f-keys ltd
Canterbury
The Keys that open the doors to knowledge Alex Waterton is passionate about
helping people to do things the easy way, which is why he started a business
revealing the secrets of the Microsoft Office applications that people use every
day. “There are easier ways to do many things in Microsoft Word, Microsoft
Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft OneNote, Microsoft Access, Microsoft
Project – and most people are just not aware of what’s possible,” he says.
F-Keys was launched back in 1998 and became a limited company in March 2000 and
the current team includes Carol Downey Microsoft Certfied Trainer, who started
out originally as one of Alex’s students and worked her way up to become a
Microsoft Office Specialist Instructor, and Microsoft Certfied Trainer just like
Alex. Also on the team is Jo White, who was Alex’s tutor and mentor during his
time at Mid-Kent College when he studied for his JEB Teaching Diploma
qualification before continuing on to complete his Certificate in Education at
Christ Church College Canterbury. Having developed a training suite that allows
students to work in comfortable (rather than cramped) conditions, Alex and the
team at F-Keys are flexible and passionate about designing the ideal learning
solutions for individuals and businesses. “At F-Keys first we work to understand
what a business wants to achieve and then the courses are customised and built
around the learners. The focus is on how to make the most of the features and
functionality within Microsoft Office so that the processes and people using
them are ultimately more efficient and productive.” One of the most important
aspects of the F-Keys training is to encourage people to become more confident
and aware in their use of these programs, so that they begin to find their way
around more easily to solve their own solutions rather than disturbing fellow
staff members or simply following the manual blindly.