2679 Design courses delivered Live Online

This one-day workshop is designed to give you an awareness of the fundamentals of Microsoft Excel and, in particular, to give you the confidence needed to efficiently create, edit and manage spreadsheets. This course will help participants: * Create tables * Use functions * Manage rows and columns * Write formulas * Manage sheets * Use content formats * Handle larger tables * Create reports and charts 1 CREATING A TABLE * Creating an Excel table from scratch * Wrapping text in cells * Speeding up data entry using AutoFill * Sorting columns 2 INSERTING FUNCTION * Inserting function calculators * Using AutoSum to sum numbers * Statistical calculations AVERAGE, MAX and MIN 3 TABLE ROWS AND COLUMNS * Inserting and deleting rows and columns * Adjusting multiple column widths and row heights * Hiding and unhiding rows and columns 4 FORMULA WRITING * The basics of formula writing * Understanding mathematical symbols * Using multiple mathematical symbols in a formula * When to use brackets * Troubleshooting calculation errors 5 MANAGING SHEETS * Inserting, renaming, moving and deleting sheets * Copying a worksheet to another file * Copying a table to another sheet 6 MANAGING CONTENT FORMATS * Applying data formats * Managing number formats * Controlling formats with the Format Painter 7 MANAGING LARGER TABLES * Applying freeze panes to lock tables when scrolling * Sorting on multiple columns * Using filters to extract table information 8 CREATING AND MODIFYING CHARTS * Creating a pie chart * Creating a column chart * Inserting chart titles and data labels * Controlling chart formatting * Changing chart types 9 PRINTING * Previewing and printing tables and charts * Modifying page orientation * Adjusting print margins * Printing a selection 10 CALCULATING WITH ABSOLUTE REFERENCE * The difference between a relative and absolute formula * Changing a relative formula to an absolute * Using $ signs to lock cells when copying formulas 11 PIVOT TABLES * Create a pivot table report * Insert a pivot chart into a report

Many managers question the value of appraisal programmes and many line managers believe appraisals are unduly time-consuming and bureaucratic. Yet the appraisal is a vital starting point when it comes to managing performance effectively and it is vital that managers appreciate this. Handled well, the benefits of formal appraisals are enormous. This thoroughly practical workshop has been designed to give line managers the knowledge, skills and confidence to deliver a well-structured appraisal - even in the most challenging circumstances. This course will help participants: * Appreciate the benefits of the appraisal process * Assess standards of performance objectively * Plan and prepare for appraisals effectively * Conduct a well-structured appraisal meeting * Acquire the essential skills required for effective appraisals * Improve their ability to discuss difficult issues more confidently * Identify training and development requirements * Agree clear and measurable development objectives * Complete essential paperwork * Understand the need to facilitate continual informal dialogue between appraisals 1 INTRODUCTION AND COURSE OBJECTIVES 2 THE APPRAISAL PROCESS * The aim of the appraisal process * Understanding the bigger picture - the appraisal process as part of the employee development process * The benefits of the appraisal process * Common pitfalls * Five steps to an effective performance appraisal 3 STEP 1 - ASSESSMENT * Using job standards as the basis for objective assessment * Assessment of previous objectives 4 STEP 2 - PREPARATION * Documentation required * Data on each appraisee * Planning the meeting 5 STEP 3 - THE MEETING * The skills of appraisal interviewing * The structure of the appraisal interview * Dealing with poor performance and difficult situations * Taking notes and completing documentation 6 STEP 4 - PLANNING AHEAD AND OBJECTIVE SETTING * Identifying action to improve performance and enhance skills * Establishing relevant training needs * Agreeing SMART performance objectives * Formulating a personal development plan 7 STEP 5 - ACTION AFTER THE INTERVIEW * Essential paperwork * Follow-up and action required between appraisal interviews * Continuing informal dialogue 8 VIDEO CASE STUDY * Bullets 9 CONCLUSION * Course review / discussion * Preparation of action plans for building on the skills learnt * Close

This one-day workshop is designed to give participants an understanding of the fundamentals of Microsoft Word and its commands, with quick ways to enter text, control formatting and edit paragraphs. This course will help participants: * Create, manage and save documents, files and folders * Create paragraph lists, bulleted and numbered paragraphs * Edit, modify and format paragraphs * Create and format tables * Use shortcuts to navigate documents * Format the layout of documents * Manage page headers and footers * Insert and managing pictures and diagrams within a document * Learn time saving tips and tricks to obtain a professional finish to documents * Use printing options 1 CREATING DOCUMENTS * Getting help * Creating and saving documents * Accessing recently used documents * Managing files and folders 2 ENTERING AND EDITING TEXT * Inserting and editing paragraph text * Cutting, copying and pasting text * Using tool tips to manage content * Applying and removing text formatting * Correcting spelling and grammar 3 CREATING PARAGRAPH LISTS * Creating bulleted paragraphs * Creating numbered paragraphs * Managing bulleted and numbered lists 4 MODIFYING PARAGRAPHS * Changing paragraph alignment * Indenting a paragraph * Adding borders and shading to paragraphs * Formatting paragraphs using styles 5 NAVIGATING DOCUMENTS * Using shortcuts for navigating documents * Using 'Go To' to navigate documents * Finding and replacing text * Changing to read view 6 DOCUMENT LAYOUT * Inserting page breaks * Changing page orientation * Adjusting page margins * Adding borders to pages 7 PAGE HEADERS AND FOOTERS * Inserting page headers and footers * Using header and footer commands * Inserting page numbers * Using different first page 8 INSERTING PICTURES AND DIAGRAMS * Inserting pictures from your computer * Inserting online pictures * Flowing text around a picture * Changing a picture * Inserting SmartArt diagrams * Entering text into SmartArt 9 INSERTING TABLES * Using tabs to create tables * Resizing and repositioning tables * Inserting and deleting rows and columns * Using a table's commands * Changing a tables text direction * Formatting tables 10 PRINTING DOCUMENTS * Previewing and printing documents * Using the printing tools * Printing parts of a document

This one-day workshop is designed to help users work with advanced features within Word. It includes hands-on exercises to help make complex documents more manageable. Participants will learn how to share and collaborate on documents and track document changes. This course will help participants: * Add document links to files, websites, bookmarks and headings * Create and revise footnotes and endnotes * Use cross-referencing * Insert and mark a document index * Use comments within a document * Create and edit document templates * Set up picture and table captioning * Work with tracked changes, including viewing, accepting and rejecting changes * Use tables of contents * Transfer styles across files using styles organiser * Protect and restrict the opening and editing of documents * Work with document themes * Work with subdocuments * Use ribbon buttons and groups 1 ADDING DOCUMENT LINKS * Adding links to a document * Linking to files, websites and email * Adding and linking to bookmarks * Linking to document headings 2 CAPTIONING AND CROSS-REFERENCING * Inserting picture and table captions * Creating and updating a table of figures * Adding and revising endnotes and footnotes * Understanding cross-reference types * Creating a cross-reference * Marking and inserting a document index 3 COLLABORATING ON DOCUMENTS * Inserting and viewing documents * Navigating through comments * Replying to a comment * Printing comments 4 TRACKING CHANGES * Using tracking changes within a document * Choosing how to view document revisions * Accepting and rejecting changes 5 COMPARING DOCUMENTS * Comparing two documents * Combining changes into a single document * Accepting and rejecting changes 6 PROTECTING A DOCUMENT * Restricting opening or editing of documents * Defining regions for editing * Restricting document formatting 7 OUTLINE VIEW * Collapsing paragraphs with heading styles * Managing files with subdocuments * Editing and locking subdocuments * Sharing subdocuments 8 DOCUMENT THEMES * Standardise document formatting with themes * Using a theme to match corporate branding * Transferring themes across files 9 CREATING TEMPLATES * Creating and editing document templates * Adding font and heading styles to templates * Defining file locations for shared templates * Copying styles across templates and files 10 CUSTOMISING THE RIBBON * Customising ribbon buttons * Adding new ribbons * Adding buttons to ribbon groups

This course is designed for those already using Power BI Desktop and are ready to work with more comprehensive elements of analysing and reporting in Power BI. The course maintains a balanced look at data analysis including the Power Query Editor, with a deep dive into writing DAX formulas, and enhanced dashboard visualisations. The aim of this course is to provide a more complete understanding of the whole Power BI analytics process, by working with business examples that will equip you with the necessary skills to output comprehensive reports and explore Power BI's analytical capabilities in more depth. 1 THE QUERY EDITOR * Grouping rows in a table * Split row by delimiter * Add days to determine deadlines * The query editor 2 FUZZY MATCHING JOINS * Matching inconsistencies by percentage * Matching with transformation table 3 THE QUERY EDITOR M FUNCTIONS * Adding custom columns * Creating an IF function * Nested AND logics in an IF function 4 DAX NEW COLUMNS FUNCTIONS * Including TRUE with SWITCH * Using multiple conditions * The FIND DAX function * The IF DAX function * Logical functions IF, AND, OR 5 EDITING DAX MEASURES * Making DAX easier to read * Add comments to a measure * Using quick measures 6 THE ANATOMY OF CALCULATE * Understanding CALCULATE filters * Add context to CALCULATE with FILTER * Using CALCULATE with a threshold 7 THE ALL MEASURE * Anatomy of ALL * Create an ALL measure * Using ALL as a filter * Use ALL for percentages 8 DAX ITERATORS * Anatomy of iterators * A closer look at SUMX * Using RELATED with SUMX * Create a RANKX * RANKX with ALL 9 DATE AND TIME FUNCTIONS * Overview of functions * Create a DATEDIFF function 10 TIME INTELLIGENT MEASURES * Compare historical monthly data * Create a DATEADD measure * Creating cumulative totals * Creating cumulative measures * Visualising cumulative totals 11 VISUALISATIONS IN-DEPTH * Utilising report themes * Applying static filters * Group data using lists * Group numbers using bins * Creating heatmaps * Comparing proportions * View trends with sparklines 12 COMPARING VARIABLES * Visualising trendlines as KPI * Forecasting with trendlines * Creating a scatter plot * Creating dynamic labels * Customised visualisation tooltips * Export reports to SharePoint

Project management can seem scary and rather intimidating. The whole aim of this programme is to give people a simple and straightforward way of dealing with projects without having to use complex and confusing systems. This two-day course is designed to introduce the apparently complex world of project management in a simple and practical manner. The programme is for anybody who has to run a project of any nature. It has been attended by people from as diverse fields as events management, fashion, charities, oil companies and so on. The programme is run without using any IT project management systems although an introduction can be given if required. At the end of the programme participants will leave understanding: * What a project is and why projects are so important today * The roles of a project manager * Some key language and concepts * A simple 5-step model for organising projects * How to make sure you understand what your 'client' really wants * A set of three simple tools to plan the project * How to make decisions * What to monitor when the project is running * How to close the project 1 INTRODUCTION * What is the aim of this programme? 2 BACKGROUND THINKING * What is a project? * The project manager's eternal triangle (cost-quality-time) * What are the characteristics of successful projects? * Who are the key characters in a project? * What are the roles of a project manager? 3 THE PROJECT PROCESS * Why have one? 4 PROJECT INITIATION * What is the aim? * Identifying key information * Key skill: mission analysis * Initial risk analysis * Document and sign-off 5 DECISION-MAKING - 'STOP, THINK, ACT!' * The 'Stop, Think, Act!' technique * Recognise the opportunity to make a decision * The 3 Cs - making sure we understand the decisions we have to make * Identifying options * Making your decision * Taking it to action 6 CREATIVITY 7 THE PLANNING STAGE * Identify all discrete tasks * Sequence and dependencies * Time line - critical path * Resources * Project base-line 8 EXECUTION STAGE - DELIVERING THE RESULT * Monitor * Evaluate * Adapt * Control * Review 9 THE PROJECT CLOSE * Review * Documentation * Have we delivered? * What have we learned?

This one-day workshop is designed to build upon skills already acquired using Microsoft Word, whether participants are self-taught or have previously attended a course. It gives participants a good understanding of managing different types of paragraph indents, and managing automated numbered paragraph lists. This course will help participants: * Create and manage the layout of paragraphs * Create and manage multi-level numbered paragraphs * Effectively insert, use and manage section breaks * Create and manage columns * Find, create and apply styles * Create and update a table of contents from styles * Work with styles to manage formatting * Work with sums in tables and use table headings * Input and edit text using AutoText * Work with SmartArt graphics * Link to other files using paste special 1 MANAGING PARAGRAPH LAYOUT * Controlling paragraph layouts with indents * Creating and managing paragraph hanging indents 2 NUMBERING PARAGRAPHS * Creating a new multi-level numbered paragraph * Managing existing multi-level numbered paragraphs 3 INSERTING COLUMNS * Creating columns from existing paragraphs * Setting up columns * Managing columns 4 DOCUMENT SECTION BREAKS * Controlling document layout using section breaks * Managing page orientation using section breaks * Managing page numbering using section breaks 5 USING STYLES * Applying quick styles * Finding existing styles * Creating and saving styles * Modifying styles * Creating a table of contents from styles * Updating a table of contents 6 USING QUICK PARTS * Saving content to quick parts * Modifying saved quick parts * Inserting content using AutoText * Editing AutoText entries * Inputting text using AutoCorrect 7 ADVANCED TABLE FEATURES * Sorting table columns * Running sums in tables * Repeating table headings at top of page * Importing Excel content in tables * Using table properties 8 CREATING A MAIL MERGE * Creating letters, labels and emails * Merging addresses from external files * Using Outlook's address book to merge * Merging to email 9 SMARTART GRAPHIC * Visually communicate content with SmartArt * Choosing a SmartArt graphic * Inputting into SmartArt * Modifying and formatting SmartArt graphics 10 LINKING TO OTHER FILES * Linking to files using paste special * Linking an Excel chart to a document * Managing linked content from Word

It is important for Officers to understand the roles and responsibilities, processes and procedures involved when working with Elected Members. They also need to appreciate the significance of Elected Members as the decision-makers in local government. Officers have a responsibility to work and communicate with Elected Members effectively. This very successful course is designed to help Officers with this. Note: this is very much an indicative outline. The programme is tailored to the needs of each particular organisation. To provide managers with the knowledge and understanding they need to have productive working relationships with Elected Members and provide appropriate support. By the end of the course participants will: * Understand the roles, responsibilities, processes and procedures in place for working with Elected Members * Be able to identify the best way to approach potentially sensitive issues * Understand the skills and behaviours required for working effectively with Members * Be able to deploy their influencing skills more successfully * Review their learning and have an action plan to take back and implement at work Note: this is very much an indicative outline. The programme is tailored to the needs of each particular organisation. 1 INTRODUCTION * Welcome and introductions * Objectives and programme overview 2 WORKING IN A POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT * What is political awareness? * Contact and experience with Members * Importance of the role of Members 3 WHY BE AN ELECTED MEMBER? * Perceptions of what Elected Members are and do * Values of Members and their motivations for doing what they do 4 POLITICAL DECISION-MAKING IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT * Current challenges and drivers affecting the organisation / the council * Roles and responsibilities of Officers and Members * Centrality of Members' strategic role 5 (OPTION) A DAY IN THE LIFE OF AN ELECTED MEMBER * An Elected Member gives a talk about what they do * 6 HAVING A BENEFICIAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OFFICERS AND MEMBERS 7 MEMBER / OFFICER COMMUNICATION * Discussion of the formal processes, service procedures, etc (whether enshrined in a protocol, Memorandum of Understanding, etc) * Response times and requirements * Procedures required by Heads of Service [if appropriate] 8 INFLUENCING STYLES AND STRATEGIES * Different forms of power and how they impact * Developing an appropriate 'influencing style' * Exploring strategies for improving communication and influencing at work 9 REVIEW AND EVALUATION * Review and evaluation of learning * Personal action plans

The principles of effective time management are applicable to all aspects of life. When successfully applied in a sales environment they can lead to improved performance, higher sales and increased customer satisfaction. All salespeople would benefit from learning the tools and techniques to introduce impactful time management to their working lives. We have developed this programme to be practical, fun and interactive. Participants will better understand how to increase the amount of time spent on high-value sales activities, be able to improve their self-motivation and ability to get more done, and be better able to plan, delegate and speed up routine tasks. This course will help participants: * Learn key principles of managing sales priorities, meeting targets and getting 'everything' done! * Learn proven techniques for structuring your day, week and normal routine * Develop effective sales time management at the office and on the road * Learn a seven-step process for setting goals and objectives in your work and personal life * Understand how to make time for sales prospecting, designated call days * Understand practical ways to improve your time management 1 KEY PRINCIPLES OF SALES TIME MANAGEMENT * Course objectives and review of time log * Essential principles of sales time management * How do you use your time now? * Reviewing your working day (from pre-course survey) * Beliefs and feelings about time 2 MANAGING SALES PRIORITIES AND PLANNING SYSTEMS * Managing priorities and planning systems * Use organised persistence to plan your sales activity * Planning your territory and prospecting activity * How to use priority ratings not urgency to react to tasks 3 DEALING WITH DISTRACTIONS AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS * Know your time 'bandits' and creating more positive habits to overcome them * Making time by saying 'no' assertively and managing expectations * Assertiveness techniques for handling colleagues and clients * Making meetings worthwhile - preparation and planning 4 SALES GOAL SETTING AND ACTION PLANNING * Set clear, concise, and motivating sales goals and action plans * How to set and use goal setting as way of managing your time and increasing results * The principles of linking SMART objectives to action plans and daily activities 5 CREATING RESULTS FOCUS - EVERY DAY, WEEK, AND MONTH * Batch sales tasks together, starting with emails * Planning your day and week and protecting sales 'prime' time * Apply the 80/20 to your sales contacts, clients, and prospects 6 OVERCOMING PROCRASTINATION AND STRUCTURING YOUR DAY * Understanding procrastination, what it is and how to recognise it in yourself and others * How to stop procrastinating and start making progressing * Build a power prospecting hour into every day * Smart stuff to make more sales time: five automated tools * Live the $64,000 dollar question

It is essential that those charged with responsibility for credit control and debt recovery have a full appreciation of the relevant law: no-one can negotiate effectively to recover a debt if they don't understand the ultimate sanctions they can apply. This programme is designed to give them a practical, up-to-date understanding of the law as it applies to your particular organisation. This course will help ensure that participants: * Understand the relevant laws * Know how and when to invoke legal processes * Avoid legal pitfalls in debt collection negotiations Specific, practical learning points include: * Definition of 'harassment' * How to set up an in-house collection identity * Whether cheques in 'full and final settlement' are binding * The best steps to trace a 'gone away'... and many, many more. 1 DATA PROTECTION AND DEBT RECOVERY There are a whole range of things which can be checked on members of the public and which are not affected by the restraints of the Data Protection Act. These will be explained in simple, clear terms so that staff can use this information immediately. 2 COUNTY COURT SUING The expert trainer will show how to sue for money owed, obtain judgment and commence enforcement action without leaving your desk. This module is aimed at showing how to make the Courts work for you instead of the other way around! 3 ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGMENTS There are many people who have a County Court Judgment (CCJ) against their debtor but who still remain unpaid. This session explains each of the enforcement methods and how to use them to best effect. Enforcement methods covered include: * Warrant of Execution * Using the sheriff (now known as High Court Enforcement Officers) * Attachment of earnings * Third Party Debt Orders * Charging Orders (over property and goods) * Winding-up companies and making individuals bankrupt 4 OFFICE OF FAIR TRADING RULES ON DEBT RECOVERY Surprisingly few people are aware of the Office of Fair Trading rules on debt recovery and many of those that do know think they don't apply to them - but they do. Make sure you know what you need to! 5 NEW METHODS TO TRACE ELUSIVE, ABSENTEE AND 'GONE AWAY' DEBTORS Why write the money off when you can trace the debtor and collect the money you are owed? 6 CREDIT CHECKING OF NEW AND EXISTING CUSTOMERS It makes sense to credit check would-be, new and existing customers to evaluate the likelihood of payment delays or perhaps not being paid at all. This session shows a range of credit checking steps, many of which can be done completely free of charge, including a sample credit application / account opening form. 7 LATE PAYMENT OF COMMERCIAL DEBTS REGULATIONS Do your staff understand this legislation and how to use it to make people pay quicker than ever before? The trainer shows how. 8 THE ENTERPRISE ACT The Enterprise Act made some startling changes to corporate and personal insolvency. What are the implications for credit control and debt recovery within your organisation?