Too much software training focuses on generic features and demonstrations. People watch, take notes and then return to their desks unsure how to apply what they have seen to real work.
Our approach is different.
At Goodman Jones, and more recently with Charles Tyrwhitt, we design and deliver bite-sized, task-specific training that mirrors the work people actually do every day. The aim is not to cover everything. It is to help people perform real tasks more quickly and confidently using Microsoft 365.
Why most software training fails
The standard approach to software training has not changed much in twenty years. A trainer stands at the front, works through a slide deck, demonstrates a few features and asks if there are any questions. Participants scribble notes, nod along and leave with a printed handout they will never look at again.
The problem is not that the content is wrong. It is that it does not connect to anything real. When someone returns to their desk and opens Excel, they are not thinking about features. They are thinking about the report that needs to go out by Friday or the data that does not add up. Training that does not bridge that gap is training that gets forgotten within a week.
This is especially true with newer tools like Microsoft Copilot. People hear about AI but have no idea how to use it in the context of their actual job. A generic demo of Copilot does not help someone in a finance team understand how it can speed up their month-end process.
Learning by doing, not watching
There are no long demonstrations in our sessions and no manuals to copy notes from. Instead, participants get stuck in straight away.
Training is practical and hands-on, interactive and realistic, and focused on problems people experience at work.
Participants work with real files using redacted data so the learning feels authentic. Skills are applied while tasks are being completed, not talked about in isolation. This helps people recognise immediately how the tools can support their own work.
For example, rather than showing someone where PivotTables live in the ribbon, we give them a dataset that mirrors their real reporting and ask them to answer a question using it. The feature becomes a means to an end, not the point of the session.
What we covered at Charles Tyrwhitt
At Charles Tyrwhitt, we delivered Excel training across two groups at different skill levels. This ensured that everyone covered content that was relevant to them, without holding others back or rushing people ahead.
Sessions included hands-on work with formulas, data analysis, PivotTables and preparing data for reporting. We also introduced Copilot in Excel, showing participants how AI can assist with tasks like summarising datasets, generating formula suggestions and spotting patterns in large tables. For many, this was their first practical exposure to Copilot in a work context, and the reaction was overwhelmingly positive.
The training was designed to match each group's starting point. The less experienced group focused on building confidence with core Excel skills, while the more advanced group explored deeper analysis techniques and Copilot-assisted workflows.
How we work with accountancy firms
A large part of our training work is with accountancy practices and professional services firms. At Goodman Jones, we have delivered multiple rounds of training alongside broader automation work.
In these environments, the examples and discussions are tailored to the realities of the sector. That means working with annual accounts data, tax return workflows and audit preparation rather than generic sales dashboards. When someone in an accountancy firm sees Excel training built around the kind of data they actually handle, it clicks far more quickly.
Questions and discussion are encouraged throughout. Conversations focus on methods and working practices that make sense for the organisation, not textbook scenarios that feel disconnected from the day job.
Skills you can use the same day
The focus is always on tangible outcomes. That might include comparing annual figures, analysing data with PivotTables, preparing data for analysis or staying on top of email.
These topics are not exciting on paper, but when they are taught in an energetic and flexible way, they become far more engaging. Learning is more enjoyable for everyone, including the trainer, when it is not overly prescribed.
No notes, just confidence
Participants are not asked to write anything down. The emphasis is on building familiarity and confidence by working through tasks as if they were part of the normal working day. This leads to better retention and a greater willingness to apply new approaches afterwards.
The result is training that feels less like a course and more like supported work.
Who this works for
This approach works across sectors and team sizes. We have delivered task-focused training for accountancy firms, law firms, retail businesses and corporate teams. Whether it is a team of six who need to get better at Excel or a department of fifty rolling out Copilot, the method scales.
Sessions can be delivered in person or online, and we typically work with groups of up to twelve for in-person sessions or eight online. This keeps things interactive and ensures everyone gets individual attention.
If your team could benefit from practical Microsoft 365 training tailored to the way they actually work, get in touch to find out how we can help.
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