Microsoft Access training course description A hands on course providing a solid grounding in Microsoft Access. What will you learn Use and customise the Microsoft Access environment. Select, use and customise queries. Define tables. Design forms and reports. Recognise the use of macros. Microsoft Access training course details Who will benefit: Anyone wishing to work with Microsoft Access. Prerequisites: Database fundamentals Duration 3 days Microsoft Access training course contents Introducing databases Flat file databases, Relational databases, the objects defined in an Access database, planning a simple relational database. Open Access and create a database The database wizards, tables, creating and amending tables, using field properties to improve the quality of data entry and system performance, the primary key. Working in datasheet view View, add, modify and delete records, find records. Advantages and disadvantages of entering data directly into a table. Queries Sort and select records form a single table, advantages and disadvantages of entering data via a query, define simple calculated expressions, use 'Totals' queries. Forms Use the form wizards, basic editing of objects created using the form wizards, Data-entry in form view. Reports Use the report wizard, basic editing of objects created using the report wizard, print reports. The multi table environment Plan and create a related table, define a one-to-many relationship, write multi-table queries and use the 'AutoLookup' feature, use the form wizard to create a subform and carry out data-entry in a main/subform, print and amend reports, use the report wizard to create reports based on multi-table. Relationships Working with one-to-one and one-to-many relationships, recognising and handling many-to-many relationships, referential integrity. Select queries Select queries based on related tables, parameter queries, Crosstab, find unmatched queries and Find Duplicate, the implications of the Join properties in a relational query, conditional expressions, and working with the expression builder. Action queries Make table queries, append queries, update queries, delete queries. Customising forms. Using the Toolbox, calculated controls, Combo and List boxes, query by form, working with form and control properties, domain aggregate functions. Reports Report and control properties, customising sorting and grouping, calculated controls on reports, Sub-reports, editing and altering a report's source. Macros Introduction to macros.
Linux fundamentals training course description An introduction to using the Linux operating system with a focus on the command line. Appropriate for all versions of Linux. The starting point for all Linux work, we concentrate on the technical aspects rather than issues such as using browsers. The course is heavily practical in nature. The course can be run on any Linux distribution you wish. What will you learn Describe Linux. Log in and use Linux commands to perform a variety of tasks from manipulating and printing files to looking at and killing processes. Create and edit files with vi. Recognise the role of the administrator. Write simple shell scripts. Customise the user environment. Linux fundamentals training course details Who will benefit: Anybody who needs to use a Linux system. Prerequisites: None. Duration 3 days Linux fundamentals training course contents What is Linux? Operating systems, Linux flavours, Linux distributions, open source software. Getting started Logging in, changing passwords, logging out. Linux basics Command structure. The Linux manuals, basic commands (who, date, tty, uname, echo, banner...) Filesystem commands Home directories, manipulating files and directories, Filesystem layout, Pathnames, hard and symbolic links. Viewing files. The Linux editors ed, vi, shell escapes, .exrc Extracting data from files grep, find, cut, sort and paste... Permissions Theory, chmod, chown, newgrp.. Processes ps, kill, background processes, at, exec, priorities. Managing Linux log files. The Shell Metacharacters, piping and redirection. Basic shell scripting What are shell scripts? Simple scripts, control structures. Variables. Arguments. Customising your environment Environmental variables, stty, .profile and other startup files More shell features Bash and other shells, the history facility, command line editing, aliases, job control, miscellaneous features. Introduction to administration The root user, su. Managing users and groups Archiving files Backups, tar, cpio, dd, gzip. Linux and hardware Main hardware components, Linux device drivers. Connecting to a network IP configuration, ifconfig, ping, netstat, traceroute, dig.
PC fundamentals training course description A basic introductory course for those who have never worked with PCs before. The principle target audience is for those who will become PC support people. What will you learn Cable PCs. Perform preventive maintenance on PCs Run Windows and start applications. Use Microsoft Office applications. Customise Windows. PC fundamentals training course details Who will benefit: Anyone new to PCs. Prerequisites: None. Duration 3 days PC fundamentals training course contents PC hardware Overview of components inside a PC, cabling up a PC, preventive maintenance, cleaning mice, hardware screen controls, booting a PC. Windows overview Versions of Windows, Starting Windows, logging on, shutting down. Using Windows The desktop, the start menu and submenus, getting help, shutting down Windows, switching between applications, sizing and controlling windows, special keys on the keyboard. Accessing files and folders Folders and files, Windows explorer, IE, creating, viewing and manipulating folders, creating, viewing and manipulating files, permissions, bits and bytes, the recycle bin, undeleting and undoing, formatting floppy disks, using floppy disks DOS Accessing DOS, basic DOS commands, drives. Microsoft Office Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, emails, browsing the Internet, printing files, managing print queues. Printing Overview, printing, properties Customisation Customising the task bar, customising the start menu. The control panel, mouse and display properties, Desktop settings, setting the date and time. Networking overview Workgroups and domains, Accessing file and print resources
UNIX fundamentals training course description An introduction to using the UNIX operating system focussing on the command line. Appropriate for all versions of UNIX. The starting point for all UNIX work, we concentrate on the technical aspects rather than issues such as using browsers. The course is heavily practical in nature. What will you learn Describe UNIX. Log in and use UNIX commands to perform a variety of tasks from manipulating and printing files to looking at and killing processes. Create and edit files with vi. Recognise the role of the administrator. Write simple shell scripts. Customise the user environment. UNIX fundamentals training course details Who will benefit: Anybody who needs to use a UNIX system. Prerequisites: None. Duration 3 days UNIX fundamentals training course contents What is UNIX? Operating systems, UNIX flavours, UNIX features. Getting started Logging in, changing passwords, logging out. UNIX basics Command structure. The UNIX manuals, basic commands (who, date, tty, uname, echo, banner...) Filesystem commands Home directories, manipulating files and directories, Filesystem layout, Pathnames, hard and symbolic links. The UNIX Editors ed, vi, shell escapes, .exrc Extracting data from files grep, find, cut, sort and paste Permissions Theory, chmod, chown, newgrp.. Processes ps, kill, background processes, at, exec, priorities. The Shell Metacharacters, piping and redirection. Basic shell scripting What are shell scripts? Simple scripts, control structures. Variables. Arguments. Customising your environment Environmental variables, stty, .profile and other startup files More shell features Bash and other shells, the history facility, command line editing, aliases, job control, miscellaneous features. Introduction to administration The root user, su and tar Archiving files Backups, tar, cpio, dd, gzip. Unix and hardware Main hardware components, Unix device drivers. Connecting to a network IP configuration, ifconfig, ping, netstat, traceroute, dig.
Any team member with Customer interaction (including internal) are the 'Ambassadors' of the company/organisation. If they project positive professionalism - they win others' confidence. If they appear or sound like they are in any way indifferent or unprofessional - they will cost sales and lose clients/customers. With this 2 day Training course, that will be tailored to your company/organisation, each person attending will upgrade their professional standards in people skills, telephone manner and email etiquette. No training in this area may well be a false economy as there is a much greater risk of disenfranchised customers and team members - and probably increases your competitors to win business at your expense. Professional customer care is all too frequently regarded as a token issue in most induction sessions for employees. Surprisingly it is very rarely considered as a key priority, despite being essential for ensuring customer commitment is secure and supplier/partnerships are robust. Excellent customer care is paramount in our ever increasingly competitive market and making customers feel valued and looked after is often a differentiator. This 2-day course will help you understand your customers and the vital importance of customer care in any organisation. You will gain the tools and techniques to apply your learning directly back into the workplace and deliver excellent customer care. Course Syllabus The syllabus of the Professional Customer Care course is comprised of four modules, covering the following: Module One What is Excellent Customer Care? Internal versus external customers Why customer care is important Meeting customer expectations Module Two Making a Personal Difference How do you measure customer care? Making a difference Taking ownership Positive mental attitude Displaying professionalism both face-to-face and over the telephone Using positive language Module Three Gathering Information and Offering Solutions Asking the right questions Active listening skills Summarising and clarifying skills Module Four Dealing with Difficult Situations How to give a 'service' no Demonstrating empathy Assertiveness techniques Handling a complaint Problem solving Saying 'sorry' Making realistic promises and keeping them Real Play Scenarios with a Professional Actor (Optional Extra) This programme benefits significantly from our innovative training feature: Real Play. Using a professional actor who performs role plays as different customer characters in carefully devised situations, the delegates have the opportunity to 'pause' the role play to coach and control their character to improve their skill sets and practice the theory delivered. These scenarios can deal with difficult situations and enacting options to ensure good customer relations are intact. The outcome of the scenario is the responsibility of the delegates, not the trainer and actor. The actor will remain in character throughout the de-brief in order to bring to life the impact and possible next steps. Objectives By the end of the course participants will be able to Adopt a professional telephone manner Communicate assertively by taking control and directing the conversation Deliver information positively by offering options and alternatives Develop a range of versatile behaviours to use when dealing with difficult situations by: Listening actively Using empathy Gathering relevant information through effective questioning Finding solutions to concerns/problems quickly and efficiently Speaking positively and assertively What Is The Benefit? For individuals this course will increase confidence and ability to deal with customers in all situations, which will in turn create customer loyalty and raise their profile. For an employer, ensuring that all customer facing employees are demonstrating excellent customer care instils confidence in the customers and promotes a positive image of the company. In-House Courses Every single team member or employee that has a role which involves engaging with a customer, client and/or a key partner/supplier has a responsibility for projecting a positive image of the organisation which they represent. That may sound obvious, but how many hundreds of experiences have you had as a customer where you were treated with indifference and a distinct lack of professionalism by the receptionist, the retail assistant, the tele-agent, the delivery person, the credit controller or the departmental manager of the operation that you were dealing with? Far too many to count? This is because professional customer care is regarded as a token issue in most induction sessions for employees - and it is very rarely considered as a key priority to ensure customer commitment is secure and supplier/partnerships are robust. Yet the hugely expensive churn in customer/client commitments and staff is enormously expensive and immensely disruptive to any organisation. The Importance of Customers and Clients Every client/customer engaging person needs to recognise that it is ultimately the client or customer that pays their wages. If they gain a basic understanding of the clients' motivations and behaviours, coupled with some core skills in how to care for them, they will attain the status of 'professional'. This will very quickly translate into increased revenues, retained loyalty, high commitment and far greater security for all parties. The foundation has to be based on the authentic commitment to both the customer and also to the organisation they work for. Disenfranchisement readily curdles into sloppy behaviours cloaked in unprofessional attitudes and demeanours; plenty there to repel the most loyal of customers. If your company or organisation relies on repeat business and retaining the confidence and commitment of your clients, then all of your team members - perhaps including managers who set the example and have the biggest influence on the where the needle points to in relation to professionalism - need to be trained on the core basics of professional customer care. Customer Care Programmes from Dickson Training Ltd We are delighted to boast about the many successes we have had in providing effective and long lasting improvements for many clients, where awards have been won and, more importantly, talent has been retained because their clients and customers keep on coming back. Professional customer care extends to suppliers and partners that you value and need to get the best service and rates from, as well as any 'internal clients' such as other departments where you need to rely on their support and collaboration in order to achieve your goals. It is amazing what effective professional customer care training can do for any organisation. Without it your organisation may be vulnerable, with it you are much more likely to see increased performances and much greater security and growth. Scheduled Courses Unfortunately this course is not one that is currently scheduled as an open course, and is only available on an in-house basis. Please contact us for more information.
This workshop has been designed to help managers understand their responsibilities and what they need to do to ensure compliance with current workplace legislation - including the fire safety and CDM regulations. The day will cover the legal background - including an appreciation of how safety legislation has evolved and why; the logic behind recent developments and the implications for staff and employers; key areas of current legislation; roles and responsibilities in health and safety management, including monitoring contractors and suppliers effectively; implementing sound health and safety policies and procedures; getting staff on board, and implementing effective systems. Also, recognising potential risks and hazards and developing strategies to minimise their impact in the workplace. This course will give participants an understanding of: The broader context of the key areas of health and safety regulation which apply to your organisation Existing health and safety practice and guide them in how to shape and implement an effective health and safety policy What they should do and the procedures to support it Potential areas of risk in the workplace - and how to take action to minimise the threat to staff safety How sound health and safety processes can contribute to business performance 1 Understanding the workplace legislation Overview of health and safety and workplace legislation Compliance, the role of the facilities manager, and who is accountable? Breakout session to discuss where we are now and to highlight issues of concern Applying required policies and procedures Developing and implementation/review of the safety policy Communicating with users, clients and contractors Health and safety manual 'Selling' health and safety 2 Key legislation - a practical working guide Asbestos Regulations Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 / 2015 Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) Display Screen Equipment (DSE) Regulations 1992 Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 Fire Precautions (Workplace ) Regulations 2006 Health and Safety (Consultation with Employees) Regulations 1996 Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992 Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1992 REACH - Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of Chemicals Reporting of Injuries, Diseases, and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 1995 Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations 2006 Work Equipment Regulations 3 Controlling contractors Understanding the Regulations Selecting and assessing contractors Understanding and setting accountability Why a method statement? How to apply a permit to work system Safe systems of work Round-table discussion to bring out issues from participants' own experience 4 Risk assessment Understanding your hazards Identifying specialist areas How to undertake these assessments Implementation of sound systems and processes Syndicate exercise identifying where assessments are needed and carrying out assessments 5 Keeping the work environment safe Sick building syndrome and legionella Asbestos Waste management Pest control Provisions for first aid Accident reporting and investigation At-work driver safety Security 6 Fire safety Understanding the Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order Fire certificates The fire risk assessment Testing fire-fighting equipment? Emergency procedures Workshop to examine the procedures for dealing with different types of emergencies 7 Ergonomics programme Ergonomics - important or irrelevant? Are you complying with HSE regulations? Furniture and equipment Display screen equipment assessments Homeworking - your concern or not? Syndicate exercise to review what to do when relocating or refurbishing an office 8 Inspecting and auditing Role of Health and Safety Executive Inspectors - 'be prepared' FM role Staff/trade union involvement Independent audits Records and reports Communicating the results 9 Action plan Participants to list actions they need to take after the course
Linux shell scripting training course description A practical introduction to writing scripts using the Bourne shell under any Linux operating system. Applicable for those using the Korn shell as well. What will you learn Read shell scripts. Write shell scripts. Use different types of quotes. Recognise the role of shell scripts within the Linux system. Linux shell scripting training course details Who will benefit: Programmers developing programs under UNIX. Administrators / support personnel who wish to find out more about the workings of Linux or write simple utility programs. Prerequisites: Linux Fundamentals Duration 2 days Linux shell scripting training course contents Review of Linux fundamentals Basic shell scripts What does the shell do? How are commands executed? Different shells. what is a shell script? Comments, creating shell scripts. Variables Setting variables, using variables, set, scope, export, sourcing, environmental variables, read. Positional parameters $0 to $9, $#, $* and others. shift parameter substitution. Control statements The test command The if statement while loops for loops The case statement. Special characters Redirection of errors, here documents, quoting. Arithmetic in shell scripts The expr command. System shell scripts Screen handling The terminfo database, The tput command. Advanced issues (optional session) Shell functions, getopts, xargs, debugging shell scripts, portability issues. Extras in the Korn shell. Optimising shell scripts The time command, performance tips.
Wireshark 101 training course description Wireshark is a free network protocol analyser. This hands-on course focuses on troubleshooting networks using the Wireshark protocol analyser. The course concentrates on the product and students will gain from the most from this course only if they already have a sound knowledge of the TCP/IP protocols What will you learn Download and install Wireshark. Capture and analyse packets with Wireshark. Configure capture and display filters. Customise Wireshark. Troubleshoot networks using Wireshark. Wireshark 101 training course details Who will benefit: Technical staff looking after networks. Prerequisites: TCP/IP Foundation for engineers Duration 2 days Wireshark 101 training course contents What is Wireshark? Protocol analysers, Wireshark features, versions, troubleshooting techniques with Wireshark. Installing Wireshark Downloading Wireshark, UNIX issues, Microsoft issues, the role of winpcap, promiscuous mode, installing Wireshark. Wireshark documentation and help. Hands on Downloading and installing Wireshark. Capturing traffic Starting and stopping basic packet captures, the packet list pane, packet details pane, packet bytes pane, interfaces, using Wireshark in a switched architecture. Hands on Capturing packets with Wireshark. Troubleshooting networks with Wireshark Common packet flows. Hands on Analysing a variety of problems with Wireshark. Capture filters Capture filter expressions, capture filter examples (host, port, network, protocol), primitives, combining primitives, payload matching. Hands on Configuring capture filters. Working with captured packets Live packet capture, saving to a file, capture file formats, reading capture files from other analysers, merging capture files, finding packets, going to a specific packet, display filters, display filter expressions. Hands on Saving captured data, configuring display filters. Analysis and statistics with Wireshark Enabling/disabling protocols, user specified decodes, following TCP streams, protocol statistics, conversation lists, endpoint lists, I/O graphs, protocol specific statistics. Hands on Using the analysis and statistics menus. Command line tools Tshark, capinfos, editcap, mergecap, text2pcap, idl2eth. Hands on Using tshark. Advanced issues 802.11 issues, management frames, monitor mode, packet reassembling, name resolution, customising Wireshark. Hands on Customising name resolution.
DWDM training course description A concise overview of Wave Division Multiplexing (WDM) with both Coarse Wave Division Multiplexing (CWDM) and Dense Wave Division Multiplexing (DWDM) being covered. The course starts with a review of the relevant elements of fibre transmission and multiplexing before then studying WDM components and architectures. Reliability, resilience and management are then followed by WDM services and futures. What will you learn Explain the benefits of WDM. Describe Dispersion and four way mixing. Describe the different WDM equipment components. Describe different WDM architectures. Explain How DWDM works. DWDM training course details Who will benefit: Anyone working with CWDM/DWDM. Prerequisites: Telecommunications Introduction Duration 2 days DWDM training course contents Fibre communications review Optical transmission, Fibre characteristics, Fibre component parts. Multi Mode Fibre (MMF). Single Mode Fibre (SMF). Fibre connections. Lasers. Attenuations, dispersion, optical signal noise ratios (OSNR) and their effects. Channel Spacing and Signal Direction. Limiting factors to single wavelength. WDM overview Multiplexing, TDM, WDM benefits. WDM standards. CWDM vs. DWDM. Four Wave Mixing (FWM). Impact and countermeasures to FWM on WDM. CWDM ITU G.694.2, channels, channel spacing. DWDM ITU G.694.1, channels, channel spacing. WDM Equipment Components Equipment components and building blocks. Optical Terminal Multiplexers (OTM). Optical Add/Drop Multiplexers (OADM). Adding versus dropping. Optical Amplifiers. Erbium Doped Fibre Amplifiers (EDFA). Transponders and Combiners. WDM/DWDM Hubs. Optical and Electrical Cross Connects (OXCs/DXCs). Types of Cross Connects (Transparent/Opaque). Advantages and disadvantages of various Optical cross connects. WDM Architectures WDM network sections. Point-to-Point, Optical switches, mesh, ring and star topology. Example of combined WDM and other technology network. Wavelength converting transponders, 1R, 2R, 3R. Protection for WDM Sub 50ms failover. Equipment protection. Card protection. Y cable, Splitter protection. Far end laser control. Line protection. OMSP 1+1, OMSP 1:1, OMSP 1: N. Self healing optical ring. Sub Network Connection Protection (SNCP). Automatically Switched Optical Networks (ASON). WDM Management Options In band management. Out of band management. The Optical Supervisory Channel (OSC). OSC capabilities. WDM services WDM Access. Bit rates, Transparent Networks. Modulation, DQPSK. SDH over WDM. Migrating from SDH to DWDM. Ethernet over WDM, IP over WDM. Optical Transport Networks G.709, 'digital wrapper', Optical Channel Payload Unit (OPU), Optical Channel Transport Unit ( OTU), Optical Channel Data Unit (ODU). OTU1, OTU2, OTU3, OTU4. WDM Futures All optical amplification, Raman amplification, distributed, lumped. Bit rates. Solitons. Coherent technologies.
Mobile comms training course description A complete overview of mobile communications covering all the major technologies in a 2-day format. What will you learn GSM GPRS UMTS LTE Alternative mobile strategies Mobile comms training course details Who will benefit: Anyone involved in mobile communications. Prerequisites: None. Duration 2 days Mobile comms training course contents Introduction Telephony, RF, mobile and wireless technologies, distances, mobile phone generations, base stations, cells, frequencies, cell types, MSC, handoffs, channels, internetworking, the Internet, wireless Internet access. UK operators, worldwide operators. GSM What is it? Timeline, digitising voice, channels, GSM architecture, Abis, A, Um, MS, BTS, BSC, MSC, HLR, VLR, EIR, AuC. Radio link aspects, GSM signalling overview, signalling protocols, roaming, GSM call flows, authentication. IMEI. SIM cards. GPRS What it is, 2G to 3G, GPRS user features, GPRS network features, GPRS elements, GPRS architecture, overlay, SGSN, GGSN, GPRS ATTACH, GPRS protocol stack, GPRS timeslots, EDGE, GPRS classes, GPRS routing, GPRS packet format. UMTS and 3G What is 3G? IMT-2000, 3G proposals, what is UMTS? Speed comparison, evolution to 3G, CDMA, CDMA 2000, W-CDMA, UMTS components, UMTS infrastructure, RNC, Node B, network architecture, packet switched attach, mobility in 3G, HSDPA. LTE and 4G LTE architecture and principles, Physical layer, Air interface, E-UTRAN, Evolved packet core, service provision. Other wireless solutions Integration of services, Bluetooth, Blackberry, VoIP, Mobile IP, 802.11, WiFi, 802.16, WiMax, What is 5G?