Case Study: Nigel gains confidence for a new role through digital upskilling
When Nigel Swinden, 66, took on additional responsibilities as an Operations Manager alongside his long career as a saturation diver, he knew he needed to strengthen his digital skills. His new role involved preparing reports, travelling for work, and representing his company, all of which required confidence with tools like Excel and PowerPoint.
Keen to get up to speed, Nigel was delighted when he discovered the free digital courses available at the Weymouth Digital Skills Hub. He decided to enrol on the 5 week Microsoft Intermediate course, hoping it would give him the knowledge he needed to step into his new duties with confidence.
Nigel threw himself into the course and particularly enjoyed exploring Excel and PowerPoint. Before attending, he felt limited in what he could do: he knew how to put numbers into boxes, but not how to analyse them or automate tasks. By the end of the course, he was surprised by just how much was possible, often from a single ribbon.
“In today's world it's good to be familiar with Microsoft.”
Nigel said he appreciated not just the topics, but the challenge of learning something new.
“I loved the challenge. I love to learn and would love to do more courses in the future.”
He still feels there is more to learn, but the course has already made a real impact. Nigel is now preparing to travel for work with renewed confidence, using his new skills to produce clearer reports and represent his company more effectively.
The experience has sparked a desire to keep developing, and he hopes to return to the Hub for further training soon.