We've started doing a lot of Training in Microsoft PowerPivot for Excel. This is a wonderful add-on to Excel that allows you to collect data from varying locations and combine than with a PivotTable or Chart. PowerPivot is often used to build Business Intelligence Dashboards in Excel. We've found that people who attend our Training get really excited in what PowerPivot can do. But the first question to answer is "How do I get PowerPivot for Excel". The answer depends… Read More
THE BURNINGSUIT BLOG
By Stuart Box
Office 2013 30th April 2013
Ten Tips for Office 2013
Microsoft Office 2013 is here Available in several different versions, Office 2013 is part of the Office 365 subscriptions as well as a stand-alone product. Users will find it's a big change if they move from Office 2003 or earlier, but if they've been introduced to Office 2007 or 2010 then the upgrade isn't too scary. We can now offer any of our Microsoft courses in Office 2013 and have developed specific Office 2013 Upgrade Courses to help you over… Read More
1 Response
By Stuart Box
FAQ Learning Training 11th February 2013
Six questions to answer before you book training
I've blogged before about the questions to ask a potential Training Provider, but I thought I'd list six questions that any Company or Organisation that seriously wants to get the best out of Training should be asking before going ahead. Of course, there's a dual benefit here, the answers to these questions will help you understand your Training need, and also help any Training company understand just what you want. It's very common that a department, group, or individual will… Read More
By Stuart Box
Office 365 Virtual Classrooms Webex 21st January 2013
Work is an activity, not a place
Back in the 'naughties' I worked with UK Online for Business, encouraging companies to take up Broadband internet access. One of the phrases we used then was "Work is an activity not a place" explaining how Broadband ADSL would enable us to work from anywhere that was broadband enabled, reducing the need to travel or commute to designated "Places of Work". We were partly right, but the message was a little too soon. Mobile computing was in its infancy, laptops… Read More
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By Stuart Box
Training 8th October 2012
Thinking about training your staff?
It's very common that a department, group, or individual will say "I/We need training in ……". I've blogged before about the questions to ask a potential external Training Provider, but here are a few questions you should be asking internally before going ahead with Training. Training in what exactly? It's good to delve a little deeper into the need for training. People could say they need training in Word, but on asking further you may find they are having problems… Read More
By Stuart Box
Cloud Microsoft Office 365 11th April 2012
The great Office 365 Turn Off
After nearly twelve years I've finally been able to turn our Server off, permanently! Most businesses need a server, something that collects and redistributes email, stores files, manages users and communications, stuff like that, and we are no exception. Our first server, way back in 2000 was a second-hand laptop, running Linux that ran "sendmail" and other arcane Linux applications. That "server" sat in the loft and just about managed our email and internet. Back in those days, we had a… Read More
By Stuart Box
Cloud Microsoft Office 365 26th March 2012
Off to the Cloud
At Burningsuit we've been thinking of going wholly over to "The Cloud" for some time. We run a Microsoft Small Business Server here that runs our Email on Microsoft Exchange, data storage and backup and a few other usefull things. It's been good and worked well, but Small Business Server 2008 is getting a little dated, and recently the uninterruptable power supply it's connected to has been flashing an amber light telling us it's time to renew the batteries. Bits of… Read More
1 Response
By Stuart Box
Training 23rd January 2012
Train the benefits
John W. Box - SalesmanMy father was a salesman. His working life was spent in what was then called "Gent's Outfitting", but we'd probably call it "Retail" today. He could sell anything to anyone, he was a natural salesman who was interested in his customers, but who also took time to study the sales profession. As a consequence we discussed sales techniques around the family dining table, and when I started working in Computers, Dad gave me some welcome sales… Read More
By Stuart Box
Training 10th January 2012
12 Questions to ask your Training Provider
So, you've decided to get some onsite computer training for your staff, great. Onsite training in Microsoft Applications can really enhance productivity, and shows you value your workforce. However there are countless onsite training companies to choose from. How will you make your selection? Here is a list of 12 questions we think you should be asking any prospective training provider. 1) Can I speak to a Trainer? Surprisingly many training companies are simply training supplier agencies, who locate the… Read More
4 Responses
By Stuart Box
Training 5th January 2012
Turn Herbert’s face to the wall Mother – Training room layouts
“Turn Herbert’s face to the wall Mother, never more mention his name, he brought disgrace to the family, ain’t it a bloomin shame” My dear old Mum, who knew lots of old music-hall songs, used to burst into this one whenever someone was facing the wrong way at the dinner table, and it comes to my mind whenever I walk into certain training rooms. It seems to me that some training rooms were designed more for the benefit of the… Read More
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