It's fair to say that nobody enjoys switching IT provider.
It usually happens because something isn’t working. Tickets take too long. Nobody explains what’s going on. The account manager changed again. Or you’ve grown and your current setup simply can’t keep up.
So when you start looking around, you want a shortlist you can trust. If you’re based in Berkshire, Oxfordshire or the wider Thames Valley, two names you’re likely to come across are:
Air IT: a national IT support and technology group with offices across the UK, including Abingdon near Oxford
1-Fix: a founder-led IT and Technology partner based in Bracknell, supporting growing businesses since 2002
A quick disclaimer before we start: this article is written by the team at 1-Fix. We obviously think we’re pretty good at what we do, but we’ve worked hard to keep this comparison fair and genuinely useful. Use it to make the right decision for your business, even if that isn’t us.
Two approaches, two outcomes
The biggest difference between the two is scale.
Air IT is one of the larger IT support groups in the UK. It’s backed by private equity firm August Equity and has grown quickly, partly by acquiring other IT companies around the country. Industry press has reported that it supports close to 3,000 customers with a team of more than 500 people. In late 2025 it brought all of its acquired businesses together under a single Air IT brand.
1-Fix is a much smaller, independent business. Craig Atkins founded it in 2002 and still runs it today. The team works with established businesses of roughly 50 to 250 users, mainly in Berkshire and the Thames Valley, with a second branch, 1-Fix East, covering Norfolk and the East of England.
Both want the same thing for you: technology that works, keeps you secure and helps your business move forward. They just get there in different ways.
What it’s like working with Air IT
If you want the reach and resources of a large national group, Air IT is worth a serious look.
Their offer covers a wide range under one roof:
• Fully managed and co-managed IT support
• 24/7 support, including a “follow-the-sun” service desk for businesses working outside normal hours
• Onsite support and scheduled visits
• In-house cyber security expertise
• Cloud, data and AI services
• A significant investment in automation, which they say runs millions of automated actions every month
• Dedicated Mac support
• A client portal, the AIR Hub, for raising and tracking requests
You also get dedicated account management with regular strategic business reviews.
Air IT has picked up industry recognition too, including a top-two ranking in Cloudtango’s MSP Select UK list for 2025 and a UK IT Industry Awards win in 2024.
Air IT might suit you if you:
• Have multiple sites spread across the UK and want one provider with regional offices
• Need genuine 24/7 cover as standard
• Want a single supplier for a very broad set of services
• Are comfortable working with a larger organisation with set processes
• Value the scale and investment that comes with private equity backing
One thing to note: Air IT doesn’t publish its pricing, so you’ll need to ask for a quote to compare costs.
What it’s like working with 1-Fix
1-Fix is built for businesses that want an IT partner who knows them by name.
The focus is on established, growing businesses where someone (often an IT Manager, Operations Manager or Director) owns technology and needs a team they can rely on. Not a faceless helpdesk, but people who understand the business and help them make good decisions.
Here’s what’s included:
• Fixed-price IT support, priced per user per month
• A helpdesk you can reach through the 1-Fix Portal, phone or email
• Proactive monitoring and patch management
• Microsoft 365 management, from licences to joiners and leavers
• 24x7x365 managed detection and response on your devices
• Backup and recovery, with restores actually tested
• Co-managed support for businesses with their own internal IT team
• Cyber security, compliance, connectivity and business continuity
• AI adoption support, including Microsoft Copilot readiness and demos
Every client has a named account manager who reviews your technology, helps you plan and budget, and gets to know how your business works.
1-Fix holds Cyber Essentials Plus, is a Microsoft partner, and has been named one of Britain’s Top 50 MSPs for IT Services at the Reseller Choice Awards for seven consecutive years. It was also Network Group MSP of the Year 2024 and won Member Initiative of the Year in 2025.
On pricing, fixed-price IT support in the UK typically sits between £50 and £150 per user per month, depending on security depth, backup scope, support hours and onsite needs. 1-Fix will tell you where you’d fall after a short conversation, and costs scale with headcount rather than with the number of tickets you raise.
1-Fix might suit you if you:
• Have around 50 to 250 users and want to feel like a valued client, not a number
• Want a consistent team who understand your business and your history
• Prefer clear, jargon-free advice that your non-technical colleagues can follow too
• Are based in Berkshire, Oxfordshire, the Thames Valley or East Anglia
• Have an internal IT person who needs backup and expertise, not replacing
• Want a partner to help you plan, not just fix things when they break
The humans involved
Air IT
Air IT is led by CEO Barney Taylor, who joined in late 2024. He previously ran Focus Group, which grew through acquisitions to a reported $1bn valuation. Alongside him, CTO Lee Johnson and Chief Automation and AI Officer Pete Pendlebury lead the push into automation and AI.
If you like the idea of a provider run with an eye on scale, investment and growth, that leadership team reflects it.
1-Fix
1-Fix is still run by the person who started it. Craig Atkins set up the business in 2002 to help business owners use IT to grow. Sarah Atkins joined the following year as employee number two, and many of the businesses 1-Fix supports today have been with them since the early days.
The wider team is small enough that you’ll get to know them. Callum Hurst looks after client accounts, Dimeji Ojuri runs service delivery, and the people answering your calls are the same people who know your setup.
If you want to be able to pick up the phone to someone senior who knows your business, that’s what you get.
What clients say
Air IT
Air IT has a strong Trustpilot profile, with a score of 4.7 out of 5 from more than 200 reviews. Clients regularly mention quick fixes, patient and knowledgeable engineers, and good communication while issues are being resolved.
1-Fix
1-Fix holds a 4.9 out of 5 rating on Google from 55 reviews. Clients tend to talk about the people and the peace of mind.
Stephen Hurst at Rex Hurst & Sons put it simply: "IT is no longer something we worry about, so we can concentrate on running the business." Dawn Flint at BCL Timber Projects said every member of the team she’d dealt with had been delightful and very professional.
So, which one should you choose?
Here’s the quick version.
Choose Air IT if:
• You need national on-site coverage across many sites
• Round-the-clock 24/7 support is essential for how you operate
• You want the widest possible range of services from one large supplier
• You’re comfortable with a bigger organisation and its processes
Choose 1-Fix if:
• You’re a 50 to 250 user business in the Thames Valley, Berkshire or East Anglia
• You want a consistent, named team who know your business
• You value straightforward advice and a partner invested in your growth
• You want fixed, predictable per-user pricing
• You’d like support for your internal IT person rather than a replacement
There’s no universally “better” choice. There’s only the right fit for how you want to run your IT.
Frequently asked questions
Is Air IT a local company?
Air IT is a national group with offices across the UK. Its nearest office to Berkshire is in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, which covers Oxfordshire, Berkshire and the Thames Valley.
Is 1-Fix only for businesses in Berkshire?
No. 1-Fix is based in Bracknell and supports businesses across the Thames Valley, Berkshire and Oxfordshire, with 1-Fix East covering Norfolk and the East of England. Most support is delivered remotely, with onsite visits where needed.
How much does managed IT support cost?
Fixed-price IT support in the UK typically costs £50 to £150 per user per month. 1-Fix prices per user. Air IT doesn’t publish prices, so ask both providers for a written quote that sets out exactly what’s included.
Do both offer co-managed IT support?
Yes. Both work alongside internal IT teams. If you already have an IT Manager, ask each provider how they’d split responsibilities and keep your team in the loop.
What should I ask before switching IT provider?
Ask for response times in writing by priority level, who your named contact will be, what’s included versus billed separately, and how documentation and admin access are handed over if you leave.
See whether 1-Fix is the right fit
If you’re weighing up your options, the easiest first step is a free IT Health Check. We’ll look at your current setup, highlight any risks and give you clear recommendations, whoever you end up working with.
Book your free IT Health Check
Together, we make IT happen.