Common (and not so common) questions
All you have to do is ask!
- Do you cater for absolute beginners?
- Can I book 2 or more courses, back to back?
- I learn best when I can get my hands on the computer and do it myself.
- I'm quite shy. What if I don't understand something the instructor is showing me / us?
- Will lunch be supplied if I come to the Boost training premises?
- I need to learn all kinds of things to do my job, and I can't decide which software courses to book.
- Do you teach people on PCs or Apple Macs?
- How long is the instruction day?
- Will you come to my / our premises to teach?
- Can I pay in advance?
- What happens if I have to cancel a course?
- What if I think I only need half a day?
- Do I add extra VAT on top of your course prices?
- What kind of certificate do I get after the course?
- I would like manuals for all the software I learn.
- Do you provide the machines?
- Can I bring a laptop?
- I'm thinking of buying a new laptop before my course begins. Which laptop do you recommend?
- My friend is interested in doing a design / publishing / graphics course ...
- I was going to buy my loved one a training course with you. Do you do gift vouchers?
- I had some training in a previous version of the software, and now it's been upgraded. What should I do?
- I've decided to move / my company has changed from Quark to InDesign ...
- I built my own website in tables, a few years ago and now I'm told tables are bad and have seen loads of websites that are better designed than mine. What should I do?
- I'm new to Apple Mac, and I want to learn some software skills. What do you offer?
- I can book onto a council-run Photoshop course for a fraction of the price you charge! Why should I come to Boost?
- Can I bring a friend along, to knock down the price?
- Do you do any courses for business people who want to know more about web technologies, and not feel so ignorant when clients talk about the internet?
- What if I forget half of what you taught me?
- Is there parking at your training premises?
- Someone bought me an Apple Mac as a present, and I don't know where to start. Help!
- We want you to train us at our offices but don't have the computers, can you bring computers with you?
- What do I / my employees get for the cost of the course?
- Where can I find a full list of all the courses you offer?
- How do I know what level I am / we are?
- Do you have a set of terms and policies?
- What training materials are provided on the course?
- Where are your courses?
- I know what I need to achieve but I don't know which software or courses I need to achieve it!
- How do I pay for my course/s?
- Why shouldn't I just buy a book, instead of attending one of your courses?
- Why don't I just read the help files and do the tutorials, instead of attending one of your courses?
- What use is it to me that your instructors have different backgrounds?
- How do you tailor my course/s?
- When do your courses run?
- How do I tell you what I thought of the course?
- Do you teach any Microsoft courses, such as Project, Outlook, Access, Front Page, Publisher and Visio?
- What are the minimum system requirements for Boost's courses?
- What's the difference between an update and an upgrade?
1. Do you cater for absolute beginners?
Absolutely. All our instructors are very patient teachers, and all-round nice folk. They don't patronise, and if something isn't sinking in, they will find a different way to explain it, rather than becoming impatient with you. Some of our students suffer from conditions such as MS, which can affect short-term memory, or they may be dyslexic and require notes to be written in a particular way.
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2. Can I book 2 or more courses, back to back?
Yes, but it is not the best way to learn. We always advise our customers to space out their courses, if they can. Generally this means a day on, followed by a day off, ideally. It gives you a chance to practice what you have learned each day, and we are more than happy to give you tasks to achieve on the non-instructing days.
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3. I learn best when I can get my hands on the computer and do it myself.
Studies have shown that interactive learning is the most effective method. Wherever appropriate, we encourage attendees to run though tasks and explore the software for themselves. Occasionally the instructor will run though more mandatory aspects like tools and control panels on the projector screen, so that everyone is at the same level of understanding. Added to this, we have other ingenious ‘methods' of training mixed in to every course, to ensure it all sinks in, one way or another!
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4. I'm quite shy. What if I don't understand something the instructor is showing me / us?
Some people are naturally more shy than others, especially when in a group. Our instructor is renowned for being approachable and friendly. Hopefully this means more shy pupils will be able to ask questions during the training sessions, or our instructor will be ready and willing to answer any questions during the breaks.
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5. Will lunch be supplied if I come to the Boost training premises?
Yes, if it is a group booking. We keep our prices very competitive, with as few overheads as possible. To achieve this, we do not supply lunch for individuals. We supply tea and biscuits during the morning and afternoon breaks, and due to our central location, there are many restaurants and shops on our doorstep, to ensure individuals have a pleasant lunch break.
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Call us and we will advise you on which software you need for which tasks, or read our program summaries for a clearer idea. And remember, we can book you in for a Mix-and-Match course, so that you only learn the bits you need from each program, to get your job done. If this type of course is suitable for your needs, it will save you a lot of money. See our mix-and-match courses page for more information.
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7. Do you teach people on PCs or Apple Macs?
We teach on either or both. There is barely any difference between learning on a PC and a Mac. However, our operating system courses are Mac only, and we also instruct in the Apple software suites.
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8. How long is the instruction day?
We generally aim to start at 10 am, which gives most people time to get through city traffic. There is a short 10-15 minute morning and afternoon break, and a lunch hour, at about 1pm. Software training can be fairly intense so we round up at 4.30pm, with a question and summary session from 4.30 til 5pm, if there is anything you need further clarification on.
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9. Will you come to our / my premises to teach?
Yes. But we will charge travel expenses (usually petrol allowance, at 40p/mile).
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Is the Pope Catholic? Soon we will have a direct payment facilty on our website. In the meantime, please call us on 0117 924 6264, and we will instruct you.
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11. What happens if I have to cancel a course?
Due to commitments to all our other customers' schedules, we do require a 50% cancellation fee for lost bookings, if you cancel within 48 hours of the commencement of the course. Otherwise, we will happily reschedule. For further information, please see our terms and conditions.
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12. What if I think I / my employee only need(s) half a day?
For those on a tight budget, we will consider providing a half-day course so you can "lick it and see". However, unless you are very local, we do charge travel expenses and a £55 mid-day travel fee, which means a 1-day course is actually cheaper and better value, in the long-run.
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13. Do I add extra VAT on top of your course prices?
14. What kind of certificate do I get after the course?
A completion certificate, denoting the software or mix of software, and the level at which it was studied.
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15. I would like manuals for all the software I learn.
This is easy to arrange. One A5 manual is included in the cost of your course, free of charge. It includes a task-filled CD in the back cover. We charge £15 per extra manual. Turnaround is usually within 24-48 working hours.
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16. Do you provide the machines?
We can provide 3 laptops, for up to 6 people (in pairs).
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17. Can I bring my own laptop?
Yes, by all means. Please ensure the machine has the software in question pre-installed and is fast and powerful enough to run efficiently. This is particularly important if you are learning in a group as a slow machine may mean you miss some of the tasks.
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18. I'm thinking of buying a new laptop before my course begins. What do you recommend?
Call us to discuss your usage, budget and requirements, and we will do the rest.
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19. My friend is interested in doing a design / publishing / graphics course ...
If you recommend Boost to them, and they book a minimum of 2 days' training with us, we will send you a £15 cheque, as part of our Referral Scheme, to thank you for your trouble. No vouchers. No coupons. Just ready dosh - simple! We can even pay you by BACS.
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20. I was going to buy my loved one a training course with you. Do you do gift vouchers?
Yes, just tell us what you need, and we will send you some out. They are typically in denominations of £295 for a 1-day course, as a 1-2-1, or £525 for a 2-day, 1-2-1 course.
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You can either attend a half-day upgrade summary, where the instructor runs through the new features on a projected screen, with examples ... or, you can attend one of our interactive 1-day upgrade courses, where you will get the chance to try out the new features for yourself.
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22. I've decided to move / my company has changed from Quark to InDesign ...
We run Quark to InDesign Migration courses, at any level, whether task-led, role-led, or as a set programme.
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Book onto our CSS course. This is up to CSS 2 standard, and provides a much more streamlined, faster, and more Search Engine Friendly way to work. It is a 1-day course and will provide an excellent foundation for the most advanced design features.
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24. I'm new to Apple Mac, and I want to learn some software skills. What do you offer?
We can mix and match a Mac Operating System (OS) module with any software courses. We also provide PC to Mac Migration courses.
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Photoshop is a household name nowadays, and has become popularised as a way of "jazzing up photos", creating weird photo effects like warping, sticking one head onto another's body etc. What can we say? If someone buys a tennis racket and has some tennis lessons, does that make them a professional player? We only teach professional-level Photoshop, which incurs professional-level fees.
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26. Can I bring a friend along, to knock down the price?
Yes, this will be cheaper than the price you would each pay if you were doing separate 1-2-1 courses.
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We have designed and devised the perfect course for those who have been putting off the move into internet-related matters but have finally decided to bite the bullet. You will no longer feel ignorant, or embarrassed, about your lack of knowledge and may even teach your clients a thing or two! It will bring you up to speed, painlessly!
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28. What if I forget half of what you taught me?
We provide 60 days' free customer support after the completion of any course, and have even been known to extend this where the customer has delayed buying the software and not had the chance to practice what they learned. We are more than happy to devise a few extra tasks for you (besides the tasks you find in our manuals) during that time too, just to give you some practice.
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29. Is there parking at your training premises?
There is no guaranteed parking. As our training room is situated in Clifton, right in the heart of Bristol City, we would suggest taking a taxi, bus or walking. There are major several bus routes that will bring you to our door. Click here for more information on local bus routes.
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30. Someone bought me an Apple Mac as a present, and I don't know where to start. Help!
We run great Beginners' Mac OS courses so you can find your way around your computer, make your life easier through unleashing the power within the pre-installed software, and feel confident about using your glorious new machine. Using a computer will never be the same.
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We can provide 5 laptops free of charge. If you need more, there is a charge of £50+VAT per machine.
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32. What do I get for the cost of the course?
Light refreshments, an A5 training manual, containing a task-filled CD, 60 days' free email (and sometimes telephone) follow-up support, plus a completion certificate.
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33. Where can I find a full list of all the courses you offer?
Just visit our courses list page.
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34. How do I know what level I am / we are?
Just call us and will ask you a few tailored questions to help us guage your level of expertise.
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35. Do you have a set of terms and conditions?
Please visit our terms and conditions page.
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36. What training materials are provided on the course?
Software courses include a computer, often exclusive to each student, dependent on numbers, or at most catering for pairs. A pen, and pad are also provided, as well as your free A5 manual, and any extra notes your trainer has made or compiled for you that may be relevant to your requirements.
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We train mostly in Bristol, because our offices are based here. However, we have also trained in London and Bath. For all training outside of an hour's drive from Bristol city centre, we may need to add an extra travel fee or subsistence charge. Please call us to discuss location, and we will try our best to work something out for you.
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38. I know what I need to achieve but I don't know which software or courses I need to achieve it!
That's what we're here for. You can pick our brains any time on which programs do what and the best, and cheapest, solution for you to achieve your goals.
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39. How do I pay for my course/s?
Unless we have an ongoing contract and service agreement with you, we require payment at the end of each day's training.
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40. Why shouldn't I just buy a book, instead of attending one of your courses?
Computer books are great, and we can certainly recommend a few, but they can never substitute a human being, whom you can ask real-time questions, which may be hard to locate in an index. And we aren't just saying it, but our teaching simply brings it to life, and you will learn so much more this way.
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Again, some help files and tutorials are excellent as a complement to training, but many software programs now link simply to online forums for help (notably Creative Suite), and this can leave the student feeling like they don't know where to start. We believe it scatters the information and instruction to the wind and does not provide clear, concise or tailored enough instruction. Also, e-training can be piecemeal. In our experience, there is nothing better to focus the brain than a dedicated decent chunk of time away from the ususal routine, to help learning sink in more effectively.
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42. What use is it to me that your instructors have different backgrounds?
Really, anyone can sit and read a book, and learn it, and then pass on the information to someone else. Far fewer people are vigilant enough to stay up-to-date with software updates and features (or problems) or can bring the subject to life through their own professional experience of the actual software they are teaching. We do not regurgitate computer manuals. We share a lot of the information we read, but the true value in our training services is that we impart a lot of real-life experience, knowledge and wisdom, that can't be found in most books or manuals.
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43. How do you tailor my course/s?
We like to communicate with all our customers before their course begins. This generally entails asking a few targeted questions about their intentions and needs, which then help us design the perfect course for them.
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When you want them! We're very flexible with our dates and can fit around most customers' arrangements and commitments, which means you don't have to wait for months to start learning.
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45. How do I tell you what I thought of the course?
We ask you to fill out a simple form at the end of the course, which helps us sustain our high level of customer staisfaction. If you prefer, you can submit feedback to us via this website, on the Feedback Page. All feedback is treated confidentially. If your feedback is negative we would like you tell us, so we can put the matter right, and if your feedback is positive, we'd like you tell everyone you know - check out our £15 Cheque Referral Scheme, to see how you can generate money from us for a reliable recommendation.
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We offer brilliant beginners' courses in Powerpoint, Word and Excel. If you need more specific Microsoft software training, please call us.
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47. What are the minimum system requirements for Boost's courses?
Generally, we would suggest that any machine brought to the classroom has the minimum specifications:
PC
Windows XP Service Pack 2 or Windows Vista Home Premium
1.8 GHz processor
9 gigabytes of free space
DVD drive (for installation)
MAC
Mac OS X version 10.4.1
1.8 GHz processor
10 gigabytes of free space
DVD drive (for installation)
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48. What's the difference between an update and an upgrade?
An update is otherwise known as a "patch". It addresses various problems in software and is most often free. An upgrade is a part-rewrite of the software, introducing new features and functions. It nearly always costs money.
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If you have any other enquiries about the training services we offer, please call us on 0117 924 6264, or email us.
If you wish to book onto a course, please go to our bookings page.
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