US2U Consulting's IT Consultant and Microsoft expert Michael Holness once again spoke at Norfolk Chamber's Chamber Sessions on Tuesday 20 September, on how to 'Be Better at Excel for Business'.

Both Michael and his content were regarded as very good or excellent by all attendees, as he offered insights into how to get more out of Excel to maximise your organisation's productivity and make a positive difference to your company's bottom line.

• "The shortcuts handout was extremely helpful."

• "It was great to brush up on formulas and macros."

• "I learnt some valuable Excel tips. The session was very 'punchy' and delivered everything in a short time frame."

• "It was great to learn about the advanced uses for Excel - I will go back to the office and investigate further!"

• "Being so new to Excel I really benefitted from this session."

For more information on how Michael and US2U Consulting can help your organisation reach its IT potential, click here.

Also, take advantage of our 'Back to School' promotion by securing an Excel group session for up to 5 people (to be delivered by the end of January 2017) for the discounted price of £675.00 when you book by the end of November!

Marketing Coordinator Kerwin Blackburn has produced a Jackson Pollock-styled painting for Norwich social enterprise Your Own Place CIC.

Titled "Illumination" to reflect the organisation's theme of highlighting and providing training of key skills related to independent living, with the goal of tackling youth homelessness, the painting is in their company colours of orange and green.

"People are totally wowed by it!" said founder Rebecca White. Good luck to Your Own Place CIC with their official launch on 27 September!

Kerwin Blackburn attended the Social Enteprise East of England's annual Trading Aces conference held at Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, on Wednesday 7 September.

The conference was packed with individuals from a diverse range of industries and professional backgrounds and included talks and workshops that provided insights into the growing area of social enterprise, with the aim of the day to encourage people to interact and creatively 'trade' ideas with counterparts from any sector.

In particular, this provided Kerwin with a glimpse into some of the dynamics and challenges facing those seeking to expand in the sector or move their organisation to a more socially-enterprising and sustainable business model. It was also an opportunity to consider how US2U Consulting fits into this new way of approaching business.

Peter Holbrook, Chief Executive of Social Enterprise UK, commented in his opening address, "'tomorrow's company' looks like, or is, a social enteprise, so our focus should be on creating sustainable value from all of our business and economic transactions".

Congratulations to US2U Consulting client UEA School of History for ranking first for overall satisfaction at the University of East Anglia in this year's National Student Survey.

What's more, however, is that the School of History also placed joint first nationally in the subject area and received 100% in overall satisfaction!

The School of History's performance tops off another year of impressive results for UEA - whose overall joint third position out of English mainstream universities cements its title as the only university to achieve top-five ranking every year since the survey began in 2005.

Reflecting on the National Student Survey results, which measured student satisfaction across a number of areas including teaching, academic support and university resources and management, Head of UEA School of History, Professor Cathie Carmichael (pictured), said, "thank you for the part US2U Consulting played in this moment of triumph!"

Keep up the good work!

US2U Consulting Marketing Coordinator Kerwin Blackburn recently spent two weeks in India, studying The Role of Social Entrepreneurship in Creating Scalable and Sustainable Change as part of the British Council's Generation UK-India initiative.

Based at IILM Institute for Business & Management in Gurgaon, south of national capital Delhi, the study and cultural immersion program introduced participants to the growing area of Social Enterprise, with a particular focus on India's economic development, its rural markets and the 'bottom of the pyramid'. The course was delivered through a series of lectures and industry visits - to schools, social enterprises and non-governmental organisations.

As well as providing an opportunity to gain insights on how to enhance US2U Consulting's Corporate Social Responsibility strategy, it also provided Kerwin with professional and networking opportunities, including the opportunity to speak on stage at the British High Commission in New Delhi on behalf of the 30 participants on the trip.

"The trip was a unique experience - to get immersed in the upcoming area of Social Enterprise and to see evidence of the social impact it can achieve while also being compatible with the characteristics of the private sector in the 21st Century. I look forward to putting many of the principles learnt into practice and would encourage anyone to explore the sector for themselves!" said Kerwin.

To read about Kerwin's visit to non-profit organisation Literacy India and its offshoot social enterprise Indha Craft, click here.