Prepare to Excel

24/06/2026

Where am I? When you accidentally arrive an hour early for a networking meeting but you can’t help but smile to have a spare hour in the village where you were brought up.

22/06/2026

This was a genuine reply from one of my learners today as we started exploring PowerPoint.

For anyone who doesn’t know, a ‘cinny’ is an old-fashioned term for a video recorder. My Uncle Ken had one!

It was such a lovely reminder that we all come to digital learning with our own experiences, language and reference points.

Sometimes we assume people are ‘behind’ because they don’t know a particular piece of software or terminology.

The reality is that many people have decades of knowledge, skills and life experience - they just need the space and confidence to translate those into today’s digital world.

No question is ever a silly question in my classroom.

In fact, those are often the moments that create the biggest smiles and the best conversations.

And yes… we did establish that PowerPoint isn’t connected to the cinny 😄

17/06/2026

This week we're looking at one of the simplest ways to make large spreadsheets easier to navigate: 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐳𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐬.

Most people know about freezing the top row to keep headings visible, but Excel actually gives you three options:
🟣 Freeze Top Row – always row 1 - perfect for 'tall' datasets and keeping field headings visible as you scroll down
🟣 Freeze First Column - always column A – ideal for keeping names, IDs and reference numbers visible as you scroll across
🟣 Freeze Panes – keep both rows and columns visible at the same time.

One important thing to remember...
For Freeze Top Row and Freeze First Column, it doesn't matter which cell you have selected – Excel knows exactly what you want to freeze.

But Freeze Panes is different. It's special!

Excel freezes everything above and to the left of your active cell, so choosing the correct starting point is essential.

It's a small feature that can make a huge difference when working with large datasets and reports.

What’s your favourite Excel feature that saves you time every day?

13/06/2026

Did I mention I own a set of 17-year-old twin boys? Here’s an insight…

One is obsessed with sport and calisthenics. The other is on the spectrum and has a memory like a sieve! Both of them are slowly learning all the life skills that come with growing up.

As you can imagine, personal hygiene is occasionally a topic of conversation.

Rather than saying:
“You need a shower.”

I’ll sometimes just lead with :
“You smell like roses on a summer’s day.”

They know exactly what I mean. It’s sarcasm. It’s gentle. And it’s usually met with an eye roll and a laugh! They know me well!

It got me thinking about how often we focus on what’s wrong rather than how we communicate it.

The message still lands. The shower still happens. But nobody feels criticised or embarrassed.

The older I get, the more I realise that reframing isn’t about avoiding reality.

It’s about finding a way to address it so that it keeps people’s dignity intact.

Whether we’re talking to our children, colleagues, clients or friends, a little kindness can make a difficult message much easier to hear.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m in the middle of cleaning the house and I must get back to it. I smell divine today. 🌹😂

10/06/2026

𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐇𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 #𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐓𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬

This week we're looking at one of my favourite Excel features: Tables.

I'm a huge advocate for converting datasets into Tables, and yet they are still surprisingly underused.

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫?
Tables don't just make your spreadsheets look better. They unlock functionality that can save time, reduce errors and make your workbooks easier to maintain.

Some of the main benefits:
✅ New rows automatically inherit formulas and formatting
✅Charts can expand automatically as your data grows
✅Easier integration with Pivot Tables and Charts
✅Structured references reduce the need for absolute cell referencing in formulas such as XLOOKUP
✅Built-in features such as Total Rows, Banded Rows and Slicers
✅Better compatibility with Power Query, Power Pivot and modern Excel features.

However - not all datasets are created equal. If you're struggling with messy spreadsheets, duplicate data, inconsistent structures or data that simply doesn't behave the way you'd like - feel free to get in touch. Sometimes a dataset needs a little normalisation before it can really shine.

I'm currently offering a 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆 30-𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒕𝒆 𝒔𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒆𝒕 𝒂𝒖𝒅𝒊𝒕 𝒔𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 - we can take a look at your workbook together and identify opportunities for improvement.

Book via: [email protected] or telephone 07890 764316

03/06/2026

𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐞'𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐇𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬....

Each week we'll share a practical tip, feature or technique designed to help you get more from Excel, Microsoft 365 and workplace technology.

We're starting with Data Validation - one of the simplest ways to improve data quality and reduce spreadsheet errors.

By using a dropdown list, you can help ensure data is entered consistently, making reports more reliable and reducing time spent cleaning up mistakes later.

Even better - if your data is stored in an Excel Table, Data Validation is automatically applied to new rows as your table grows, helping you maintain consistency without additional effort.

Small change. Big impact.

Think Data Validation is just a simple dropdown?

You can also apply Data Validation to dates, numbers and text entries - not just dropdown lists. It's a simple way to prevent common mistakes before they happen.

Next time we'll look at how to link it to a separate table and create self-updating dropdown lists.

Keep watching... 🙂

What Excel feature would you like us to cover in a future Work Hack Wednesday?

02/06/2026

We spend a lot of time talking about getting young people into work.

We spend far less time talking about what happens once they get there.

Recently, I saw a young person take on their first part-time job.

It got me thinking.

A first job isn’t just about earning money.

It’s often where someone learns:
• How workplaces operate
• What professional communication looks like
• Their rights and responsibilities
• How payroll works
• What it feels like to be valued

Or not - for some.

For many young people, a first job is their introduction to the world of work.

That’s why employers have such an important role to play.

A contract explained.
Health and safety covered.
Clear expectations.
Support when questions arise.
A little patience while someone learns.

These things might feel routine to an experienced manager.

To a young person, they can make all the difference.

The first experience of work can shape confidence, expectations and attitudes for years to come.

If we genuinely want young people to thrive, we need to think beyond simply creating opportunities.

We need to think about the experience we give them once they’re through the door.

A first job should be more than a payslip.

It should be a chance to learn, grow and build confidence.

What was your first job, and what did it teach you?

26/05/2026

26/05/2026

Manual admin is exhausting.

Not because the work is difficult.

Because the constant little tasks quietly drain time and energy all day.

Copying information between systems.
Chasing updates.
Rewriting the same emails.
Manually updating reports.
Searching for the latest version of a file.

A lot of this can now be simplified with better workflows, automation and smarter use of workplace tools.

Most people do not need to work harder.

They just need systems that work better.

Technology should make work feel lighter.
Not more complicated.

If there’s a repetitive process driving you mad at work right now, message me. I’m always happy to suggest practical ways to simplify things.