Excel and
Power BI
Friendly, practical Microsoft Excel and Power BI training, taught at your business in the East Midlands or live online.
Find out more
Skills with a difference
Hi, I'm Rachel
A fresh approach since 2021
Most people learn best when they feel at ease and enjoy themselves. My classroom is friendly, fun and engaging, without losing sight of the goal: honing skills, building confidence and increasing productivity. Your staff development is safe in my hands.
Years of experience
After 20 years in the workplace and 12 years teaching, I know what people actually need from Excel and Power BI. Thousands of delegates have learned to work smarter, not harder with me.
Are you ready to join me?
Get to know me
Why did you start The Blue Star Academy, and how long have you been teaching?
Because I love teaching people all the things I wish I had known when I worked in industry, the things that would have made my life so much easier. It is an absolute privilege, and it is my goal to pass those things on.
I have 12 years of teaching experience on top of 20 years of professional experience in the workplace. I started The Blue Star Academy in 2021 to bring a fresh approach to Microsoft 365 training.
What will I actually do on the day, and how should I prepare?
You will work hard! There are lots of hands-on activities, in a room where you will feel confident asking even the silliest question. My job is to make sure you leave my classroom more confident than when you arrived.
Bring your own spreadsheets if you would like to work on them, but you do not have to. I will have everything prepared for you in my classroom. Depending on where we are, you might need to bring lunch!
I'm not a numbers person. Will I be OK, and what about mixed ability?
Absolutely. I am not a numbers person either, which is exactly why I learnt Excel. You do not have to be good at maths. You just need to be a little bit creative.
I encourage a learning community, so everyone helps each other along. I also encourage questions constantly. It lets me fill the gaps for people who are new to Excel and for the most experienced users in the room.
What makes your classroom fun?
It is relaxed, I am a bit daft and I am very nosy. I want everyone to feel at ease, because people learn best when they are enjoying themselves.
Tea or coffee on a training day? Coffee, please. Black, no sugar.
Something people would not guess about me? I used to box, and I retired undefeated!
What do you teach first, and what are your favourite Excel tips?
Keyboard shortcuts that have passed you by but are so useful. I won't give them away here, so book a course and you will soon find out what I mean.
The most common spreadsheet mistake I see? Knowing how to freeze a row, but not how to freeze a row and a column at the same time. It is a two-second fix once you know how, and it makes big spreadsheets so much easier to read.
My favourite Excel shortcut? Ctrl + ; (that is Ctrl and the semicolon key). It drops today's date into a cell in a split second.
What happens if I get stuck after the course, and what is the best feedback you have had?
Drop me a message and I will do my best to get you unstuck.
The best feedback I have had? An engineer on one of my courses told me, "I'm an engineer, but now I want to build spreadsheets!" It is still the best feedback I have ever had.
What are your qualifications?
I hold a Postgraduate Certificate in Education Post 14 (Education and Training), rated Outstanding, a Level 3 Award in Education and Training and a Degree of Bachelor of Arts in Design: Illustration. I also hold Level 2 and Level 3 certificates in IT user skills, assessing vocational achievement, internal quality assurance, management, team leading, advice and guidance, equality and diversity, customer service and business administration, and a Level 3 Diploma in Gym Instructing and Personal Training.
What's the one thing I should never click?
Five courses
Not sure which Excel course is right for you? Take the 15-question quiz.
Which course is for me?- Foundation ExcelFrom £45 a personSee the course
- Intermediate ExcelFrom £50 a personSee the course
- Advanced ExcelFrom £60 a personSee the course
- Intro to Power BIFrom £60 a personSee the course
- Further Power BIFrom £80 a personSee the course
Prices are per session, so these are per person for a group of 10 learning live online. See Prices, plainly for the full details.
| Row | Course | Best for | Length | Up to 3 delegates | Up to 6 delegates | Up to 10 delegates | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foundation Excel | Beginners | 1 day | £400 | £450 | £500 |
An introduction to Excel
Formatting
Useful commands
Basic formulas and functions
Printing and PDF creation
Data analysis
|
|
| Intermediate Excel | Confident with the basics | 1 day | £450 | £500 | £550 |
Working with functions
Conditional formatting
Data validation
PivotTables
Data analysis
|
|
| Advanced Excel | Experienced Excel users | 1 day | £550 | £600 | £650 |
Functions and formulas
Creating dashboards
An introduction to macros
Understanding Power Query
Working with PowerPivot
|
|
| Intro to Power BI | New to Power BI | 1 day | £550 | £600 | £650 |
An introduction to Power BI
Transforming data
Data models and relationships
Shaping data
Creating reports
Creating and sharing dashboards
|
|
| Further Power BI | Existing Power BI users | 1 day | £750 | £800 | £850 |
Transforming data
Shaping data
Power BI navigation and security
Working with the online service
|
Prices are per session, not per person, and include the course workbooks. Showing in-person prices at your premises.
Prices, plainly
I believe in clarity, so every price is on this page. Prices are per session, not per person, and they depend on the size of your group: up to 3, up to 6 or up to 10 delegates. They include the course activity workbooks (printed for in-person courses) with their documents and data sets. The Blue Star Academy is not VAT registered, so no VAT is added.
£500 for the whole session (up to 10 delegates)
£50 a person with 10 delegates
Ask about this courseThe track record
What my students say
Rachel's infinite patience and analogies! I've done several Excel courses in the past and not retained the info, but I learned so much on this one that's really relevant to my role.
The amount of 'mind-blown' Excel hacks that I have learnt today.
First course in a long time that I have gone away having actually learned something. The tutor was great, knowledgeable and very engaging.
I really enjoyed that you took the time to help us with specific real-life Excel issues that we are experiencing. This tailored, personal approach made the topics even more accessible.
Rachel is the best. She is very knowledgeable and always happy to go above and beyond to help and support.
Frequently asked questions
Where do you deliver in person?
I am based in the East Midlands and deliver at your business in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, Derby, Derbyshire, Leicester and Loughborough. If you are based elsewhere I may still be able to help, so get in touch. I am willing to travel wherever possible.
Can you train my team online?
Yes. Online courses are live and tutor-led, with practical exercises, live demonstrations and the chance to ask questions in real time. They cost less than in-person sessions, and delegates can join from any location.
How much do the courses cost?
Prices are per session, not per person, so the more people you bring the lower the cost each. Every course takes up to 10 delegates, and smaller teams pay less. For a full group of 10, courses run from £500 to £850 a session in person and from £450 to £800 online. For up to 6 delegates it is £50 less, and for up to 3 delegates it is £100 less.
What is included in the price?
Printed course activity workbooks, with their accompanying documents and data sets, are included in in-person prices. Online prices include the course activity workbooks and the same documents and data sets.
Do you offer bundle deals?
Yes. Three bundles cover the Excel courses, the Power BI courses, or all five together. They can bring the cost down to as little as £44 a person per course online or £48 in person, and a bundle is always cheaper than booking the courses one by one. The delegates do not have to be the same people on each course.
Can I train just a few people?
Yes. Courses are closed sessions for your own team, at your premises or online. There are lower prices for up to 6 delegates and for up to 3 delegates, so a small team does not pay for a full room.
How and when do I pay?
I invoice you through Xero, so there is nothing to pay up front. Payment is due within 30 days of the invoice date or before the course starts, whichever is sooner, unless we agree something different in writing.
Is VAT added to the price?
No. The Blue Star Academy is not currently registered for VAT, so the prices on this site are the prices you pay.
What are your cancellation terms?
More than 14 days before the course date, cancelling is free, or I will rearrange the date at no cost. Between 7 and 14 days before, 50% of the course fee is payable. Less than 7 days before, the full fee is payable. I will always offer to rearrange instead where I can, and online and in-person courses are treated the same. A colleague can take a delegate's place for free if you tell me in good time. The full details are in the booking terms.
What do we need for an online course?
Online courses are live, on Microsoft Teams. Each delegate needs a suitable device, a reliable internet connection, a quiet place to join and permission from your IT team to join Teams meetings and open the course files. Each course page has a checklist of the software needed.
How do delegates get the course files?
The course files are zipped and emailed to delegates, or shared through SharePoint. In-person courses also come with printed workbooks.