A social network specifically designed for learning and teaching looks set to be integrated into the Office suite after being approached by US computer giant, Microsoft.

The network was made possible thanks to initial support from Newport-based Alacrity Foundation.

Robert Dragan, Arun Wilson and Dale Bradley created Learnium Limited in 2012 after approaching the Alacrity Foundation for start-up funding.

They received an investment totalling £250,000 from the Foundation backers which enabled them to develop their education-specific social network, designed to improve the student experience and enable effective online collaboration. The social platform allows student and teachers to link up online, collaborate on projects and documents and share digital resources.

The platform is available to all UK universities and colleges and doubled its user base during the first six months of 2016. Microsoft invited Learnium, along with a select group of high flying companies, to integrate their product into their Office Online and Office mobile apps. The link up will allow all users to create, edit and save Office Suite documents to their Learnium user account from anywhere, anytime on multiple devices.

The Alactrity Foundation, founded in 2011, was established to provide entrepreneurship education to the brightest graduates throughout the world to create a new generation of British Hi-Tech companies. The Foundation, backed by Sir Terry Matthews, The Wesley Clover Corporation, The Welsh Government and the two founders of Admiral, David Stevens and Andrew Probert, has now helped the development of several technology companies including Learnium.

Supporting both the Alacrity Foundation and Learnium is Kilsby & Williams in its capacity as accountants and tax advisors. The Newport-based accountancy firm has assisted Learnium with research and development tax relief claims, which resulted in significant cash tax credits, allowing the company to invest in further product development.