The hidden cost of Microsoft Office training (and how to cut it down for good)

Gemma
May 18
2 min read

Let’s talk about something few companies like to admit: Microsoft Office training costs more than you think.

For individuals, that might mean hundreds of pounds on one-off courses that barely scratch the surface. For businesses, it can mean tens of thousands annually—with little return on investment if the training doesn’t stick.

In fact, the UK spends over £6.5 billion each year on workforce training, and yet 42% of employees still say they don’t feel confident using the digital tools essential to their jobs. So, where’s the disconnect?

students working on their laptops — Classroom training is often deemed to be ineffective long term

It’s not just about the cost of training—it’s about the cost of ineffective training.

The real cost of Office training

Whether you're self-employed, leading a team, or re-entering the workforce, you’ve likely encountered one of these:

£200–£1,000 per in-person course (per person!)
2–3 days off work to attend a class
One-size-fits-all material that doesn’t apply to real-world tasks
Information overload - you remember 10% and use 1%

Even online training platforms often charge between £20–£50 per course, but those courses are static, outdated, or too generic to be meaningful.

Meanwhile, the average UK worker loses over 21 days a year to inefficiencies caused by poor digital skills. That’s nearly a full month of productivity, per employee, lost due to slow, incorrect, or repetitive Microsoft Office work.

For individuals: it’s a confidence + cost issue

One in five UK adults report feeling “digitally excluded” in the workplace.
52% of working adults say they need more training in basic tools like Excel and Word.

Most people want to upskill - but the traditional training model is, expensive, time-consuming and overwhelming.

And worse? It doesn’t build lasting confidence.

For companies: it’s a hidden productivity drain

According to the IDC/Microsoft White Paper:

Companies lose $10,000+ per employee per year in productivity due to inefficient use of software.

Hiring a trainer to come in for the day might tick the “development” box - but most of that training is forgotten within a week if it’s not reinforced in a meaningful, practical way.

You don’t just need training.

You need transformation in how your team uses tools every single day.

How Smart Skills Academy cuts costs (and builds real confidence)

At Smart Skills Academy, we’ve created a training model that’s radically different - and radically more effective. Here’s how we solve the problems individuals and businesses face:

🚫 Traditional Training	✅ Smart Skills Academy
High upfront costs	Affordable access
Generic, one-time lessons	Practical, task-based tutorials
One-size-fits-all	Learn what you need, when you need it
No follow-up	Ongoing support & micro-learning
Forgettable formats	Bite-sized, repeatable videos