Microsoft Excel has been around since the 1980s, but it’s more ubiquitous than ever. Originally conceived as a spreadsheet program, the ever-popular Excel is used by professionals in every conceivable industry for graphs, tables, and its own proprietary macros language, VBA (Visual Basic for Applications).
As part of Microsoft’s Office Suite package, Excel’s use has grown more in recent years as the result of the company’s migration to a Software as a Service (SaaS) business model. Whereas early users could buy the software, install it, and use it for years, Microsoft today charges a monthly fee for access and regular updates.
Excel is a required skill for countless positions in the business world today, from data analysis to investment banking. While a basic understanding of the program remains widespread, expertise in the use of functions like conditional formatting, tracking ROI, and creating filters and dropdowns is invaluable for many professionals.
Though you’ll need to have other tools in your tool belt, a solid foundation in Excel is helpful in some careers, but essential in many others.
Excel Careers in London
Careers that require Excel skills are varied, but learning this crucial business application alone won’t lead to a new position. These highly desirable careers require training in multiple disciplines and skill sets, and Excel expertise is one piece of that puzzle.
Salaries for employees skilled in Excel can be quite lucrative, especially in a city like London. Prudential, HSBC, BP, GlaxoSmithKline, and Barclays are a few of the best-known Fortune Global 500 companies headquartered in London, and these large corporations often need more personnel.
Some of the most common positions that require Excel skills in the banking/finance field include Financial Analysts, Investment Analysts, and Investment Bankers. Positions of this type often pay well. For example, in London, Financial Analysts earn about £45,000 each year on average and Investment Analysts see salaries of around £49,500.
On the data side, Business Analysts, Data Analysts, and Marketing Analysts all use Excel for a wide variety of applications. While some of these positions can be quite lucrative as well, the investment banking side of the ledger typically does somewhat better in terms of salary.
Current job postings in the Greater London region call for roles like Excel Specialist, VBA Excel Developer, and Audit and Payment Excel Analyst. With so many professionals in-demand, it’s not surprising that Microsoft’s popular program’s name has found its way into job titles. It behooves you to learn Excel if you have a future in finance, marketing, or data analysis.
In-Person Excel Classes in London
If you’re looking for schools that host in-person Excel courses, the London area currently offers two alternatives: General Assembly and New Horizons.
General Assembly’s Excel classes are mainly for intermediate-level students. Their Excel Bootcamp is open to beginners, but if you’re familiar with the program, consider their Advanced Excel Training, Formulas & Functions Bootcamp, or Intermediate Formulas & Functions Workshop.
New Horizons offers beginner, intermediate, and advanced Excel training in the form of their Excel 2019 Parts 1,2, and 3 courses. They also provide a separate Microsoft Excel for Office 365 for students in need of foundational skills. Check listings for more detailed information.
Virtual Excel Classes
Although some students prefer the in-person experience of a traditional classroom, many more seek out their Excel training virtually. Live online courses offer comprehensive training in a dynamic, interactive environment. You can learn from the comfort of your home or office from expert instructors who answer questions in real time, and can even control your screen, with permission.
The creator of this tool, Noble Desktop, provides live online Excel coursework you can take from London or anywhere. Their flagship offering is an Excel Bootcamp that takes students from fundamentals through advanced Excel for business in an immersive 21-hour experience. You’ll work with macros, learn formulas and PivotTables, and gain proficiency in advanced database functions.
Noble also offers shorter Excel classes for beginner, intermediate, and advanced-level students, as well as a Data Analytics Bootcamp that includes Excel training.
NYIM Training offers live online Excel courses, including Excel Specialist and Excel Expert certificate programs. NYC Career Centers hosts virtual live Excel training, too, from Excel Programming with VBA to its own Excel Bootcamp.
Corporate Excel Training in London
Even in companies that require Excel training, employees’ skills can range from beginner to intermediate. If you think your team would benefit from expanding their Excel skills, Noble Desktop provides corporate Excel training available onsite or virtually through teleconferencing. Current offerings include Excel Levels 1,2, and 3, and Excel Programming with VBA.
Would you prefer that your employees get their Excel training outside normal business hours? Noble also offers the option to purchase vouchers to open enrollment group courses. Employers get discounts with these vouchers when purchasing in bulk. Contact Noble Desktop by email to learn more.