About this course
A first course in Python for people with no coding background. Delegates set up a Python environment, then learn variables, data types, operators, conditions, loops, functions, lists and dictionaries, reading and writing files, handling errors and using libraries. The course ends with short projects that automate routine office tasks and load spreadsheet data with pandas.
Why this course
Staff spend many hours on repetitive tasks such as renaming files, merging spreadsheets and cleaning data that a short script could do in seconds. Python is free, widely used and the standard entry point to data analysis and machine learning. Basic coding skills save time, reduce manual errors and prepare staff for more advanced analytical work.
What delegates will be able to do
By the end of the course, delegates will be able to
- Write and run Python scripts using variables, conditions and loops
- Create reusable functions and organise data in lists and dictionaries
- Read from and write to text, CSV and Excel files
- Handle common errors and debug simple scripts
- Automate a routine office task using a short Python script
Who should attend
Administrators, analysts, accountants, researchers and ICT staff who want to start coding. No prior programming knowledge is needed, only confident use of a computer and spreadsheets.
How it is delivered
Guided, hands-on coding in Jupyter notebooks and a code editor, with frequent short exercises and small automation projects based on everyday office tasks. It is available as a public course, in-house at your premises, or as live virtual sessions. Duration and dates are confirmed in your quote, and in-house groups can have the examples and exercises fitted to their organisation.