Craig Goodwin departs Capita IT and Networks to join RTIH Awards winner Vista Technology Support
Vista Technology Support has appointed Craig Goodwin as Director of PMO.
He joins from Capita IT and Networks where he served as Director of Network Services.
Vista is a UK market leader in delivering IT technology deployment and support services in the retail, hospitality, healthcare and entertainment sectors.
With over 25 years of specialist expertise and experience, Vista provides technology support services to large organisations operating within many sectors including retail, hospitality, pharmacy, cinema and entertainment.
From its origins as a cash register repair business back in 1995, it has evolved to offer a suite of retail IT managed services including: service desk, helpdesk, and on-site hardware maintenance.
Its Projects Services division also manages a range of project activities on behalf of its customers including new store openings, refits and estate wide technology deployments. Vista installs and supports all technology that sits within the four walls of a physical store or restaurant including the infrastructure cabling.
McDonald’s
Earlier this year, Vista Technology Support unveiled a new training facility, the McTraining Centre, a fully operational replica of a McDonald’s restaurant - minus the food and customers - designed to elevate the standard of engineering training across the business.
Located at Vista’s Head Engineering Centre of Excellence in Cardiff, this mirrors the technology and layout of a real McDonald’s restaurant. The facility enables engineers to train in a realistic, hands on setting, ensuring they are fully prepared to support the complex technology ecosystem found in modern quick service restaurants.
It was conceived by James Pepper, CEO at Vista. After a meeting with McDonald’s colleagues and franchisees, the idea emerged to create a holistic restaurant environment for training. The feedback highlighted that, while the training was comprehensive, the technology was scattered across desks and shelves. This inspired the creation of a complete restaurant environment where engineers could interact with technology as it would be installed in an actual McDonald’s restaurant.
“We wanted to create a space that reflects the quality of training we deliver and the high standards our customers expect,” says Pepper. “The McTraining Centre brings that vision to life - offering our engineers the opportunity to work with the exact systems they’ll encounter in the field.”
Vista engineers undergo training across a broad spectrum of retail and hospitality technologies, all within the company’s dedicated training facilities. This approach combines classroom-based instruction with immersive, hands on experience in realistic store and restaurant environments. From supermarkets and convenience stores to coffee shops, betting shops, and QSRs, engineers are trained to work confidently with the technologies deployed across these diverse settings.
The facility features a full suite of McDonald’s technologies, including: Drive-thru systems; PoS terminals and self-service kiosks; Communication headsets and wearable tech; Digital menu boards and kitchen display systems; Servers, switches, sensors, and surveillance equipment
Vista’s "one engineering service partner" model was selected by McDonalds to work in partnership with NCRV. Vista has transitioned all technology services requiring on-site engineering support at McDonald’s restaurants throughout the UK and Ireland from several service providers to itself as a single provider.
Its team of over 150 engineers provides on-site technology support to more than 1,550 McDonald’s restaurants across the UK and Ireland. Operating 24/7, 365 days a year, they maintain and support a network of over 180,000 technology devices, along with the associated cabling infrastructure. From structured data cabling and IMaC (Install, Move, Add, Change) services to IT health checks and break-fix support, Vista engineers are equipped to handle every aspect of in-restaurant IT.
The company is also responsible for assessing, repairing, and refurbishing all technology found defective or needing refurbishment. Transitioning to a single provider model has resulted in 95% of all defective technology being repaired, reused, or repurposed, and the remaining 5% recycled. Furthermore, consolidating engineering services has increased the available spare parts pool by as much as 30%.
2025 RTIH INNOVATION AWARDS
Training solutions were a key focus area at the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards.
We received a record number of entries and many fantastic examples of the continued resilience and dynamism of the retail space during hugely challenging times.
For a full rundown of all of the shortlisted entries, click here.
Our 2025 hall of fame entrants were revealed during a sold out event which took place at The HAC in Central London on 16th October and consisted of a drinks reception, three course meal, and awards ceremony presided over by award winning comedian, actress and writer Tiff Stevenson.
In his welcome speech, Scott Thompson, Founder and Editor, RTIH, said: “This is the awards’ fifth year as a physical event. We started off with just 30 people at the South Place Hotel not far from here, then moved to London Bridge Hotel, then The Barbican, and last year RIBA’s HQ in the West End.”
“But I’m conscious of the fact that, to quote the legend that is Taylor Swift, You’re only as hot as your last hit, baby. So, this year we’ve moved to our biggest venue yet, and also pulled in our largest number of entries to date and broken attendance records.”
He added: “This year’s submissions have without doubt been our best yet. To quote one of the judges: The examples of innovative developments across both traditional and digital retail spaces were truly remarkable.”
Congratulations to our winners, and a big thank you to our sponsors, judging panel, the legend that is Tiff Stevenson, and all those who attended our 2025 gathering.
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