Power BI Training Case Study: Upskilling Teams at West Midlands Trains
West Midlands Trains operates passenger rail services across the West Midlands and into London. Working with FutureSavvy, the organisation has built Power BI capability across successive groups of staff through on-site training delivered at its own premises.
The challenge
A rail operation generates data continuously — fleet, performance, training compliance, rostering. Converting that into reporting the business can act on requires Power BI skills held across teams rather than concentrated in a single analyst, where reporting capability becomes a bottleneck and a single point of failure.
The organisation had previously sought Power BI training elsewhere. That training had not produced the confidence its staff needed, and a further provider had to be found.
The solution
FutureSavvy delivered Power BI Introduction as a two-day on-site course at the client's premises, for a defined cohort of staff. On-site delivery was chosen so that a group could work together with a trainer for two full days, rather than fitting virtual sessions around operational duties.
The course was adapted during delivery to cover applications specific to the roles represented in the room, in addition to the planned syllabus.
The training over the past 2 days has been fantastic. I had previously sat on Power BI training with another company and walked out more confused than when I walked in. Noel was superb at explaining everything, showing us everything we'd need, as well as going into some other aspects that weren't originally planned so that we knew how to do different things related to our roles.
Learning and Development Advisor, West Midlands Trains
The results
Delegate feedback across the cohorts has been consistently positive. The organisation's Learning and Development Advisor reported the response from attending staff as excellent, both after the first course and after subsequent groups had been through it.
Thank you to the trainer being really patient with us and showing us little extra things like the community pages, etc.
Aneesha, delegate, West Midlands Trains
The trainer is an excellent instructor.
Jamie, delegate, London Northwestern & West Midlands Railways
Delegates finish the course able to apply Power BI to their own reporting rather than simply having seen it demonstrated. In their evaluations they identify specific techniques they intend to use in their day-to-day work — connecting reports directly to live data sources instead of exported spreadsheets, preparing source data before modelling, and querying databases directly. Naming requirements at that level of detail indicates a working understanding of the tool and where it applies to their own role.
The practical effect is staff who can produce and maintain their own reporting instead of requesting it, and who spend less time repeating manual work that Power BI can refresh automatically.
Capability across the teams is now progressing beyond foundation level to Power BI Intermediate, covering data modelling and DAX, while new staff continue to start at introduction level. The skill base is deepening and widening at the same time.
Planning a phased Power BI rollout
Three points from this programme apply to any organisation training a large team in Power BI.
Training successive manageable cohorts is more effective than a single large training event. Each group receives the trainer's full attention, and evaluations from one cohort inform the next.
Delegates arrive with varying levels of existing knowledge. Stating clearly what an introduction course assumes, and directing more experienced staff to the intermediate course, ensures each delegate is on the right course for their starting point.
Follow-on training is best selected from delegate evaluations rather than from a course catalogue. The topics staff request after applying new skills are a reliable indication of where capability needs to develop next.
Deliver the same programme at your organisation
FutureSavvy delivers Power BI training on site throughout the UK, as scheduled public courses, or virtually. Tell us how many staff need training and how they are grouped, and we will plan the cohorts with you.
Courses in this case study
- Microsoft Power BIPower BI IntroductionThis 2-day introduction to Power BI gives beginners the confidence to analyse business data and build clear, effective visual reports. With hands-on guidance, you’ll learn practical skills using real-life data, quickly becoming comfortable with core Power BI functions that make work easier and more insightful.2 Days · Classroom or on-site
- Microsoft Power BIPower BI IntermediateThis course is perfect for those already using Power BI who want to move beyond the basics. Through interactive, practical exercises, you’ll gain experience working with real-world data to develop your analytical skills and enhance your reporting capability.1 Day · Classroom or on-site
- Microsoft Power BIDAX IntroductionGain practical skills in DAX for Power BI, Power Pivot, and SSAS Tabular models. This course focuses on the essentials, calculated columns, relationship functions, and time intelligence, enabling you to produce reliable business reports and smarter data models.2 Days · Classroom or on-site
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