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For the last 12 years, I have been working in and around South Cheshire for the local Chambers of Commerce, providing business advice and coaching to anyone looking to start up their own business.

Having not grown up with computers, I have had to learn how to use them for my work and personal interests, by trial and error. I am now keen to share my knowledge and skills with others, as they take their first steps into the unknown with this useful and entertaining technology!

Where I cover: All the main towns in South Cheshire, including Crewe and Nantwich, Sandbach, Holmes Chapel, Congleton, Macclesfield, Middlewich, Winsford and Tarporley.

To contact Andrew, click here. 

Availability: I am available Monday – Friday, by prior arrangement.

What I teach:

• Switching on – a practical guide to getting started, for absolute beginners.
• Basic Computer Skills – using the mouse and keyboard, navigating around the screen, managing files and folders.
• Using the Internet – for online shopping, banking, booking travel and searching for information.
• Using the Internet – for communication by Email and using social networking sites (including Skype, Twitter and Facebook).
• Auction Sites – how to set up and actively use an  E-bay account.
• Editing and filing digital photographs and creating your family tree.
• Saving your favourite music and making CDs.
• Build a simple website for hobbies or a small business.
• Start a blog.
• Security awareness and precautions.

About me

For over twenty years I owned and managed my own wholesale and retail business in Cheshire.  Since then, for the last twelve years, I have been working for the Chambers of Commerce in South Cheshire,  providing information and guidance to their members who were planning to start some form of self-employment or business.

As part of that role, I deliver group training sessions as well as business coaching and advice on a one to one basis. In order to develop my delivery skills and style, I recently completed the City and Guilds, Levels 3 and 4 in PTLLS (Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector) which gave me a fascinating insight into the professional teaching process and some new, invaluable and practical, teaching skills.

My first serious encounter with a computer was when I started working with Chamber clients. Apart from some early ad hoc training from colleagues and at poorly-equipped, or crowded, local evening classes, I have developed my own knowledge of information technology, simply by using it for my work, or to pursue various hobbies and interests. In fact, I suspect that this is how most people acquire their computer skills and is probably as good as any as it is the interest in the subject that makes it an enjoyable and compelling process. I believe that one of the best ways for someone new to computing, to pick up their basic skills quickly, is to be shown how it will help them to acquire some area of knowledge about a topic of close interest to them.

One personal example of this was when I decided to show my 87 year old Father how the system worked. Although he had been employed well into his seventies, first in the RAF and then for a local engineering company, he had never touched a personal computer and showed little inclination to do so until I broached the subject, with a topic I knew would be of interest to him. When I brought his old school up on the screen, with a list of past Head Masters and the Old School Song, he was instantly hooked! A few minutes later, I left him on his own, with mouse in hand, enjoying an unexpected trip down memory lane and a great sense of satisfaction for me – an excellent example of the aims and objectives of Digital Unite!

Another, more work related example of how the ‘IT’ world has helped enhance my career over the years – like many, I have developed a ‘portfolio’ career (a combination of job and self-employment) and have done so by quickly and cost effectively creating a website to promote each activity. In my case, three examples are http://www.businessbasics.co.uk, http://www.telecomplus.org.uk/costsaver and of course http://www.digitalunite.com.

After work, I find the internet and my computer indispensible in my leisure interests, particularly sailing and music. When arranging an annual sailing week with a group of friends, who live all around the world, emails will fly round the group for months before the trip. I have set up a shared Blog, in which each member can contribute, to record our adventures and have registered a domain name for a proposed website, which will add to our entertainment and interest in our hobby.

As information and communication technology (ICT) now affects all of us, in many areas of our lives, it is really vital that everyone has at least some understanding of what it means to them and how to use basic technology, to obtain services from banks, local government and medical centres, as well as exploit it for family and social benefit. I hope to play a small part in this social revolution.

February 26th, 2010 bobholmes | Comments Off

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