Associate Trainer/Consultant: A2Z Training and Consultancy Services Ltd:

Mark Aldridge

After leaving University Mark worked in British Rail's Computing department initially on ICL and IBM mainframes but later at the start of the IBM PC revolution in a PC support role. After several years working as a programmer on both Mainframes and Networked PCs he gained responsibility for the Graduate Programmer training scheme run by BR. His seven years at BR provided practical experience of the industrial and business use of computing particularly in the areas of mainframes, wide area and local area networks, databases, programming languages, project management and desktop applications for spreadsheets and word processors.

In 1988 Mark left BR to join the growing training section of Applied Micros which went on to become a nationally respected training provider of PC solutions before becoming SCE/Applied Training. Growing with the company he used his business experience to specialise in the designing, writing and presentation of customised PC training, producing courses used by such companies as British Telecom, North West Water, Regional Health Authorities, British Gas, ICI and many others. Within SCE/Applied Training he became a Regional Training Supervisor with responsibility for the two major training centres in the north of England.

Mark sees a need for cost-effective training designed to provide an understanding of the tools rather than simply an exhaustive list of features. To that end in 1993 he set up A2Z Computer Services, a business whose aim is to enable organisations to maximise efficiency through the best application of technology.

Mark delivers training and consultancy in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access), Lotus SmartSuite (Ami Pro, Word Pro, 123, Freelance and Approach), and Microsoft Project. He regularly undertakes system development projects in Access, to keep his skills up-to-date through practical experience.

Mark is a Lotus Certified Professional whose clients include AstraZeneca, Royal & Sun Alliance, Akzo Nobel, Daresbury Laboratories, Pilkington Glass, Kelloggs, and BAE Systems (formerly British Aerospace).