity we had not encountered before. Being able to speak directly with providers, understand their needs, and build relationships in person was incredibly powerful. We also connected with other organisations in the space and welcomed new SCITTs onboard following the event.”
How is Verbilly being used now (May 2026) and is it applicable beyond school-based ITT?
“We are currently supporting hundreds of trainees, and that number is growing steadily. While our initial focus has been school-based ITT, and NASBTT members get an exclusive 10% discount, the platform is equally applicable to university-based programmes. We have started conversations in that space, although naturally those processes take a little longer in HEIs. One of our strengths is flexibility – we can adapt the platform quickly to meet different needs. What has been most rewarding is the feedback. We have had 100% positive feedback from providers, mentors, tutors and trainees alike. Importantly, we focus on all users, not just those making purchasing decisions. A recurring and consistent theme is the improvement in mentor-trainee conversations. By removing the need to take notes or complete forms during discussions, users can focus fully on the interaction itself. Verbilly captures the conversation and automatically populates structured documentation in the background.”
In what ways are you looking to develop within ITT?
“Our focus is on reducing workload and supporting teacher retention. Early experiences in training are critical. If trainees feel supported and not overwhelmed by administrative tasks, they are far more likely to remain in the profession. That positive experience has a long-term ripple effect as those individuals become mentors and leaders themselves. Partner feedback consistently highlights time savings and improved quality of conversations. One area we are continuing to develop is how we communicate our ITAP functionality. We provide a way to house and organise ITAPs within the platform, ensuring everything is accessible in one place. We are not replacing provider content – simply making it easier to manage.”
As a point of detail, is AI a key part of that functionality?
“Yes, AI underpins the autofill capability, but the important distinction is that Verbilly does not fabricate content. It structures and organises exactly what has been said during the conversation, helping reduce workload while keeping records accurate and authentic. We also use AI in other versions of Verbilly to improve clarity and formatting, always within a closed, secure environment with GDPR, safeguarding and ethical use at the centre of our approach.”
What do you value most about working with NASBTT?
“From the outset, it did not feel like a traditional business relationship. It felt like a shared vision, which was really refreshing. There is a real openness – I would not hesitate to reach out with a question. NASBTT’s expertise is invaluable, particularly in understanding the needs of ITT providers. It is not a rigid or overly formal relationship. Instead, it is collaborative and supportive, with a clear alignment around making a positive impact for teachers and trainees. The people at NASBTT are amazing. Everyone I have met is approachable, personable and clearly committed to the same goals. It feels like a genuinely consultative partnership built on shared purpose.”
Finally, what’s next?
“We are focused on both embedding what we have built and continuing to innovate. One area of development is assessment functionality, following on from what we have already done with ITAPs. We are fortunate to be able to move quickly once ideas are validated, so there is more to come. The combination of voice capture, AI-driven autofill and structured reporting is quite distinctive. There are organisations working in related areas, but our approach is unique – particularly in how we bring those elements together. We are committed to building something genuinely useful for the sector. We understand that change can be challenging, particularly in education. That is why we take a highly supportive, customer-focused approach. We work closely with our partners throughout their journey, building strong relationships and offering ongoing support. Ultimately, it is about helping more people understand what is possible – and making a meaningful difference to the experience of teacher training.”