Have you ever wanted to group several images together so that they become one picture? In Microsoft Word there is an option of grouping a number of images together so that when you move them around the page they all move together like they are one big image.

 
1. First click on the Insert tab on the Ribbon then select Shapes.
2. At the bottom of the menu click on New Drawing Canvas.
3. A box will then appear on the page. Insert or Paste any images you want into that box and position them the way you want.
4. Using your mouse, click and drag across the box to highlight the images.
5. Right click on one of them and choose the option for Grouping and click on Group. Now they are grouped together as one image.

 
Interested in learning more? Then visit our Microsoft Word Tips page or book one our Microsoft Word Courses to learn all about these great skills.

You may recall our article in March: Statutory Right to Training to remain illusive for Small & Medium Businesses where we talked about employees working in large businesses now having the right to request time to train, and that it was expected to cover employees of small and medium size businesses from April 2011. However the Government has now ruled out the right to request training in SMEs until at least April 2015.
 
Employees working in businesses with 250 employees or more are entitled to have the time to train right. However the same right has been put on hold for employees in businesses of smaller size by the coalition Government. The right won’t be extended to them until the Government examines the potential impact of the regulation on smaller firms.
 
The provisions will be kept under review and a formal evaluation of the right to request time to train will be undertaken. This will allow the Government’s policy on this issue to be reviewed by April 2015. Once the Government reviews their findings they can make a decision on whether the right should then be extended to employees in small and medium organisations in April 2015.
 
This decision was made because of the consultation, which revealed a split decision among employers, professional bodies, trade unions and individuals over whether or not to extend the right.
 

Several respondents have commented that larger organisations have the dedicated resources available to deal with personnel and training. For smaller organisations the right could be a challenge as SMEs do not have dedicated HR functions.
 

Also, the additional cost for compliance would be difficult for a small business, which might cause employers to reconsider employing staff.
 

In response to the consultation, the Federation of Small Businesses said: “The Government should focus on promoting training rather than regulating on it. Businesses need to be socially aware of the benefits that training can bring to a business’ competitiveness.” 
 
The consultation postponed the proposal for the right to request training for SME only until economic conditions improve. However there is a strong movement among business groups to scrap the right to request time off for training completely.
 

Out of all the respondents to the consultation only 36% were in favour of scrapping the decision to extend the right entirely. However this did rise to 49% among employers and 61% of small businesses.
 

We are going to write more on the eligibility for employers working in organisations with more than 250 employees, so keep reading this blog.

When you create a design in Publisher 2007 e.g. business cards, you can change the print settings so that you can print out multiple copies of them on one page instead having to print them out one at a time and use loads of paper. Follow these steps to achieve this:

 
1. Click on File and then choose Print Setup.
2. From Publication and Paper Settings tab, click on Multiple Copies per Sheet
3. You can then choose if you want to print them out in Landscape or Portrait
4. There is also the option of altering the Top and Side Margins so you can move your printout further across the page instead of it being at the edge.
5. Once you’ve selected options you want, click on Print.

Interested in learning more tips have a look on our Microsoft Publisher Tips page

Online distance training has become very popular, as it provides learners with the ability to learn what they want and whenever they want. However, instructor led training has its own significant benefits and has stayed very popular even in this digital age. Let us look at 4 advantages of instructor led training.
 

Instructor-led training is a form of training which involves an instructor providing live training to an individual or to a group of students. It could be run in an office, classroom or conference room using lectures, presentations, demonstrations, interactive workshops, discussions and it could be run even virtually, utilising video-conferencing tools.
 
So what are the benefits?
 
The Instructor

The most important asset in an instructor-led program is the instructor himself. A well-educated and experienced professional can add a lot of value to a courseware, as they share their knowledge on the subject to enrich learning.
 
The instructor is not only fully qualified in the subjects they teach, but also in the general principles of training itself. For example, if you are having difficulty learning something, they can use a variety of techniques such as role-play, games or exercises to enhance your learning experience and help you get back on track.
 
Questions & Real-Time Feedback

Another advantage of instructor-led training is the opportunity to ask questions directly and get immediate feedback. This could be a challenge if you were on a distant learning program, as you might have to wait to get an answer and in some cases you don’t get a reply at all. Sometimes if your question is unclear and needs further clarification, it could be weeks before you get the correct answer. All of it negatively impacts your learning, as while you are waiting you are not able to progress with your study.
 
Learning from Peers

Instructor-led training generally takes place in a classroom, which gives the students the advantage of learning from their peers. Learning in a group is not only enjoyable, but it facilitates retention of learning, deeper understanding of new concepts, and increased informal learning. Sharing ideas, group discussions, and debating with peers can further develop knowledge, particularly in practical application of the subject. Furthermore, since some delegates on a course are advanced users the entire group benefits from their experience and knowledge.
 
Time of Learning

Learning in a classroom is quicker than online. This is because a course has been structured and planned out and takes into consideration years of experience of delivering the course to people with different styles of learning.
 
Likewise, training in a classroom will help you to concentrate, because you are away from potential distractions such as phone calls or television. Enabling you to concentrate more on study may help you to understand course material better and as a result get through it quicker.
 
Moreover, your class mates motivates you to continue your study. This is particular useful for someone who is likely to procrastinate or study at the last minute.
 
Despite being the most expensive form of training, Instructor Led Training, as demonstrated above, has its distinctive advantages. So make sure you are choosing the best training provider, to guarantee that you receive good value for money.

PowerPoint 2007 gives you the chance to add sound effects to your presentations. This can make your presentation a lot more enjoyable and fun for your audience.

 
1. From the Ribbon, click on the Insert tab
2. Click Sound icon
3. You will get a few options to choose from like from File or from Clipart
4. Click on the sound effect you want
5. You will get a Dialog Box asking you whether you want the sound to come on Automatically or when you Click on the object
6. You will get additional tab – Options where you can Increase or Decrease the volume.

 
Interested in learning more? Visit our Microsoft PowerPoint Tips page or book a course

Do you, by the end of every day, feel overwhelmed by the amount of work you had to do? Do you feel disappointed that you haven’t accomplished what you intended to do and instead wasted your time on other tasks or interruptions by your colleagues? If you answered yes, then here are 5 tips for effective management of time.
 
You only have a certain number of hours in the day, so using your time more effectively can help you achieve more in a day and meet your deadlines without stressing yourself out. It does not mean that every minute of your day should be spent working, it is about effectively planning you day to maximise your productivity. So, choose just one of the tips below and try it for 10 working days. If that does not help, pick another one.
 
Work in Your Flow
We all have times during the day where we feel on top of the world and can do anything. And at other times all we want to do is sit down and watch TV. Figuring out what times of the day you feel most energetic about working can be a huge benefit to you. It helps you feel more motivated to do your work, and you could get a lot more done in that short time ‘flow’ compared to the rest of the day. When you’re in the “flow,” you are so absorbed in a task that you lose sense of time, you feel in control and things just get done. So you could allocate that part of the day to your most important task of the day.
 
Prioritise Your Tasks
Prioritising your work can be extremely advantageous to you. By organising your jobs you will find it a lot easier to work out which tasks need completing. Knowing what needs to be done and in which order ensures you spend your time and energy on tasks that are truly important to you.
 
In order to prioritise your tasks first write them down. You don’t need to write down an entire list of everything you need to achieve, maybe just five or six of your main tasks. Once you have done this, take time to analyse which tasks you feel you have to accomplish first. Take a pen and mark them down.
 
Don’t Multitask
Multitasking is myth. If you are trying to work on many tasks at the same time you will not be able to focus on one task. As a result you will produce a mediocre result. Effective time management is not about doing many things in short time it is about doing right things. So try to focus on finishing your tasks one after the other within a reasonable time frame, following your daily to-do list and focusing on your key priorities.
 
Delegate
When you have a lot of work to do on your own you might want to think about delegating a task to someone else, so you can concentrate on more important tasks.
 
First you need to look and identify what task you want to pass on. Make sure you do not simply delegate a task which you find unpleasant, but a task which will free up your time for more important task to complete . Second, you need carefully choose a person to whom you are going to delegate a task and ensure that a person is able to complete the task.
 
Take a Time Management Course
If you struggle with managing time then take a Time Management course. You will learn different tools and techniques to effectively plan and control your workload. These techniques will not only improve your time management at work but also help you in your everyday life, so that you can achieve life-work balance.

It is extremely annoying when you want to print out a worksheet in Excel and it can’t quite fit the whole sheet on one page. So it ends up spilling a small section over onto another page and wasting paper.
 
Excel has a handy scaling feature that allows you to specify how many pages you want your print out to occupy. You set the page dimensions, and Excel can shrink everything down so it fits in the specified area:

 
1. Set up your worksheet as desired.
2. Choose Page Setup from the File menu to get the Dialog Box.
3. Make sure the Page tab is selected.
4. Select the Fit To option and specify how many pages you want the printout to use.
5. Click on OK.
6. Print your worksheet as normal.

Do you want to learn more tips? Just visit out Microsoft Excel Tips page

Working from home has become more popular in recent years. However, since working from home tends to blur the boundaries between work and personal life it can be a dream come true or a nightmare. Here are the top 7 tips for Effective Working from Home:
 

Have Your Own Work Space

It would be great if you could have a space, preferable a room in your house that you could use for working. You could organise it into a small office: put in a desk, a computer, have a telephone line and some shelves for filing. Thus you will put yourself in ‘work’ mode once you have entered the room.
 

Organise Your Work around Your Natural Schedule

When working at home you may have the luxury of making your own schedule. You might need to take your kids to school or walk the dog, so why don’t you organise your work around those activities? Make sure your boss is aware of the structure of your day in case he needs to contact you.
 

Make a To Do List

When working from home you are more likely to get distracted than when working in the office. If you are having trouble deciding what you need to do, you could lose motivation and end up drifting off your work. Making a to-do list will allow you to plan out what you need to achieve during the day, and the best time to do it. If you know what you what to achieve, it helps you keep focused and makes you feel good as you are making progress towards your objectives.
 

Keep Back Up Copies

It always a good idea to keep a copy of any files you need in case anything happens to your Internet connection and you need your files. When transferring any files it’s advisable that the data is protected, so encrypt it.
 

Keep in Contact with Colleagues

When you work from home you can sometimes feel isolated from your colleagues, therefore keep in contact with them on a regular basis. It will help you to be informed about any changes in the company, or projects you are working on. Make sure you have different technology in place, such as phone, email, instant messaging, so that if one way of communication goes down, you still can be reached.
 

Make Sure That Your Family Know You Are There to Work

There are things around the house that could potentially distract you from your work, such as doing chores or playing with your children. Have a talk with your family to let them know that even though you are at home you are unavailable to play or help at the present time.
 

Take Breaks & Don’t Overwork Yourself

If you follow the tips above, working from home will be a lot more productive, but don’t forget to take breaks every so often, go have a cup of tea or just stretch your legs. This helps you feel more motivated to carry on with the rest of the day, whereas you could give yourself a headache looking at the screen all day.
 

Once you have finished working for the day you can now sit back and relax. But if you cannot stop thinking about a task you need to do, or a new idea you have then the best thing to do is make a note of it and come back tomorrow. Don’t start working again, enjoy being home.
 

Check out our Time Management Articles for more information about managing your time.

When you have a task that occurs at the same time every week e.g. staff meeting, you can set a recurring task schedule in Microsoft Project. So the task has already been set, which saves you having to keep remembering it and writing it into your schedule:

 
1. Select Insert – Recurring Task
2. The Recurring Task Information Dialogue Box appears
3. Insert the Task Name, Duration, Recurrence Pattern, and Start Date and then assign any relevant calendar for the task.
4. Press Ok

 

Interested in learning more? Then visit our Microsoft Project Tips page.

When an apprentice first starts a new job it can be a bit uneasy for them, as they have to learn a new job, adjust to an environment and meet people they are unfamiliar with. This could be hard for them as it is probably their first job. By following a few steps the company can help them get settled into the business and improve speed at which they develop to reach their full potential. Here are some tips that the manager could use to build a foundation for a successful, productive career of an apprenticeship:
 
Make the First Day Enjoyable

This is the day where they are taking a new step into their lives, so make their first day enjoyable and celebrate it. Let them know that you are glad they are working for you; this makes them feel welcomed.
 

Introduce them to the Process

Go through any procedures that you have in your business with them. It may include health and safety policies, fire safety procedures and assemble point in case of fire. You can also inform them about the dress code, show the location of the bathroom and the kitchen, discuss terms and conditions of employment and holiday entitlements.
 

Introduce them to the New Job

If you have not sent them their full job description in advance, then you can now give them a copy listing the tasks involved and their responsibilities, so they can become more familiar with them. Also inform them about any training they might need. It is also an opportunity to talk about the employee’s performance targets so they can understand what they need to achieve.
 
If they work in the office give them an overview of your internal filing system. And try not to explain it all at once because that might be a bit overwhelming for them to take in.
 

Introduce Them to Other People in the Company

Any new employee isn’t likely to know anyone else in the company therefore introduce him/her to their new colleagues. But try to introduce them on different days, so they have a chance to remember them better.
 

Be Prepared

Prepare your new employees work area and company account details such as login information or a work email address. It will help them to settle into their new job and make them feel part of the company. You can also provide them with contact details for other employees such as email addresses or phone numbers in case an apprentice needs to contact them.
 

If your company uses equipment or tools that the apprentice hasn’t likely used before, you could put together an information booklet or folder that summarises how to use it. This will help them refer to the booklet, instead of having to ask another member of staff
 

Be Patient with Them

An apprentice will not probably be skillful; therefore you will need to provide a number of training sessions over a few weeks. Be patient as people learn in different ways and at different paces. If they are doing something wrong advise them on how they could improve it, so that they leave training sessions with the skills and knowledge he or she came to acquire.
 

Get Feedback

Check on the apprentice throughout the day and get his/her feedback to see how they are getting on and how they feel about working there. You can use their feedback to improve your induction process overall, which even further will make them feel involved.
 
In Conclusion

With these tips you can make the apprentice integration in your company a lot more enjoyable and less nerve-racking for them. This open, comfortable and constructive type of relationship with your apprentice from day one will pay dividends in the future.